Original Release: Tantalus, 2001, PC/PlayStation
Other Releases: Game Boy Color (unreleased)
One of the first serious attempts to represent the world of competitive horsies outside of the racetrack
Equestriad 2001 (GBC, Tantalus, unreleased)
How to Emulate: coming soon!
Review by: C. M0use
Equestriad was released as a 3D “dressage” sim on the PlayStation … there was also this attempt at a 2D version that ended up going unreleased, and while it’s not absolutely terrible it’s pretty frustrating and you can see why it got shelved despite being very near completion.
The game is a rare equestrian competition or “horse trials” simulator, featuring three events that I assume are common in these sorts of things: dressage, cross country and show jumping.
“Dressage” in the real world is perhaps better known as “competitive horse prancing,” but the way it’s implemented here is more like a very simple and fussy GTA driving mission. You have to follow a series of dots exactly while maintaining the correct horse speed at all times … any little mistake in the process disqualifies you and ends the race instantly. I found this mode too obnoxious to play.
“Cross country” looks like it’ll be more fun initially as it seems to just consist of running at high speed and jumping stuff, but it’s plagued by more fussiness along with weird unspoken rules. A jump counter at the bottom seems to indicate you’re supposed to be leaping obstacles, but somehow trying to jump most things is an instant disqualification? I really don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing in this mode.
“Show jumping” actually ends up being the easiest to deal with as it’s just a long course of jumping obstacles, in which the jumping actually works this time. But you have to get absolutely everything right in the approach and speed or the persnickety horse refuses to jump and pretty much screws you.
The game does really seem to get into the nitty-giritty of the sport as much as a cramped GBC title can, but the incredibly fussy gameplay (paired with total lack of explanation of how any of these competitions works) makes it very frustrating to play. The 3D version that was actually released seems to have a cult following, maybe that came off better.
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