Only one thing to say, buy it!!!!
Johan Meissner
Only one thing to say, don't!
>Only one thing to say, don't!
One more thing to say, listen to Kent NOT Iain. It's the best ARCADE RACER yet
IMHO.
Bob
Its Great...
...No its rubbish...
....It really is great
......No - IT STINKS
Nothing like informed, constructive debate is there?
IMO TOCA leans to the arcade end of the racer market, whilst still
retaining some appeal to the sim enthusiasts.
Arcade style:
Having to pick up enough points to unlock more tracks
Being given cheat codes on success to drive a Tank around Brands!
The damage modelling - you can take some serious hits (a la Mansell into
Starkeys Bridge) and carry on apparently unaffected (with some dents to
prove it).
The AI - very aggresive.
Qualifying - huge difference between first & last guarantee you will be
starting mid pack.
Difficulty - Some tracks (Donnington) are too easy in Championship mode w/o
the option to make it harder.
No setups - not even tyre choice
No rear view mirror! - a key (or button) press to see behind
Multiplayer - works well but cannot choose CCs to race as well.
Sim:
The graphics - Some feel they are not brill - but are more sim like than
arcade - no real artistic license except for the air traffic.
Weather - quite well done (though not variable)
Tracks seem reasonably modelled.
Driving model - seems pretty good, although the lack of setups prevent the
feel to be modified. Brake lock ups, oversteer on too aggresive an entry,
wheelspin (FWD), bounce over kerbs.
Car performance - the relative performance of the BTCC teams this season
feels about right.
Overall:
We can get away with the aggresive AI in a Touring car game as the
consequences of contact do not mean an instant spin or off (as in some F1
games, or Nascar), and we come to expect some contact in Touring cars as
part & parcel of the race.
Clearly we PC sim enthusiasts are losing out because this game is designed
for both PC & Playstation - I guess we really need more separate versions.
To me the game provides some lighter relief to the core sims (F1RS, GP2,
ICR2), better than driving the wrong around the track in the aforementioned
sims.
My expectations as a sim were never that high, so I am not disappointed by
this game, but it does fuel a desire for a more sim like version 2.
Version 2 wish list - this will grow, but I would really like:
A rear view mirror!
Variable weather - e.g. a drying track - and tyre choices. Perhaps the
option to set up stiffness front & rear to allow for driving style
preferences.
Remove the arcade style of unlocking tracks, and cheat codes.
More difficulty options
Multiplayer to include option of CCs.
To me qualifying in the middle of the pack is fine - adds to the fun.
An option for more realistic damage - bashing through a pack of cars needs
to be discouraged for realism.
This is a fun game - the options above would add to the appeal to the
enthusiasts, w/o detracting from its appeal to the arcade racers IMHO.
Cheers
Tony
One thing to say, