Software:Racing Evoluzione

Short description: 2003 video game

Racing Evoluzione
North American cover art
Developer(s)	Milestone srl
Publisher(s)	Infogrames Europe
Platform(s)	Xbox
Release	NA: February 18, 2003 PAL: February 28, 2003
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Racing Evoluzione (known in North America as Apex) is an arcade-style racing video game developed by Milestone srl and published by Infogrames Europe, exclusively on Xbox in 2003. The game contains a main game mode, called Dream Mode, which allows the player to manage a car dealership, create their own cars, and participate in races with their creations.

Gameplay

In dream mode, the player finds blueprints of concept cars and has to choose a logo and name for their company. While it loosely relies on a linear story, it is viewed from a first-person perspective during cut-scenes. When the player processes through a specific number of single races and championships, the company building will improve. For an example, after completing the first championship, and a few single races, the building will transform from an old-fashioned 1950s style garage to a small organization headquarters. Whenever the company building grows, an additional character appears; from the start the player's buddy Rick assists them with most things, after the next building improvement Carla appears as a receptionist, an additional feature when unlocking Carla is more mechanics all of whom in turn assists their buddy Rick, after the second building improvement Rebecca appears. Her task is to manage the production. After the third, and last improvement Benjamin appears. He highly resembles a "cliche'" scientist and physicist. His role is to lead the designing area.

Unlike many plot driven racing games, Racing Evoluzione uses "r&d funds" as currency; when the funds reach a specific amount, a new car will be ready to be developed. There are four different car types. The first line of cars are roadsters. Each roadster has three different versions: the first version is a regular street version; the second version is an evolution version with a few improvements; the third and final version is a racing version of which it has only one colour scheme, unlike the other versions that have several different colours. The second car type is sports cars. Their improving manner is identical to the roadsters. With three versions, and improvement after improvement, and not to mention that the racing version only has got one paint job. The third line of cars are super cars; unlike the first two types, super cars only come with an evolution version and a racing version. The last line of cars are dream cars, they only come in racing versions. There are many different race tracks, sorted in four different types; city tracks, mountain tracks, racetracks, and speedways. Each track type has three locations; North America, Europe, and Asia. After every race, one of the characters will comment the player based on their performance, except for Benjamin, who only has dialogue whenever a new car is ready for production.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score Aggregator Score Metacritic 74/100 Review scores Publication Score Edge 5/10 EGM 8/10 Eurogamer 9/10 Game Informer 7.75/10 GamePro GameRevolution C+ GameSpot 7.2/10 GameSpy GameZone 7/10 IGN 7.8/10 OXM (US) 8.9/10

The game received "mixed or average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic, receiving a score of 74/100, based on 26 critic reviews.