Race in a machine built for pure speed. The licensed IndyCar Series features a tour of major arenas, including the famous Indy 500. Players slide behind the wheel of a 650 brake horsepower vehicle to blast toward the checkered flag at over 200 miles per hour. IndyCar Series comes from CodeMasters, known for other popular racing titles including both the Colin McRae Rally and ToCA Touring series.
The 2005 IRL IndyCar Series began on Sunday, March 6 and ended on Sunday, October 16. The season, which consisted of 17 races, was the 10th season of the IRL IndyCar Series since it split from CART in 1995. IndyCar Series - Game demo - Download. Demo version of IndyCar Series, a(n) racing game, for PCs and laptops with Windows systems. Free and legal download. File type Game demo. File size 113.1 MB. Last update Thursday, June 12, 2003. Downloads 3827. Downloads (7 days) 9.
It seems IndyCar racing has taken a back seat to NASCAR when it comes to mainstream popularity. I always remembered everyone in my family sitting down to watch at least part of the Indianapolis 500 every year. However, with NASCAR enjoying increased popularity, IndyCar coverage seems to have dwindled. I hardly see any television coverage for IndyCars or any of the IndyCar drivers in commercials. But this shouldn't distract gamers from enjoying IndyCar Series on PC.
There are several modes available in IndyCar Series, from a standard quick race mode to an in-depth season mode. The Quick Race mode allows you to jump right into a race while still allowing you to change specific settings about the race. You have the option to test drive the track, change the number of laps for the race and adjust your skill level. The skill levels range from easy to custom, and there is a huge difference between the levels. The easy skill level allows you to race without sustaining any damage to your car, having your tires wear down and unlimited fuel. As you increase the skill level, your car will take more damage, the tires on the car will wear down faster and the rules on the track are enforced. This is a great way to test your racing skills. There is nothing more humbling then to conquer the easy level and then crash & burn on the normal level.
The IndyCar Series is your opportunity to compete in the IndyCar season by racing on 15 different tracks. You have the option to set the number of laps for the race and the skill level. For each race you need to qualify to determine your starting pole position. The faster the qualifying time, the better the starting position you'll obtain. There is also the option to race as either one of the professional drivers available in the game or select your own custom driver.
But the game doesn't allow you to create your own driver right away; you have to earn this option. As you finish a race in the game, and at different skill levels, you can obtain trading cards. These trading cards are considered career goals in the game. By obtaining the different cards, you will unlock additional features in the game. The type of card rewarded is based on the skill level you select in the game. This is a great feature, but it can be distracting to some gamers. Obtaining the trading cards is difficult at the higher skill levels.
There are two other modes available in the game: Indy 500 and Masterclass. The Indy 500 mode allows you to compete in the prestigious Indianapolis 500 race. As in the real race, there are a certain number of drivers that can compete in the race. You have to qualify to determine your best lap time. The computer will then simulate the other drivers to determine their lap time. If your lap time wasn't good enough, then you could get moved into the Bump Day. The Bump Day is when you have one more chance to make it into the Indy 500. The driver with the slowest lap time is bumped out of the starting grid and out of the Indy 500.
2005 Indycar Season
The Masterclass mode is an excellent tutorial for racing fans and gamers. It's a great learning tool for novice race fans and drivers who are unclear about the specifics for IndyCar racing. Masterclass is composed of several different driving classes. Each class offers a short tutorial, done with the in-game graphics and narration, about a different skill set for racing an IndyCar. But, there is a catch. After the tutorial is finished there is a test to see how well you'll perform. These tests are difficult and unforgiving. You're expected to drive like an IndyCar driver, so you must follow all of the rules exactly as explained during the tutorial. You will have to take the tests several times before you complete them.
IndyCar Series offers gamers a solid racing experience. The different modes available will please most gamers with the options available. The racing action is fast and smooth, and the sense of speed during a race is impressive. IndyCar Series does what a good racing should do, plays great and is fun to play.
Gameplay
.jpg "Indycar Series 2005 Download")
Gameplay in a racing game is dependent on how well your car controls. The controls are very responsive and smooth in IndyCar Series. The racing action was fast paced and there was hardly any slow down during a race. Even with a track full of cars, the gameplay never suffered. The different modes, especially the Masterclass, offer a good variety with the gameplay.
Graphics
Indycar Series 2005 Download Full
The car models are very detailed and the graphics for the different tracks are well done. The behind the car camera angle offers the most detail when viewing the cars. The in car camera mode seems to lack detail, but it offers a view as to what the driver really sees when racing. You see the tires, your hands and the steering wheel. The graphics on the other cars come across very clear and concise while in this camera angle. A true sense of speed is depicted with the graphics, which is sometimes lacking in racing games. The frame rate was very consistent during all of the races. There was an occasional stutter during the pre-race cinema, but it wasn't a major issue. However, there was a lack of detail during the victory lane celebration graphics. The character models appear to be stick figures with their face plastered on.
