One of the most neglected genres at the moment in Nintendo Switch, driving games, win new adept thanks to the expert and veteran hands of Eden Games. We analyze what Gear Club Unlimited has given, its arcade driving proposal for Switch.
I remember perfectly the one that was mounted with V-Rally, the excellent simulator (at the time that's how these games were considered) for PSX created by Eden Studios (that was its name then) that, at least in England where its launch caught me, had Nudges to be done with him in the HMV stores in the area. This mega-hit put into orbit the French studio but, as many of you already know, years later it was absorbed by Infogrames and ended up even disappearing ... to reappear months later as Ave Fénix.
Far have been the best days of this study, but despite that, they continue to create games based on their great specialty: car games. They recently designed Gear Club for mobile devices, a title that was well received by users of these machines and that has encouraged the studio to create a new release designed for Nintendo Switch. Moreover, is that Gear Club Unlimited is not a port or conversion of the mentioned mobile title, but a new version created from scratch to take advantage of the hardware and features of the Nintendo console. Moreover, to what extent has it succeeded? Well, I think it is a remarkable work that, without being the definitive speed game (I do not think that it pretends it at all), it is a good contribution to the game catalog of this machine.
Simulation and arcade
Before entering the subject, it is advisable to indicate the type of game that is Gear Club Unlimited. The developers have tried to put the game halfway between the simulation and the arcade, although in my opinion, it is much closer to the latter concept than the simulation factor. Moreover, I do not think anything bad, on the contrary, among other things because trying to capture a pure simulator in a machine whose pads do not enjoy "serial" analog buttons (neither the Joy-Con nor the Pro command features them) would be an almost impossible task. Furthermore, immersing yourself in the field of simulation is always a much more difficult, expensive and complex task for obvious reasons, being much easier to choose the other path. So do not expect to find the inclusion of aspects such as damage system, real physics or anything like it because you will not find it anywhere.
However, it is a fairly adaptable game regarding driving demand, since it is not only possible to choose the difficulty of the IA of the cars controlled by the CPU but to adjust certain traditional aids such as stability or braking as well as activate or deactivate other options such as the ideal plot. For that reason, I think it is a game quite accessible and suitable for a good number of users, especially for those who seek direct fun and more "serious" to get away from the sympathy and madness offered by the frenetic racing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the great reference of the genre in Switch.
Sporty and adaptable driving
As for the title itself, do not expect to find you with a game that monopolizes some unacceptable game modes as it does in other similar games available on other consoles and PCs. Quite the contrary.
This work of Eden Games goes straight to the point and offers us to play alone in the extensive campaign mode or choose to compete in its offline multiplayer side, an option that can accommodate four users at a time in split screen. Moreover, what about the online mode? Well, from the beginning it is possible to compete against the ghosts of other rivals as well as participate in sporadic world events that will be established by the developers themselves. That is to say, that nowadays it is not possible to play online in a traditional way, keep this in mind, although the game is prepared for this and will be activated in a few months with a free DLC.
This work of Eden Games goes straight to the point and offers us to play alone in the extensive campaign mode or choose to compete in its offline multiplayer side, an option that can accommodate four users at a time in split screen. Moreover, what about the online mode? Well, from the beginning it is possible to compete against the ghosts of other rivals as well as participate in sporadic world events that will be established by the developers themselves. That is to say, that nowadays it is not possible to play online in a traditional way, keep this in mind, although the game is prepared for this and will be activated in a few months with a free DLC.
Moreover, since we have taken the issue, developers are planning to launch several DLCs (all free) for this production that allow users to enjoy new cars, game modes, and options, packages that will arrive in a spaced way and at a pre-established pace of one every three or four months. This policy has its raison d'etre, given that it is a game that is quite right regarding the amount of content it offers as a series. To the few modalities of game joins a garage that consists only of beginning with something more than 30 vehicles and three different atmospheres that, yes, they lodge 200 different tracings (although many of them seem too much in my opinion).
