TOCA Race Driver 2: The Ultimate Racing Simulator

"Fantastic!!! A must for newcomers and veterans."

Introduction
This truly is a great game with a wide scope to engage fans and newcomers to the series alike. The graphics and damage modelling are fantastic - what we have come to expect from the TOCA series over the years, and the feel of the cars are noticeably different, and as close to reality as you can get. So, is this the greatest of the TOCA installments yet? Read on to find out more...

Graphics - 10/10
When I first got this game, I was very impressed with the graphics, particularly the track and it's surroundings, but was little disappointed with the amount of "jagginess" present on the cars. Therefore I would recommend the 1.2 patch, as this allows FSAA (anti-aliasing) to be forced which gets rid of "jagginess" smoothing out the line of the cars. I am running this on my computer..

2.5Ghz
512mb RAM
Radeon 9800pro

..at 1280*1024 at top detail (barring high-res bonnet reflections that interferes with the AA) and 4*AA and AF turned on also, and it runs like a dream with no slowdown at all. With the options maxed out the cars also look fantastic showing good reflection quality and dents on contact with the wall (or more likely) the opposition, which brings me to the most important aspect of any game...

Gameplay - 8/10

Generally, as I have eluded to already, the feel of the game is spot on and as you progress through the single player mode, the game forces you to adapt to varied racing styles from one championship to the next, whilst still retaining a choice of two different championships at many stages throughout the single player campaign. You can go from the relatively slow and easy to use feel of the vintage classics such as the Jaguar E Type through to the DTM touring car and Aston Martin DB9 over just a couple of seasons.

Each championship will set you a different goal, some more easy than others as you progress from a rookie to the top. Sometimes this will involve money, other times pure track position or beating another driver in the race to show your skills. This keeps your interest, and adds more to the game than just having to win everything. For example, you may finish 5th in a race, but because your rival finished 6th, you still move on. In the single player mode, cut scenes tell the story. The cut scenes are polished (if a little cheesy) and add more to the game than those in TOCA race driver.

However, everything isn't perfect, as you may find yourself having to replay many of the levels repeatedly as you struggle to move between styles of the truck racing and DTM touring cars after one race! The rallying aspects of the game are also fairly poor, which is a surprise considering the realistic feel of the colin mcrae series, but I suppose this is to be expected when trying to fit in all of the racing styles into one game. In each race in single player, you will also expect to be placed randomly on the grid, which can often prove frustrating when you start in 15th and have to finish 1st. However, scything through the pack is as fun as it ever was, and it certainly adds to the challenging nature of the gameplay.

Sound - 10/10

The sound is top notch, with the engine noise being spot on for every vehicle and clunky gear changes and such are present when the vehicle gets damaged. This is all through my integrated sound as well, so I can imagine it would be even more involving with a decent soundcard and set of speakers. The voiceovers of your Scottish adviser can become annoying at times, but you can't stop him and he is only a very small part of the game anyway.
Screeching of tyres and smashing glass are also very well done leading to a polished sound set of sound effects. Some people may be disappointed at the lack of a good in-game soundtrack, but in my opinion this would ruin the realism and make it feel more arcade-like.

Replayability - 9/10
For any racing fan, there is plenty here to keep you amused - there is even a large temptation to replay the entire single player campaign choosing the championships that you didn't choose the first time. Simulator mode (free race, time trial etc.) oozes variety and it is hard to get bored when everything is also customisable. Online play also greatly adds to the replayability, and anyone with a broadband connection should be able to enjoy racing with some mates.

Conclusion
Despite the small flaws, this is well worth the purchase, especially at the cut prices you find around at the moment. Some say they have tried too hard and as a result haven't got everything as polished as it should be, but I don't agree. This is a must but for any racing fan or, for that matter, anyone who wants an introduction to the genre.

Overall Score : 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/08/04