Tecmo’s Gallop Racer 2003 is G1’s only competition, and while that game is a bit easier to pick up and play, G1 scores high marks for its tougher and sometimes unforgiving emphasis on technique. The main game is a jockey sim that has you attempting to rise in the ranks from promising rookie to well-respected pro rider. You choose a name, sex, and stable to ride for, and you’ll need to ride well enough in order to make new connections that allow you access to better horses. Just like in real life, you won’t get along with everyone you meet even if you’re on friendly terms with some of his or her associates.  The better you perform, the more trust you develop, and it’s a bit tricky to maintain certain relationships if you don’t pay attention to the smallest details. You can request rides for different stables, but don’t be surprised if you’re quizzed by the trainer on things like the color of the horse's gear or some other attribute.

There are some minor RPG elements here as well, but don’t expect any spells, angst-filled heroes, or spiky, funny colored hairstyles.  As you play through the game, you’ll earn Riding Points (RP), which can be used for scheduling rides and workouts, or learning new skills, among other things. Workouts are crucial here not only for the horse you’ll be riding that week; it also helps you nail down the finer points of G1’s control. With over 4000 different horses to choose from, there’s near-endless gameplay here, but success depends not only on the horse you choose to control, but how you control that horse. From changing the lead leg, using the whip properly, monitoring stamina and motivation, and even adjusting the bit, it’s all here, explained perfectly in a well-done tutorial.

The first time you start up the game, hit the tutorial and do a few training races to get the hang of the controls and learn how to read the assorted onscreen gauges. You’ll learn about handling the 4 types of racehorses (Front Runner, Drop-In, Drop-Out, & Hold-Up), along with their strengths and weaknesses. This is probably the only game where a quote like “Be sure to experience the magnificence of the Drop-Out!” or an encouragement that ends “that’s the beauty of the Hold-Up Style” can be seen as a positive thing. 

Timing is key to getting off to a solid start with two of the four horse types. You’ll need to hit the Triangle button just as the gate opens or else you’ll be left in the dust, which Front-Runners and Drop-Ins dislike.  No matter which horse you pick, you’ll probably finish way out of the money until you become one with your PS2 controller.The game has a steep difficulty curve even on the Easy setting, but you’ll want to try each mode to see what suits you best. Normal and Hard add falls and Steward’s Inquiries, so you can’t just bump horses out of the way or ride carelessly. G1’s greatness comes from the priority it places on learning new gaming skills in order to become good at playing it, which is something not too many games do these days. In other words, this isn’t a game you’ll master after the first day and put on a shelf.  Another nice touch is that you’ll get tips from other jockeys as you gain respect in the game, so you’re always tweaking your style of play, race after race. The game uses every button on the PS2 controller, and with practice, you’ll eventually be able to turn off the displays and race with a clean screen, which is a nice touch.

Win or lose, you’ll look great either way. G1 Jockey 3’s visuals are excellent, each of the horses is perfectly animated and all look solid and strong. There are 10 courses with 35 track variations, including some great steeplechase courses, which add a new element to learn with the near-perfect controls. Add in the different seasons, weather variations, and track conditions, and you have one game that you’ll never get tired of playing.  There’s some nice two-player split screen action to be had, but this is a game that would also make a wild online experience in a future installment.  You can also save replays of your best races and play them back to check your technique (or just show off the game to friends). As far as sound, G1 goes for the tame end of the scale with somewhat generic sounding mostly rock/jazz tunes, but it actually works in the game’s favor. I can’t imagine listening to some licensed music blasting away while I’m trying to concentrate on winning.  The sound design is well done, although the various crowds in the game could be a bit louder.

Too bad there’s no show jumping, dressage, or harness racing, but that’s probably too much of a good thing for the majority of sequel-fed US gamers to appreciate. While it helps if you’re a fan of the sport to love G1 Jockey 3, newcomers with patience and those looking for something really different will be swept up in the uniqueness of this title. It’s a winner all the way from start to finish- go grab one while you can.