Sport of Kings

Unarguably the best horse racing simulation ever, Sport of Kings (formerly released by Omni-play as Omni-play Horse Racing) was designed by the master of sport sims, Ed Ringler. As can be expected from his works, the game is loaded with features and excellent gameplay that even people who are not familiar with the sport will be hooked.

The basic aim of the game, of course, is to bet on horse races and try to win as much money as possible. You start by entering your name into the tournament along with any friends that might want to play. Once set up, you can view the entry information which will tell you which horses are racing along with their odds of winning, Jockey information, past results, and racing conditions. You can then place your bet, which isn't a simple matter of putting your money on the table. Depending on the number of horses in a race, you will be given various betting options. For instance, if there are only 5 horses racing you can only bet on a horse to win, place or show. Of course, the riskier the bet, the more money you can win.

The game is packed with many options and statistics to study. You can view any horse's or Jockey's whole career.. and even review any better's career in betting! There is even an option to buy a tip from a better who has a good betting history. Once you have made your bet you can then watch the race, which is displayed in exciting side-screen view, with good animation of the horses. All race results are saved and can be reviewed at any time. There are graphical interludes that add atmosphere to the game.

Despite the deluge of options and information, Sport of Kings is easy to get into. This is definitely one of those games that is different every time you play, so you will never, ever get bored. The game design has withstood the test of time, and you will enjoy it whenever you load it up. Two thumbs up, way up!

Review By HOTUD