G1 Jockey 2008 for the Nintendo Wii is a horse racing simulator by Japanese games developer Koei. The game is in its second incarnation on the Wii console, although it has been available previously on both PlayStation and PlayStation 2 consoles where multiple versions were released. There is also a version of the game available on PlayStation 3.
This latest version of G1 Jockey 2008 features support for the Wii Fit balance board to enhance player experience within the game.
The game puts the player in the role of a young, upcoming jockey, and the player begins the game as a raw apprentice facing their final graduation. The goal of the game is to rise through the ranks of the sport to become champion jockey and a horse racing legend in the process.
This is done, not just by riding in and winning races but also by training your own horses for success on the track.
The game begins with the player choosing common options to create their in-game persona, such as their sex, riding colors and their affiliated stable for whom they will ride. Then it is off to graduation school to learn the trade.
The graduation school feature is essentially the tutorial for the game, where new players can learn the basic controls to control the horses and read the in-game meters for race-riding. Players familiar with the game from the previous release can skip the tutorials as the gameplay is exactly the same.
Once the player has completed all the tutorials (or skipped them!) they are given four mock races to try out in order to hone their new-found skills and get used to putting them into practice; after which the final graduation takes place and the game begins in earnest.
Essentially the game involves negotiating each week for horses to ride in races. This is done by accumulating and spending points – the more points a player accumulate, the better the chance of getting a ride in a race. However, to get points the player has to perform well in races for those trainers they ride for. At the beginning, players will mostly ride for their attached stable who will offer horses to ride at no cost. Performing well on these will soon see the player attracting the attention of other stables who will also begin to offer the player rides.
In between riding weeks, you’ll be able to visit the stables and practice on the horses you’re due to ride. Also, once you are given your own horse to train you’ll be introduced to a series of mini-games which can be used to build up your horse’s profile including their stamina, speed and running style. There is also the option to visit other stables, which can be handy to build up trust and reputation and enhance the player’s chances of picking up additional rides.
Undoubtedly the worst part of the game is the over-long and highly tedious 2D cut-scenes which frequently punctuate the game. These usually appear when a trainer, journalist, rival jockey or even an obsessed fan speaks to you and there’s no right to reply. There’s also a lot of reading involved which really goes nowhere fast and players will soon be skimming the text quickly. Unfortunately, there’s no way to bypass this feature, so be ready to hit the ‘A’ button repeatedly.