One or two people have posted in this newsgroup to the effect that TOCA
Touring car racing is not a good simulation, and is no more than a
jumped-up arcade title. Well, I don't agree. I have played a lot of racing
games in the past and none has ever hooked me or even made me want to go
out and buy a steering wheel... until TOCA!
This is a superb game. You want realism? From the track I can see exactly
where I sat last time I went to Brands Hatch. The detail of the circuits is
truly incredible. OK, not so interesting to American race fans who will
never visit the tracks, but a great experience for the British enthusiast.
And have you ever seen such perfect simulation of bumpiness - both of the
tarmac, occasionally throwing you off, and the grass beside the track.
Fantastic as the car scrabbles for grip on full throttle as you power out
of a hairpin or regain the track after an off. Listen to the revs rise and
fall as it fights to get a grip. Also, when the car snaps sideways, as it
often does if you overdo it on the entry, you actually CAN catch it, and it
feels just great to wind on the opposite lock in a flash and almost feel
the car respond and straighten. Of course, this loses you a lot of time if
you do it in qualifying, as it should, but its sooo satisfying in a race.
And what about the sound? Incredible engine noise plus the whine of
straight cut gears, the bump of the rumble strip and the rattle of stones
in the arches. Also, take a look at the other cars, and notice that the
wheel angles are perfect as they corner. These aren't shoe boxes you're
racing, but real , realistic, cars. What's more, they go off, and if you
watch, they have superb AI as they regain the track, tyres smoking, in
either forward or reverse.
A lot has been said about the handling model, and in particular that you
lose the back end if you go in on full gas, as you would a rear wheel drive
car, whereas the cars simulated are supposed to be front wheel drive.
However, for all I know, the specialised suspension of a touring car might
make this behaviour also true of a front wheel drive car, as its front
wheels drag it through the corner. And also, bear in mind that if you throw
the car into a corner too fast on a trailing throttle the back end will
snap out just as easily.
Is it fun? Of course it is. Remember, the guys that write these programs
have got to make money, and if the game is just too inaccessible it gets a
bad review and nobody buys it. It takes a long long time to get into F1RS,
and I think this puts off Joe Public. If you don't think TOCA is fun for
the hardened fan (and I am one) as well as the arcade kids, then just
approach the final hairpin at Knockhill flat in sixth. Slam on the anchors
at the hundred yard board and flick the car from side to side like a rally
car as it slows, then floor the gas pedal as you see the apex (you're
sideways) and hurtle off along the start/finish straight for a 45 second
lap. THAT is fun!
PS I don't work for Codemasters, and I don't know anyone who does!