Downforce

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
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  1. GamerWeb Sony
    90
    A great game. It's simple gameplay will take you back to the old school days of pure gaming goodness.
  2. TotalGames.net
    82
    A highly playable and very fast arcade racer.
  3. Total Video Games
    80
    Perhaps the most impressive visual aspect to Downforce is the games split-screen multiplayer mode which stays extremely quick, with no loss in quality, framerate or objects on-screen.
  5. Maxim Online
    80
    They’ve ditched realistic racing for a straight-forward adrenaline rush where amazing vehicular explosions are your reward spectacularly bad driving.
  6. GameZone
    78
    A wonderful ode to the old school racing games of yesteryear and fans of the racing genre will be quite pleased and entertained by its intensity.
  7. Gaming Maxx
    77
    As for the actual game playing, this game keeps a F1 games physics, and gives you a sometimes unforgiving difficulty.
  8. GameSpot
    72
    It's a very fun game to play, but there really isn't much to it. You'll likely finish the game in a few hours.
  9. IGN
    71
    While it may not dazzle the graphic hounds with its barely cel-shaded cars and detail light backgrounds, the furious pacing and easy-to-handle controls should more than compensate.
  10. Game Informer
    70
    The bonus stunt mode is cool, but Downforce ultimately lacks depth. [July 2002, p.83]
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  11. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    70
    The fun is over too soon.
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  12. All Game Guide
    70
    While Downforce does not run very deep, it does run fast, furious, and most importantly, fun.
  13. Armchair Empire
    70
    The learning curve for Downforce is about 2 hours – within that time, most people should have figured out the nuances of the hairpin turns and how to contact other cars to spin them out.
  14. GameSpy
    68
    An incredibly short racing game featuring spectacular crashes and cunning AI, but an alarmingly few cars, no tweakable vehicles, and few track variations.
  15. Electric Playground
    65
    Jaw-dropping crashes cannot an entire game carry, however. While passable handling provides for a mildly entertaining play experience, it's an incredibly short affair.
  16. PSX Nation
    60
    Recommendable brain-dead fun provided those buying/renting it know what they’re getting themselves into: fictitious F1-like racing antics with believability and care thrown out the proverbial window.
  17. Play Magazine
    60
    If you're looking for a pure racing experience, you can't go wrong with Downforce. [May 2002, p.55]
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  18. Yahoo!
    50
    A competent, but decidedly average racing game.
  19. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    40
    Its boring tracks make you feel more like you're racing around a generic airport terminal with fancy backdrops than actually IN the exotic locales. [June 2002, p.97]
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User Reviews

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User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. blkbrdsr71
    Jun 6, 2017
    8
    It's a cool game. I like it.It's a cool game. I like it. ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................… Full Review »
  2. fandango89
    Sep 27, 2011
    6
    This game is fun but there is some physics problems such as overspin and a terrible inability to back up. The other problem is that they makeThis game is fun but there is some physics problems such as overspin and a terrible inability to back up. The other problem is that they make it impossible to do well on the last level of the championship. The computer is perfect and you can never catch up and thus never complete the game. There is some good crash simulations though and some fast-paced fun.… Full Review »
  3. MikeD.
    May 9, 2002
    10
    This game+ you=a very good time.
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