I have also just fallen into the trap of buying this game. Firstly, if
anyone expects a quality sim like GPL, then you will be greatly
disappointed. At times, the cars seem to be on rails.
Steering is a joke. I think there may be a 'driver aid' built in to the
game, as I rarely need more than 10 degrees of movement in the wheel and as
I get closer to a corner, so the sensitivity seems to get sharper. Rubbish.
The steering is obviously designed for a PS2 and a button controller.
Graphics are OK but this is far from the most important part of any game.
Take GPL, for example. In GPL, I actually get involved in the experience,
wincing when I go into a corner too fast and coming out of a four wheel
drift with a very big smile. TOCA has none of this. If anything, the
steering wheel feels as if it is merely there to give you something to do
while the car goes where it likes. The same goes for the gas and brake.
Forget subtlety. I've tried getting my MOMO force wheel set-up just about
every way I can but it is just a badly designed element of the game.
The AI is something else. They seem hell-bent on a destruction derby rather
than a race. There is no account taken of where the opposition is. The AI
merely goes for the racing line and if you happen to be there first, they
drive through you. Mind you, the damage model is pretty good and it needs
to be, as it is used every time you get close to the other cars.
Then there is the unlocking of tracks, cars, etc. Do Codemasters really
think that the average PC owner wants to buy a game and then wait however
many weeks before getting access to all of it? Then comes the real gem - if
you want to get a cheat code to unlock the game you have bought, they want
you to either call a 1 per minute premium rate line or BUY the code on the
Web. This just adds insult to injury. (By the way, there is already a
cheat code generator available from game crack sites).
This is just another arcade racer with poor handling and laughable control.
If you are thinking of buying it, best wait for the next patch (or two). I
wish I had.
Back to GPL.
Kayf.
> It has many many good points,if not great points.
> BUT the bad points are bugging me badly right now.
> XP2800+
> 9700 pro
> 512 DDR 2700
> Visually it is the best i have ever seen,no doubts.
> The actual tracks and cars are excellent visually too,accuracy is
debateable
> :)
> Online i tried with the standard Gamespy association and it was again
> excellent.The ability to see who is in race before entering ala Vroc is
> great.In fact it is a good Vroc imitation,and nothing wrong with that.
> There are endless settings for the game and once we all get into our
> routines i presume alot of these wont be touched,but for now it seems i am
> finding something at every turn.
> Now...the REALLY bad thing for me.
> The steering is proving difficult to get right,default is enough to stop
> anyone ever racing this ever again,but after 35 minutes of trial and error
i
> have found settings that are 'nearly' there.I am using Act Labs equipment.
> Like all games i await a genius to come up with a fix for the steering or
> even a patch from Codies.
> Overall after 1 hour i am very impressed for what it is...it will provide
> another online source for me and us and thats ok by me.
> Game scores 75% so far....steering weighing it down alot.
> If anyone else is interested i have my steerring on 0.659 saturation and
> 0.40 deadzone,i know the wheels make a difference so it might not help.
> More updates later.
> AD
