PlayStation 2

Gallop Racer 2003: A New Breed

Gallop Racer 2003 signifies the best of what the Playstation 2 can offer in terms of quirky gameplay, as well as being simply too bizarre to pass up. After playing this game for a number of hours, with essentially no previous knowledge of horseracing. I'm shocked at its depth and addictive qualities. From breeding foals to pouring over jockey and horse statistics, I could hardly put this one down.

Rent Gallop Racer 2003: I dare you. If you have an open mind and a little time, you won't want to bring it back. Sure, looking at horse arses isn't as nice as watching bikini babes play volleyball, but with a near-limitless plethora of horses, tons of strategy, and loads of gameplay extras, this is a sure bet.

Gallop Racer 2003: A New Breed also falls in this "good if you like that sort of thing" category. It's got plenty of depth and, believe it or not, there is skill involved. Considering the lack of horse racing games on the PS2, this is truly as good as it gets.

As with the previous games in the series (both of which are now highly desired by collectors), Gallop Racer 2003 is receiving a small manufacturing run and limited retail distribution. This doesn't reflect poorly on the quality of the game, mind you; Tecmo just understands that the game's appeal is mostly limited to horse-racing fanatics (not me), racing game fans willing to try something completely different (me), and gamers who savor the goofy Japanese flavor (most certainly me!)

Gallop Racer 2003 takes consoles someplace they've rarely been, the racetrack, and it does it quite well. If you're one who thinks horse racing couldn't possibly be any fun as a videogame, this game might just change your mind. This is a really well done sports sim, and deserves at least a rent by everyone, and is a most definite buy for horse racing fans.

But overall, Gallop Racer 2003 has proven to be a pretty solid game for the all the virtual jockey wannabes out there. A much better gambling system, improved breeding and hours and hours of racing keeps this one at the head of the pack. Just be warned - if you don't like the smell, stay out of the stables.

Obviously, Gallop Racer 2003: A New Breed is about horse racing, but it also includes diversionary games for those who want to simply bet on the horses or perhaps try their hand at selectively breeding the next Triple Crown winner. There is something here to interest anyone who cares about horses or horse racing; all others may want to steer clear of this unique, but delightful title.

For all its frustrations and shortcomings, GR2003 does pay off with the thrill of long-sought victory and a sense of accomplishment for having figured out the bizarre subtleties of this stat-heavy simulation. Also to its credit, no two races are ever the same, even on the same track with the same horse. Recommended for horse racing sim fans only.

I would first just like to praise Tecmo for going out and doing something out of the ordinary and bringing us a game we don't see everyday. And although this is a horse racing game, it's surprisingly a solid title with a lot of good features that could mold this series in to becoming an excellent one. So if you are in the mood for a horse racing adventure, and don't mind putting some time into it, Gallop Racer 2003 will definitely be worth a shot.

Though Gallop Racer 2003 does make some halfhearted attempts to make simulated horse racing more appealing to a broader audience, it's just not enough. A more well-designed interface, a less punishing learning curve, an independent and more robust betting system, and a more action-oriented gameplay system would all go far in bringing new players into the fold, but as it stands, Gallop Racer 2003 is mostly just more of the same for its niche audience.