Sound
The sound effects of your and other cars are well done. However the music during the game does get very repetitive after only a few laps. If you have a fifty-lap race, you'll probably hear the same songs four or five times during the race. There is an option to change the audio, which I recommend for longer races. There is also a pit crew that will give you advice during the race. Most of the commentary from the pit crew is repetitive as well. The pit crew will tell you whether or not another car is next to you and how far away you are from the car in front of you.
Difficulty
The easy mode is very forgiving when in comes to a race. Most gamers shouldn't have a problem winning a race on the easy setting. However the tests during the Masterclass can be extremely difficult. The difficulty setting doesn't default to easy on Masterclass. You must follow all of the requirements during the test or you'll fail. Making one tiny mistake can cost you everything and you'll have to start over. This is the same when you change the difficulty to the higher settings. If you wreck during the first lap, it's possible that you're done for the entire race.
Concept
As mentioned before, the Masterclass mode is an awesome tutorial for learning about IndyCar racing. The tutorials offered are very in-depth and explain the advantages of following the lessons presented during the tutorial. The trading card mode is fun, but doesn't seem necessary. It would have been nice to have access to the different gaming options you unlock in the trading card mode available at the beginning of the game. The concept is for the player to unlock these additional features, but I was looking for the features as soon as I started the game.
Overall
IndyCar Series is a solid racing game that offers some excellent racing excitement. The racing action is fast, while still maintaining a smooth, polished feel. The controls are solid and the cars handle very well. The graphics for the car models and tracks are detailed and the frame rate is solid during a race. For the non-racing fans, I cannot stress how impressed I was with the Masterclass mode. The tutorials offered during the Masterclass are very informative. The other modes available should please most gamers, but might upset those looking for a true racing simulation game. There are different settings you can change on the car, which gives you more control of how the car handles. But all of the game options are not available immediately, since you have to unlock them by earning the in game trading cards. The repetitive music and pit crew banter does get old after a while and will probably have you reaching to mute the sound. Even with these few flaws, IndyCar Series is a great addition to a racing fan's library of titles.
People who downloaded IndyCar Series have also downloaded:
Grand Prix 4, IndyCar Racing II, IndyCar Racing, Le Mans 24 Hours, Grand Prix Legends, NASCAR Racing 2003 Season, NASCAR Thunder 2004, CART Precision Racing
For hardcore fans of the sport with an interest in car tuning and oval racing, IndyCar Series 2005 is worth a rental at the very least.
By Justin Calvert | @justicecovert on
IndyCar Series 2005 is Codemasters' second officially licensed IndyCar game and, despite the fact that a PS2 version will be released in Europe, it's exclusive to the Xbox in North America--at least for the moment. The game addresses a number of the flaws in last year's version, and it adds online play via Xbox Live. However, unless you're a dedicated fan of the sport, it's unlikely that the game's focus on car setups, strategies, and never-turn-right racing will appeal.
Whether or not you're a fan of IndyCar racing, the first gameplay option you'll want to take a look at is the master class tutorial section. The master classes, which are narrated by an occasionally disinterested-sounding Dan Wheldon, do an extremely good job of introducing you to all aspects of IndyCar racing, including basic and advanced driving techniques, drafting, setting up your car, pit stops, and the rules of the sport. The master classes have bronze, silver, and gold target times for you to aim for, but, if you didn't play last year's game or if you're unfamiliar with the sport, you'll find that even achieving the bronze times can be a real challenge. The times are, for the most part, impossible to achieve with a default car setup, and while making changes to your car is easy, knowing what needs changing isn't. Deviating from the tarmac or making even the slightest contact with another car or wall brings your attempt to an abrupt end, and the master classes also force you to play with manual gears. The manual gears option is actually a good thing given that you can accelerate more quickly and rarely need to change once you're up into fifth gear, but if you're used to playing your racing games in automatic mode, this will be difficult to get used to.
Your success in the master classes, and in the races themselves, is as dependent on your ability to set up a car as it is on your ability to drive it, and this is what makes IndyCar Series 2005 so different from other racers. If you don't take the time to test and tweak your car ahead of qualification sessions and races, then no matter how well you drive, it's unlikely you'll be finishing in a podium position. The car setup options in the game are extensive and, if you're not knowledgeable about such things, they might initially seem a little daunting. There are good explanations for all of the setup options available to you, though, and it won't be long before you're gaining valuable seconds by tinkering with tire pressures, springs, dampers, gear ratios, ride height, wheel cambers, downforce settings, and the toe-in of your front wheels. With that said, those of you who already have knowledge of such things will be at a definite advantage. The game would, however, benefit from the addition of some kind of chief mechanic character who could offer advice specifically relating to your current car setup and the next race.