Good addition
These circuits give for about 400 tests to enjoy alone, and that appear in a quite extensive map that is progressively expanding. The races in which it is possible to participate can be of several different types: traditional, time trial, another rally in which we need to adapt our car to that style of competition ... For all this is not that Gear Club Unlimited is a complete game nor the one that offers more options, and more if we compare it with the great representatives of the genre at present in other formats. However, for a title designed for Nintendo Switch, console that beyond the Mario above Kart 8 Deluxe and Fast RMX hardly has representatives of the genre (much less "serious"), I think it is a good addition.During the tests, we can enjoy a remarkable sense of speed (especially from the inside view), one of the great virtues of the game. The races are rather short, a legacy of the original delivery designed for mobile that by the hybrid concept of Switch I think it fits well with its features.
Handling
In terms of handling and leaving aside what has already been said about the absence of analog controls to accelerate / brake (something that can not be blamed on the game itself, obviously), it is a very accessible title ... at least if we wish, because if we deactivate all the aids and play at the highest level of difficulty, the thing changes a lot. However, come on, it is one of those easy to control titles, and although it is necessary to be aware of the brake to take the corners, especially when we play rally races, driving is quite permissible.
To try to provide a deeper layer to the set the game includes an option called The Performance Shop in which it is possible to touch up several aspects of our vehicles. Without being too complex, quite the opposite, here we can tinker with the mechanics of the cars (although "above") and adjust certain aspects related to aerodynamics, tires, etc. Moreover, of course, we also have other options such as buying new more powerful engines, painting our vehicle with specific paint and accessories and other similar options. An interesting feature for those looking for something more that comes out of pure arcade tonic.
Realism?
On the other hand and to provide the doses of "realism" needed in this type of games, has had the official license of a handful of manufacturers as well known as BMW, Bugatti, McLaren, Jaguar or Pagani, offering some of their vehicles most known I have already told you that the collection of cars introduced is very small (we reiterate, about 30 vehicles), and more if we compare it with what other titles usually give us in other formats, but at least its recreation is quite solid and relatively detailed ... especially if we play in portable mode.
Precisely when we visualize this game on the 6.2-inch screen of the console when better visual sensations transmit. The flaws that can be noticed in a more palpable when we connect the console to the dock as the low resolution of some textures of the scenarios, the somewhat noticeable pixelation of the reflections of the bodies of the cars or the lack of detail that can be seen in some sections of the circuits are "camouflaged" enough when we play in portable mode. Yes, the resolution goes from 1080p to the usual 720p offered by the console screen, but the game wins quite a lot in portable mode. Also, the animation frame rate is the same in both cases, 30 very stable frames, including even when we play split screen doubles, suffering more when there are four participants.
The sound acquires a very secondary relevance and beyond the effects of motors, skids and others, well recreated but nothing else, there is not much to highlight in this section.
Remarkable
Eden Games has made a humble but quite remarkable title for Switch. It is true that it has certain gaps in very specific and important areas such as the number of integrated vehicles at the start or the range of game modes, very small in both cases, but it is a game that offers almost instant fun, and that fills a void quite evident within the Nintendo Switch catalog. It is not the definitive speed title, it is far from it, but it is a game that is more than acceptable and has very valuable virtues.
-Zardoz-
7.5
Developer: Eden GamesPublisher: Microïds
Genre: Driving
Release Date: 21st of November 2017
Gameplay: 74
Graphics: 72
Driving: 76
Music/Audio: 73
Ambiance: 76
Total: 75
Pro
+ Good number of circuits (although there are too similar)
+ The local multiplayer works well
+ The feeling of speed is quite achieved
Cons
- Few available cars start. Hopefully much more will appear on the announced free DLC
- It cannot and does not intend to fight against the great representatives of the genre in other formats
- It is quite scarce in game modes
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