TOCA RACE DRIVER 3 V8 SUPERCARS DRIVERS
Drivers have to worry about tires, fuel, damaging bodywork (it upsets the aerodynamics), other drivers and even blowing the engine. Playing the career-mode unlocks countless tracks and over 70 cars, but it takes a long time and nerves of steel in some of the races, which have larger entrant lists. With that option on, it edges towards a proper racing simulation, which is the way I like it. With the pro-handling option turned off, Race Driver 3 is nothing more than a pretty looking arcade. Not only are they faster this way, but the game is much more of a challenge. There is simply nothing else that looks as good as Race Driver 3.Ĭranking the sound up is also recommended as each car has its own unique sound: some wail, some scream, some rumble, and the sound of gears crunching at high speeds is so addictive, the rev limit can`t come soon enough! Just make sure to choose the "manual" driving option and the "pro-handling" option to get the best out of the cars.
When it was tested on a high-end machine, the beauty and the pain-staking detail Codemasters put into it really shows and that puts it above other titles in the genre. It has to be mentioned that the graphics are absolutely stunning and the game ran smoothly even on a medium-performance PC. Some cars like the open-wheeled racers or the American muscle cars need delicate control in order to be driven smoothly, yet others can be thrashed mercilessly around the circuit for the best times, such as the V6 Clios, which beg to be punished. Race Driver 3 can only be truly enjoyed with a steering wheel and pedals, as it`s impossible to control your brake and throttle input with a keyboard or a gamepad. Cheating by cutting chicanes and driving on the grass won`t help, which is welcomed, and the best strategy is to simply learn the car, learn the circuit, and most importantly, stay on the line! What`s important is that the AI is not stupid, and that racing is much more disciplined and therefore realistic.
The AI still needs work, and is nowhere near as smart as on Simbin`s simulations GTR and GT Legends, but those are different stories altogether. I`m glad that Codemasters made the handling a bit more realistic and that more skill is required in order to finish clean laps and stay on the racing line. It is possible to control cars using just the throttle through corners, as well as tapping on the brakes and throttle simultaneously in order to avoid spinning out. In Race Driver 2, I found the game too easy to master, after which driving gets a bit boring as it`s not involving enough, but this time I really had to watch the throttle and brake control. After which, take on some rally racing in a Mitsubishi Evo and then back onto the circuits to do battle in the technically superior German DTM series, or the extremely exciting Aussie V8 Supercars (my personal favourite). For example gamers can finish a Monster Truck career cup driving a behemoth with a heavily supercharged, American big-block V8 engine and then step into an open-wheel 1000cc motorbike-engined circuit race-car.
What really does put this racer in a class of its own is the varied racing disciplines available and the amount of different cars. For fans of easy-to-learn racing action without too many technical car set-ups necessary, this will surely be a win, and Codemasters should make shed-loads of money from gamers looking for something more than Need for Speed: Most Wanted and similar pure arcade titles.