Konami - America announced Enthusia Professional Racing, a new racing game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Studios, scheduled for release on the PlayStation 2 in 2005.
Designed to bring all of the white-knuckle energy and thrill of car racing to life, Enthusia will attempt to utilize innovative gameplay mechanics, enhanced physics and impressive graphics to deliver an exciting racing experience.
Enthusia steps away from the norm in the racing genre, opting to focus on the driving experience rather than the time spent under the hood. Winning will require superior driving ability, establishing Enthusia as a true racer for driving enthusiasts who appreciate the details of car physics, performance and motion. The realism of the game is bolstered by the innovative and proprietary Visual Gravity System which conveys a true sense of G-forces experienced by high-speed driving and maneuvering around a race track. This innovative feature is a first for the racing genre and gives gamers the ability to see and feel the pressure exerted on a car during racing.
Set to be the most realistic racing game to date, Enthusia will include hundreds of cars from more than 40 real manufacturers - each car driven and captured in real life by the development team. Photo-realistic graphics stand out as players race on dozens of real and fictional tracks around the world. Multiple camera views, including both a first- and third-person orientation, allow for players to either get behind the wheel or on top of the action. Variable weather conditions pose additional challenges that require players to stay on their toes.
As players pass and weave their way to the front of the pack, they benefit from on-the-fly information about car handling, tire traction and more. While stage-based tuning allows even those who could never do their own oil changes a chance to upgrade their cars, proprietary AI demands that even the most supped-up entry make the right moves on track. Approachable gameplay for novice drivers yet challenging for experts, Enthusia is a racing game that will appeal to players of all levels.
Playable in single or two player mode, Enthusia takes advantage of the PlayStation 2 controller with pressure sensitive control of the analog buttons - allowing players to feather the gas and brake. For gamers that want to take complete control of the action, Enthusia will also be compatible with PlayStation 2 driving wheels, including the Logitech GT Force steering wheel.
