Played both and disagree with Marco. We all thought it was not better than TA, but different. I really enjoyed the differences and am very glad I picked up a copy.
Good review, will see if any of our local gamers have a copy of either. Always appreciate your insight and analysis. Maybe you should do a video focusing on Non-player elements, which you think work and those you think do not. As you know sometimes you can't get people together for a game, and you still want to play.
Marco, you're forgetting that you don't use any NP cars, team or neutral, if you simply play with 11 players! That seems to be a practical solution... It's a shame too because I held off on Thunder Alley all this time because I hate stock car racing and was hoping this would be an improvement. I'd still like to try it someday but it doesn't sound like a buy at the moment.
I played this a year or so ago. I was thoroughly unimpressed. Didn't feel like F1 racing. And Race Formula 90 blows it out of the water in pretty much every way.
I have been a huge fan of F1 since the beginning of M. Schumaker's career. It is real disappointing to hear about this game, Is there any way the problems can be fixed or some house rules to compensate? BTW Sunday is Malaysia I would like to see S. Vett el 1 and N. Rossburg 2.
wow, they used rather a lot from Thunder Alley, didn't they? It works in TA because drafting's part of the racing, but I'm not sure it works here. I'll stick with TA and RF90.
Following other cars are part of F1, its what makes it boring. So think of it more cars following than bumper to bumper. Also if they made it exactly like F1 then it would be boring, this way it makes other people win rather than just the top 4 cars so to speak. I think its great.
I’ve just watched both your reviews on thunder alley and Grand Prix but own neither. Could you not cut the npc’s out by owning multiple teams, yes you’d still have to choose which car you wanted to win but if you played it similar to thunder alley it would feel better I think.
Have you played Race: Formula 90, Marco? If so, how would you compare the two, not from a mechanics point of view (they are different, after all), but as a F1 racing simulation?
Nice review and critique, Marco. Thank you! I bought Thunder Alley - immediately - after watching your review of that game. Though I am not really interested in stock car racing (a la Nascar) at all, I am a long time fan of Formula 1, and I felt that Thunder Alley at least scratched my itch for a decent, thematic racing game. I already had "Formula D," which is a good 'roll-and-move' game, but it's a little too 'light,' and the addition of the cartoonish 'street racer' variant is disappointing. When I saw that GMT was publishing Grand Prix, I was really pleased, but something made me hold off placing my order before now; possibly it's because the pictures I saw of the tracks didn't look very technical - and in fact didn't look all that dissimilar to the tracks from Thunder Alley ... I will, probably, still add Grand Prix to my shelf. I'll just adjust my expectations accordingly. By the way, I also rushed over to GMT's website to buy Reiner Knizia's "Formula Motor Racing", based on your review of THAT game. I think that Thunder Alley, borrows very heavily from concepts and mechanics in Knizia's game ... maybe I should look through the manual to see if they (the Horgers) gave him a credit.
I spotted Vast : The Crystal Caverns on your stack.. I cannot wait for your reiview for that one... mine is due March 2017 !!!
Played both and disagree with Marco. We all thought it was not better than TA, but different. I really enjoyed the differences and am very glad I picked up a copy.
well, I am glad you enjoyed it. Always glad when people do.
Good review, will see if any of our local gamers have a copy of either. Always appreciate your insight and analysis. Maybe you should do a video focusing on Non-player elements, which you think work and those you think do not. As you know sometimes you can't get people together for a game, and you still want to play.
F1 always reminds me of one of the greatest athlete ever , Ayrton Senna !!
Marco, you're forgetting that you don't use any NP cars, team or neutral, if you simply play with 11 players! That seems to be a practical solution...
It's a shame too because I held off on Thunder Alley all this time because I hate stock car racing and was hoping this would be an improvement. I'd still like to try it someday but it doesn't sound like a buy at the moment.
I played this a year or so ago. I was thoroughly unimpressed. Didn't feel like F1 racing. And Race Formula 90 blows it out of the water in pretty much every way.
It isn't F1 but American Indy Car Racing
I have been a huge fan of F1 since the beginning of M. Schumaker's career. It is real disappointing to hear about this game, Is there any way the problems can be fixed or some house rules to compensate? BTW Sunday is Malaysia I would like to see S. Vett el 1 and N. Rossburg 2.
wow, they used rather a lot from Thunder Alley, didn't they? It works in TA because drafting's part of the racing, but I'm not sure it works here. I'll stick with TA and RF90.
Yeah, it makes absolutely no sense in an F1 game.
Following other cars are part of F1, its what makes it boring. So think of it more cars following than bumper to bumper. Also if they made it exactly like F1 then it would be boring, this way it makes other people win rather than just the top 4 cars so to speak. I think its great.
Let's ssay we are 8 players and 6 neutral NP cars - and get 3 cards each - do we play all three cards or just two of them?
I’ve just watched both your reviews on thunder alley and Grand Prix but own neither. Could you not cut the npc’s out by owning multiple teams, yes you’d still have to choose which car you wanted to win but if you played it similar to thunder alley it would feel better I think.
Have you played Race: Formula 90, Marco? If so, how would you compare the two, not from a mechanics point of view (they are different, after all), but as a F1 racing simulation?
RF90 is F1 from the 90s. This is Indy car racing!
The game doesn't penalize for speeding through the turns.
Nice review and critique, Marco. Thank you!
I bought Thunder Alley - immediately - after watching your review of that game. Though I am not really interested in stock car racing (a la Nascar) at all, I am a long time fan of Formula 1, and I felt that Thunder Alley at least scratched my itch for a decent, thematic racing game. I already had "Formula D," which is a good 'roll-and-move' game, but it's a little too 'light,' and the addition of the cartoonish 'street racer' variant is disappointing.
When I saw that GMT was publishing Grand Prix, I was really pleased, but something made me hold off placing my order before now; possibly it's because the pictures I saw of the tracks didn't look very technical - and in fact didn't look all that dissimilar to the tracks from Thunder Alley ...
I will, probably, still add Grand Prix to my shelf. I'll just adjust my expectations accordingly.
By the way, I also rushed over to GMT's website to buy Reiner Knizia's "Formula Motor Racing", based on your review of THAT game. I think that Thunder Alley, borrows very heavily from concepts and mechanics in Knizia's game ... maybe I should look through the manual to see if they (the Horgers) gave him a credit.
yes, I also noticed resemblances with the Knizia game, which basically gives you a faster moving game at a fraction of the cost and hassle
Ok let's play name the games stacked to the side...
I had exactly the same feeling. Nice try but they missed the overall feeling of a F1 race.
eurekat The only feeling f1 causes is being bored
They failed even in simulating boredom
Because this is not F1 but Indy car racing.
Seems like Formula D is the better game. Haven´t played this out but by this reveiw I don feeel anurge to it. Good reveiw Marco
FD sucks!!!
I agree. F1 is miles better than NASCAR (see what I did there?). When I see a game is a NASCAR game, it's an automatic skip for me.
Bah missed opportunity, shame.