Auto Modellista Preview

Naturally, when a racing game is cel-shaded, you might expect the gameplay to match that vibrant look with mechanics that form an arcade-style racer as opposed to a hard-core simulation. But that isn't the case with Capcom's upcoming cel-shaded driving game Auto Modellista, which actually features gameplay mechanics that might seem more at home in Gran Turismo 3 than in Ridge Racer. Indeed, even the sheer number of customization and tuning options for individual cars that are available in Auto Modellista is sure to please even the most dedicated driving fans. Of course, another major attraction for the game is that it supports online play, but unfortunately, we've not been able to connect to any of the Japanese servers.

Auto Modellista features a slick cel-shaded look.

Auto Modellista offers four options when you start the game--VJ & theater, arcade, network, and garage life. VJ & theater is essentially the same tool that Capcom used to create the introduction sequence for the game. You can take any one of your saved replays, import them into the editor, and add a variety of effects ranging from various graphical overlays and visual effects to different soundtracks and sound effects. For example, you can add some sweet cowbell to the soundtrack, throw in a few claps here and there, select a cool blurring effect, and then choose one of the graphics overlays (which include some great phrases such as "give thanks to the racer" and "feel nothing without vibration"), and you're pretty much set. It's an interesting option that makes the prospect of saving replays even more valuable.

The gameplay resembles Gran Turismo 3 more than it does any arcade racer.

The arcade option in Auto Modellista features three gameplay modes, including single race, versus, and time attack. The single race mode lets you select from several different tracks as well as the direction you want to run the race. This is actually somewhat important for some courses because it will determine whether you're racing in an uphill challenge or a downhill challenge, but for the other tracks, it simply indicates if you're going to run in the reverse direction or the normal direction. Once you've selected a track, you can then select a car from a list of manufacturers that includes Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Daihatsu, Suzuki, or a customized Tommy Kaira--it's worth noting that the North American version of Auto Modellista will probably feature a slightly different list. Each manufacturer has around six to seven cars to select from, but if you've already participated in the garage life mode then you can select one of your highly customized vehicles as well.

When you've selected a car, you can select between the normal or customized appearance and then auto-tune your car for the track, which means that your car's acceleration, grip, and other variables will be optimized for the particular track that you've selected. Then you can adjust the parameters for the race, including the number of laps, then toggle boost (which gives you or computer-controlled opponents a boost in speed when lagging behind) off or on, and then set the difficulty level. The time attack and split-screen versus modes are set up in a similar manner, only in the time attack mode you won't have the option to toggle boost or set the computer difficulty level since there aren't any computer opponents out on the track.