After taking the time to test and tweak your car setup, you're given a limited number of qualification laps to earn a place on the grid before heading to the oval for the race. All 15 of the circuits used in the latest IndyCar season are featured in the game but, while no two of them are the same, you won't be surprised to learn that they offer very little in terms of variety when compared to other racing games. In fact, you can pretty much just divide the circuits up into 'long' and 'short' categories--long circuits being those that you can race without ever easing off the accelerator, while shorter circuits require you to slow down for corners. Race length options start at a mere 10 laps and go all the way up to the full distance of 200 laps. It's possible to set up shorter races in such a way that at least one pit stop is required for refueling, but the longer races, which can become mind-numbingly repetitive at times, are actually far more interesting--at least as far as race strategies are concerned.
Unlike most racing games, IndyCar Series 2005, like the sport it's based on, is quick to punish you for even the tiniest of errors. Lose your concentration for a second and you'll most likely find yourself slamming into a wall, spinning out, or, at the very least, deviating from the racing line and being overtaken. Catching up with other cars is no easy task either, so unless you've opted for one of the longer race distances available, a single mistake will invariably ruin your chances of winning. Like much of what IndyCar Series 2005 has to offer, its unforgiving nature is realistic, but would-be racers who aren't big fans of the sport will probably never enjoy the game on anything but the easiest of its three difficulty settings. The easy setting not only slows down the CPU cars quite considerably, but also does away with some of the more advanced techniques that fans of the sport will enjoy, such as weight jacking midrace to correct steering problems, and adjusting your fuel mixture to achieve extra speed or to run additional laps in between stops. Both of these advanced techniques are activated simply by tapping the analog stick, and they are actually a lot easier to use effectively than they sound.
Rewarding you for your efforts on the easy level and encouraging you to have a go at the normal and pro levels is an EA Sports-style trading card system. There are 52 trading cards to collect in IndyCar Series 2005, which unlock additional content such as driver and team customization options, new liveries, and a series of documentaries on the history of the sport. Each of the trading cards is rated bronze, silver, or gold, which indicates how difficult they are to get and, for the most part, which difficulty setting you need to be playing.
The visuals in IndyCar Series 2005 look quite dated when compared to other Xbox titles, but the game does do a pretty good job of creating a sensation of speed. The lack of detail on the circuits and surroundings is easy to forgive since it's not noticeable when you're flying past at over 200mph. It's a shame that the car models and cockpits aren't more pleasing to the eye, though. Any damage you sustain in a race is visible on your car if you're playing with a third-person view, and you'll also receive a radio message from your pit crew when they're ready to carry out repairs for you.
Like all sports games, IndyCar Series 2005 is best played against friends, although the already less-than-spectacular visuals take a noticeable turn for the worse when the screen is divided into two or four. Racing in a field of up to 12 players via Xbox Live is definitely the way to go if you want to get the most out of the game. If you've ever played a racing game online, though, you'll know that they can be a haven for players with nothing better to do than ruin everyone else's game. IndyCar Series 2005, unfortunately, does very little to combat this, so if you're unlucky enough to find yourself in a race with punks who get their kicks by parking in the middle of the circuit or by racing backward, you're basically going to have your race ruined.
Other racing games, such as MotoGP 2, instantly turn any vehicles that are going the wrong way into ghosts so that they can't actually hit you; but if you're looking to enjoy some serious online IndyCar racing, we'd recommend that you put your Xbox Live friends list to work by adding any like-minded players that you come across and, whenever possible, playing only with them. It's not the way that Xbox Live is meant to be played, but, based on our own experiences with the game, the players you don't want to be involved with in a rolling start are almost as numerous as those looking to race properly. Game hosts have the option to eject troublemakers from the game and prevent them from rejoining, of course, but for every punk that gets booted you can bet there's another one waiting to get into a race.
IndyCar Series 2005 has an instantly forgettable rock soundtrack that's only marginally less offensive than the in-game sound effects. Actually, the sound effects aren't that horrible, it's just that since you rarely have to ease up on the accelerator the engine noise becomes more or less constant and, after up to 200 laps of listening to it, more than a little irritating. Radio messages from the pit crew and cheers from the crowd make the experience more bearable on occasion, but it's not long before they get just as repetitive as everything else in the game.
For hardcore fans of the sport with an interest in car tuning and oval racing, IndyCar Series 2005 is worth a rental at the very least. For anyone else, though, IndyCar Series 2005 is difficult to recommend when there are games such as Project Gotham Racing 2 and Codemasters' own TOCA Race Driver 2 available--the latter of which offers its own enjoyable take on oval racing and much, much more.