Reviewed: November 15, 2004
Reviewed by: Mike Gonzales
Publisher
Codemasters
Developer
Codemasters
Released: October 5, 2004
Genre: Racing
Players: 2 / 8
ESRB: Teen
9
9
7
9
8.9
Supported Features:
Those of you racing fans that have been patiently waiting for Gran Tursimo 4, I feel your pain. The world’s greatest racing franchise only gets hazier and hazier with each news update, the most shocking being the statement at this year’s Tokyo Game Show that the developers have completely dropped online play. This reviewer is even willing to bet that GT4 won’t make its mid-December release and not surface until summer of ’05. Well, for those of you that are tired of the old Sony runaround and want to get that online racing bone scratched, I have a possible solution for you. While it may not come with much hype, TOCA: Race Driver 2 is an incredible online racing simulator that offers more than any of its competitors, even our beloved (and belated) Gran Turismo.
TOCA 2 Features:
- ToCA Race Driver 2 is a real simulator: real performance cars, real damage, real physics and real driver AI created by Codemasters' renowned motor racing game studio.
- The most diverse range of motorsports in any one game – 15 different racing styles over 33 championships.
- Start as a professional: get the top supercars from the start and drive the best.
- 52 circuits – more real life and accurately modeled circuits than ever before.
- High detail car models, each with individual realistic handling.
- Realistic damage – you can't have a “simulator” without damage.
- Go beyond ultimate - PS2 hardcore “Pro-Sim mode” for total realism!
- Race your friends – head-to-head online gameplay for up to 8 players.
- Global Rating System - gain or lose championship points depending on your results.
- Full voice support - talk to everyone at once with no restrictions.
- Friends List - invite your friends to race or join their races when they are online.
Also, for those sim-freaks out there, TOCA’s improved engine (no pun intended) allows for realistic handling and crashing like never before. No position is safe as anything between a tire blowout and a massive wreck can take your car out of commission at any time. And even though the game doesn’t quite look as good as Colin McRae or GT, it comes very close. Plus when you consider the mass amount of content and the fantastic price of $29.99, you simply can’t go wrong. I think you all know where I’m headed with this one.
Like most racing sims, TOCA 2 has a deep career mode that starts you off as a “young buck” in the sport. The game has some pretty nice cutscenes that tell your tale, similar to R: Racing Evolution except without the hotties. The ten hour long career mode pretty much consists of working your way up the ladder, competing either for a respectable time or a solid race position. Your team will set objectives for you on each race and the only way to keep them happy, as well as keep those funds coming, is to perform at your best.
While there really isn’t anything innovative about the career mode, it has the same features seen in any other game, meaning no gamer will feel shortchanged, except for those GT players who want the option to race for a solid year, collecting licenses and competing in 10 hour long races. Of course, anyone looking for that kind of time-consuming racing probably already knows to wait for GT4, provided we’re all still around when it ships.
The single most impressive aspect of this game has to be the in-game mechanics. Unlike any other racing simulator, TOCA 2 sports the most realistic car damage around. The problems one can experience during a race all depend on the driver and how he or she handles their vehicle. If a player gets too comfortable near a guardrail and can’t prevent a collision with the front wheel, the alignment can get awkward, increasing chances of rolling over the vehicle.
As if that wasn’t cool enough, busted tires, broken axles, and engine failures add even more to the list of mechanical issues, making this one of the most realistic racing games around. This really adds a whole new level to racing simulators, finally forcing drivers to perfect their skills and maybe bringing an end to those annoying crash-mongers in the online universe. This new feature along with the improved and equally tuned car physics make for incredibly life-like racing experiences, sending this title’s gameplay score through the roof.
As far as the online component goes, TOCA 2 provides some exhilarating 8-player head-to-head racing. Just choose the series type, choose the vehicle and choose the track. It’s a pretty simple process, though not as fast and smooth as Xbox Live, but it definitely does the trick; and at a much cheaper price too.
PS2 trash-talkers will also be pleased to know that TOCA provides the USB headset support needed to get under opponents’ skin. It is here that Race Driver 2 achieves powerhouse status among racers. Despite the low price tag, this game offers the complete online package. Playing over 50 tracks with 35 licensed cars online with 7 other players is something we should have seen a while ago and Codemasters have done a great job making this a reality.
What would a racing simulator be without good graphics? Nothing. Luckily, TOCA 2 is a very pretty game and even though it won’t boast the new shiny look of upcoming games like NFSU2 or GT4, it will definitely prove to be a visual force. Each of the licensed cars looks identical to their real-world counterparts. Reflections on the vehicle reflect it’s actually surrounding instead of a generic landscape scrolling across the car. Little subtleties like tree shadows and burnt rubber marks on the track are a necessity in race sims and it should please everyone to know they are all done perfectly here. Environments are also appealing and have a huge impact on the look and mood of each race, be it a hot summer afternoon or one of those darker cold days at an icy track.
Car damage is especially intriguing since Race Driver 2 is one of the few games to offer such detailed vehicle malfunction. Tires will go flying from a car as its front end gets smashed in by a wall, causing tons of different parts like bumpers to litter the ground throughout the hazard zones. In fact, most cars that are even lucky enough to cross the finish line will be disfigured in some way. It’s so refreshing to see TOCA has eliminated the invincible car when so many previous titles have yet to do so.
The overall sound in Race Driver 2 isn’t anything groundbreaking and delivers what most of us would consider the norm for this genre. It’s unfortunate that PS2 owners will never have the satisfaction of custom soundtracks, as the music gets a little repetitive and uninspired at times. After that, the engine sounds remain solid and the little extras like the pit crew comments are nice but aren’t enough to improve its score. Maybe they should have spent the extra 10 bucks to have Snoop Dogg write a song.
I don’t think there’s a person on this earth that can argue that this game isn’t a steal. Simply put, for just $30 this game provides more for your buck than almost any title. With over 50 tracks, 35 cars, 33 Championships in career mode, 15 different vehicle classes, and an 8-player online mode, TOCA provides one of the most complete racing experiences to date, forcing those eager to play the new offline Gran Turismo to give this title a try and, if you ask me, they won’t be disappointed.
TOCA: Race Driver 2 is another fantastic simulator from Codemasters, the same developer that brought us the other low-priced powerhouse, Colin McRae Rally 2005. Offering more features than any racer before it, TOCA 2 will more than likely be considered one of the best racers of the year. It has incredibly realistic gameplay, the graphics are very pretty, and the online mode is easy to navigate and a blessing for those disappointed about Sony’s latest GT4 announcement.
With this latest release, TOCA also establishes itself as another one of the year’s best deals joining other hits like ESPN’s sports series. Basically, what I’m trying to say is anyone who gets a thrill out of racing real-life cars all over the world, online and off should purchase this game. Anyone who may still have doubts about what this title offers should at least rent it, but I won’t be surprised if the game doesn’t permanently hold it’s spot in your PS2 library.