CONCLUSION

Unfortunately, after much anticipation of the final product, MBWR has failed to really grab my attention as I hoped it would. As a follow-up to Mercedes-Benz TRUCK Racing (MBTR), I expected great physics and the type of engaging gameplay and replayability available in Need For Speed: Porsche Unleashed (NFSPU) from MBWR, but the physics have seemed somewhat "stunted" to me due to the unwanted steering "assist" and the poor sound implementation, and the playability just doesn't seem as immersive as NFSPU. So, even though the basic physics model is very nice, there just don't seem to be any real "hooks" for me in MBWR to keep me coming back for more -- the historic cars are nice (perhaps the nicest and most immersive part of the game), but why didn't Synetic start the career with the historic cars and then work more progressively towards the more modern cars, a la NFSPU? That type of historical retrospective is something that I find truly engrossing, as a sim racer, and as a marketing tool, this approach also helps foster a greater degree of respect, admiration, and desire for the marque.

Along those lines, given that the game focuses on a single marque -- in this case, Mercedes-Benz -- MBWR did a rather poor job of "opening up" the world of Mercedes-Benz cars for me. MBWR comes off as nothing more engaging than an extended interactive commercial for the Mercedes-Benz brand, and in that respect, NFSPU and Ford Racing 2 served as MUCH better "interactive advertisements," in my opinion. In fact, NFSPU left me lusting for Porsches in general (historic, vintage, modern-day, etc.), and Ford Racing 2 even made me wonder what it would be like to own a Ford Focus SVT or a Mustang on occasion -- and I'm not what you would call a "Ford guy." As a marketing tool for Mercedes-Benz, MBWR has just left me feeling curiously like it just simply missed the mark.

Additionally, a game's menu often becomes "home" for me while playing the game, and the ability to feel comfortable with the menu system is somewhat critical for my enjoyment of the game. The fact that I've never been able to really get comfortable with the clunky menu system used in MBWR has been an annoyance that just hasn't gone away, which is a first for me - although I've never cared much for the menu system in the EA/ISI F1 sims, they have become somewhat intuitive to use after a while. Even other menu systems that are console ports that offer keyboard-only navigation methods - such as those in Ford Racing 2 or Race Driver 2, neither of which offer mouse support on the PC - have eventually become familiar and relatively easy to use over time, but the menu system in MBWR just seems to be counter-intuitive from the start, and it never seems to get any better or any easier to use.

Despite my criticisms, I do have to say that as a relatively realistic racing sim with a decently solid physics model, MBWR really does have a lot to offer for the casual racer, and now that the long-awaited Internet multiplayer support patch has arrived, it has even more potential as a "fun" racing sim. Hardcore sim racers who are looking for a more solid racing experience, or for a "lite" sim with engaging features along the lines of NFSPU may be disappointed by the overall execution, but MBWR is still worth a look given the expansive tracks that seem to go on forever.

So while MBWR hasn't earned a spot on my "all-time favorites" list, I would rate it as a "must have" title for the serious (and semi-serious) sim racers. There's a lot of depth here, and with new cars being released on a more regular basis, combined with solid multiplayer support, MBWR offers a lot of bang for the buck, and it is definitely a solid and unique offering. The tracks alone are worth the price of admission, and I have heard that Synetic is currently looking for a U.S. distributor, which means that MBWR may soon be available for those of us on the other side of the pond.

If you enjoyed NFSPU and you're looking for a "lite" racing sim with a solid physics engine that won't force you to re-learn how to drive your favorite hardcore sim after spending a little time behind the wheel elsewhere, then MBWR may be just the thing you're looking for.