TOCA Race Driver 2: The Ultimate Racing Simulator Hands-On Impressions

The PC version of Codemasters' upcoming racing game, TOCA Race Driver 2: The Ultimate Racing Simulator, was on hand at Game Developers Conference 2004 in San Jose. The game will feature a whopping 31 different "championship tracks," which are essentially sets of racetracks and designated cars--and each championship track consists of one or more different courses.

The different courses also include cars from different time periods; for instance, the first track, simply known as Sunshine Series, features winding courses that take place in a sunny, palm-tree-laden locale that resembles Miami, Florida, and lets you drive such modern cars as a Ford GT. However, other courses will let you drive vintage cars, like a Jaguar G-Type series II, an Astin-Martin DB5, or a 1968 Ford Mustang. As you might expect, each of these cars handles entirely differently; the GT has the quick from-zero acceleration you'd expect from a modern racing car, while the vintage Jaguar takes a bit longer to get fully revved up. All cars are controlled with a streamlined system that uses arrow keys to accelerate, reverse, steer, and gear up or down, plus a handbrake, which can be used to "powerslide" into turns. In the version we played, and presumably in the final game, only a handful of tracks were available to play, and on these, only one car was available for use. The rest of the tracks, and the remaining cars for each track, had to be unlocked by completing the available courses and making a respectable showing at the finish line, though hopefully the game's sizable number of courses and cars should make the endeavor worthwhile.

TOCA Race Driver 2 seems to offer a huge variety of courses and vehicles and features a few interesting special effects, like tire tracks that remain on the track after you slam on the handbrake and a highly reflective shader texture used on several of the cars for a squeaky-clean look. However, the game also models damage to your cars, including smashed fenders, broken lights, and even torn-off front axles, though if your car is irreparably damaged on the track, you'll immediately lose the race. The game is scheduled to ship later this year for both the PC and the Xbox. We'll have more on this upcoming racing game soon.