Champion Jockey: G1 Jockey & Gallop Racer

Champion Jockey: G1 Jockey & Gallop Racer is a 2011 horse racing simulator video game from Tecmo Koei, released for the PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360.[1][2] The game replicates real-life events such as the Jockey's Cup (also known as the Breeders Cup) and the Louisville Derby (also known as the Kentucky Derby). The Xbox 360 version was not released in North America. A Nintendo Switch port, titled Champion Jockey Special, was released exclusively in Japan in 2017.[3][4]

Champion Jockey: G1 Jockey & Gallop Racer
UK poster
Developer(s)Koei
Publisher(s)Tecmo Koei
SeriesG1 Jockey
Gallop Racer
Platform(s)PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch
Release
  • EU: September 2, 2011
  • JP/AU: September 22, 2011
  • NA: November 8, 2011 (PS3 and Wii)
Nintendo Switch:
  • JP: September 14, 2017
Genre(s)Alternative sports (horse racing)
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Released shortly after Koei and Tecmo merged in 2009, Champion Jockey is a loose crossover between two horse racing game series that they developed while as separate companies: Tecmo's Gallop Racer series and Koei's G1 Jockey series.[5] It is the first game in either series to be available on a Microsoft console and have a Nintendo console version localized for North America.

Gameplay edit

All versions of the game allow the player to choose between motion controllers (Wii Remote and Nunchuk, PlayStation Move, Kinect or Joy-Con, depending on the platform) or traditional pad controls, with the latter being implemented with Classic Controller on Wii and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller for Special on Switch. The Wii version also supports, but does not require, the Wii Balance Board. There are nineteen playable racecourses in all, which are unlicensed, fictionalized versions of real-life horse racing courses around the world.[6]

The Japan-exclusive Special also features connectivity with the Nintendo Switch version of Winning Post 8, a contemporary installment of another horse racing series developed by Koei and mostly exclusive to Japan, allowing steeds and riders created in one game to appear in the other.[4]

Downloadable content edit

All versions had eight downloadable content packs that were available to purchase: four music packs, three extra mount/jockey packs and one "Champion Code" pack required for online play. One of the mount/jockey packs called the "Special Pack" added the option to race with a roadbike or special "motoskates". The Playstation 3 had a unique Medieval themed mount/jockey pack.[7][8][9]

References edit

  1. ^ pm, IGN StaffUpdated: 19 Jan 2012 9:48 pmPosted: 4 Aug 2011 9:54 (4 August 2011), Tecmo Koei America Announces Champion Jockey Release Date - IGN, retrieved 2021-10-03{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Champion Jockey: G1 Jockey & Gallop Racer Review | Gaming Union". www.gamingunion.net. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
  3. ^ "Champion Jockey Special announced for Switch". Gematsu. 13 June 2017. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Sato (13 June 2017). "Champion Jockey Special Announced For Switch In Japan For September 14". Silconera. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  5. ^ Sinclair, Brendan (4 August 2011). "Champion Jockey saddled with Oct. 25 post time". GameSpot. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Tecmo Koei America Announces Champion Jockey Release Date". IGN. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Champion Jockey". marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/. Archived from the original on 2011-10-14. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
  8. ^ "Champion Jockey". marketplace.xbox.com/en-AU/. Archived from the original on 2014-08-28. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
  9. ^ "EU PlayStation Store update 14th Sept". www.eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2021-10-29.

External links edit