Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Power and Glory or the Pits?, 4 Sep 2002
The TOCA series has always promised much, and usually delivered. However, with Race Driver, there seems to be a fair amount of dissapointment to dampen the enjoyment. I will start with the major flaws, saving the positive aspects till the end, as there are some surprisingly excellent touches. Firstly, for anyone who has played the superb World Touring Cars on the PS1- this is just an extension of that - minus the night races! However, the pop-ups are glaringly frequent, and the rendering fuzzy and lacking detail on some views. The sound, especially of the bonus cars is appalling on some replays (again, the real attention has gone into the 'official' race machines), and the handling, whilst great, is just too safe and simple (only the bonus vehicles present any kind of powersliding challenges!) - In three or so sesssions I am nearly half way through the 'intermediate' league with a Schumacheresque win rate! This game has been Americanised (literally), needlessly, and dumbed down a notch from the PS1 series. The good points; well, Mini Coopers, Marcos, TVR Tuscan Challenge, and NASCAR type racing, along with some pretty good car models (lovely interiors in some cases) for one! Secondly, blasting through the old Hockenheim Circuit in a GT1, as viewed from the wide angle bonnet cam produces the most incredible (and smooth) sensation of speed I have ever witnesses - absolutely terrifying! I cannot claim this is a full review, as this game keeps surprising me at every turn in my limited time with it. However, this title has been a disappointment in many ways - a sideways move from the PS1 rather than the great leap forward we had all expected. The pack shots seem to contain some high end photos - an admission in my humble opinion of a game not quite delivering on it's promises. A great shame, as this is undoubtably (to this fully blown petrol head who's seen it all, whether in -car, side of the track, or on the computer!!!) the most entertaining game I've played since GTA - GT3 will probably stay in the box along with V -Rally 3 for a long while to come!
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15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
ToCA while to enjoy, 28 Aug 2002
By A Customer
If you're anything like me, you were waiting for this one with baited breath. A car enthusiast, hoping for a Gran Turismo-type game with a great damage model and a more arcadey, user-friendly drive. Therefore, if you're anything like me, I feel you'll be a little disappointed with this one.The AI of the cars is excellent, especially the team play of same-team drivers and the pack-racing displayed, but the graphics are literally far more akin to top-end PSone graphics rather than something you'd expect from a PS2. The story mode is also very much a gimmic, than a game-enhancing feature, and very soon, you'll find it's something that pesters you between races rather than keeping you gripped to the game. No eye-candy whatsoever present here and with 42 cars, a far more limited choice than Gran Turismo. Very arcadey handling, and that annoying feeling that you can easily get round the track and win without even having to break. On the plus side, fantastic AI, other drivers seeming like real-life opponents. This is one only for the die-hard racing-game fans. I'd strongly recommend trying before you buy.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Codemasters does it again, 24 Aug 2002
As a big fan of the previous TOCA games and a big fan of touring cars, I was very much looking forward to this game. This game lives up to all the hype around it. TOCA race driver perfects the idea of World Touring Cars. The storyline also adds something to the game. The cut scenes have very impressive graphics, and there aren't too many of them. The story so far is also quite good. The handling of the cars is a good mix between arcade and simulation. To get a good start you can't just plant the throttle, and stamping on the brake causes the brakes to lock up. Each car has its own handling characteristics. The menus in games aren't normally something to talk about, but they are very impressive in this game. The wide array of cars and circuits mean you will never get bored of this game. The graphics are very impressive (while not quite upto GT3 & GTConcept standard, but this game is about great racing) and the damage is just amazing. Some of the crashes you have are gorgeous to watch. The damage also has a realistic effect on the cars performance. The only downside is a bit of slowdown in the really big crashes. The engine noise is also very realistic, and the radio from the pits during races is a nice thing. There is also a good setup screen with all the options you want. THe advice from the mechanic helps for the less experienced racer. The racing is also very exciting and closely matched. The drivers do defend the line when you try and pass. They will even pass you. There is none of the computer players just staying on the racing line. The computer players also make mistakes, so you can come round a corner and have a car sat in the middle of the road. Another great addition is the fact that the computer cars take revenge on you for something you did to them. My only criticisms are that you can't qualify, you can't put you're own name on the cars and that it would have been nice to have more than three real championships. This game has set the standard for racing games. This is a must buy, even if you don't like motor racing much!
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