Despite being a relatively unknown developer, SimBin Studios have shown that they know how to make a PC racing sim with previous titles such as GTR and GTR 2. In 2006 they came up with RACE and now we have its follow up, Race 07: Official WTCC Game, where SimBin takes the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach. Although there are a few minor tweaks here and there, the core of the game has stayed the same - and for the good, as the result is a game that offers everything you could want in a PC racing sim.

First and foremost, RACE 07 is a serious racing game, meaning that it's both realistic and very tricky at the same time. Newcomers to this type of racer may find themselves struggling through the early stages, but it's all about getting the hang of everything. Balancing out your vehicle after each turn and pacing yourself through each course can be a challenge, so you can only improve by investing time and gaining experience. Going at such high speeds in real life would require hard work to keep your car under control and Race 07 does a nice job of incorporating these controls and physics into the gameplay.

As if adjusting to your car wasn't hard enough, you also have some very intelligent AI drivers to race against, who pull all the tricks out of the bag to win the race, whether it be staying in front of you or forcing your car to spin out of control. Another contributing factor to the difficulty is the introduction of weather effects. Let me just say this: performing turns in the rain is no easy task. The AI opponents are also very aggressive with each other, so you won't feel like you're being singled out; watching the car in first place go flying from a slight nudge can be very rewarding. This all may sound a bit intimidating, and rightfully so, but Race 07 does feature a slew of customizable options so you can tailor the game to your liking. Features like anti-lock breaks and traction can be turned on or off, depending on the level of challenge you're looking for. Also included are helpful tools such as a brake indicator, which assists your decision on when and where to use your brakes. These aids can prove to be very helpful and will certainly be of great help to newcomers.

The main game mode in Race 07 is the Championship, where you take on a total of eleven races throughout the calendar year. That might not sound like much, but finishing the game will take a while. You first have a practice run, followed by a qualifying run, then before you race, you have a warmup. Once you get to the actual race, you have to play the course twice and each race consists of fifteen or more laps. You can opt to skip the preliminary activities if you wish, but that will still leave you with plenty to do during the Championship mode. Also included are the basic gameplay modes such as Time Attack and Race Event, where you're just moments away from racing out on the courses. Although there isn't a whole lot of variety in the game modes, the selection of vehicles to choose from is impressive. Past the main vehicles you'll be using, there are car classes such as the sports car and even Formula 3000, which can really test your driving skills when it comes to handling them. So no matter what class of cars you use, you're sure to find something that suits you.

Race 07 is not a graphical showcase by any means, but it's still a very good looking game. The vehicles look like their real-life counterparts and the environments and tracks are particularly pleasing. Little details such as tire marks from a previous turn all add to the realism, yet despite the layer of polish, the visuals don't stand out from the crowd. This is a title where the gameplay truly shines and the visuals aren't as important. The same goes for the audio; although it doesn't take center stage, it's spot on with the engine sounds and the voiceovers are very well done too.

Race 07 will take most people a good portion of time to finish, but for those who want something else to do in the meantime, it supports online play for up to 24 players. Finding that many people to play with (on one track) is rare, but if you can get a good amount of people in on a race then you'll be sure to have a lot of fun. Although the AI in the game provides a strong challenge, there's nothing like going against real opponents and the online gameplay is seamless. An added plus is that the online play runs smoothly, so there won't be any lagging issues to hamper your multiplayer experience.

Race 07: Official WTCC Game isn't anything like Forza Motorsport or Project Gotham Racing. You can't trick out your ride like in Need for Speed and although it goes fast, it doesn't have the blistering pace of Burnout. It focuses on what makes a racing game so enjoyable: the racing. Casuals racing fans may very well be put off by the difficulty and steep learning curve, but those who invest the time will be rewarded. Race 07 is a game that shows how great a racing sim can be, and how much authenticity counts.

Reviewed by Anthony LaBella for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).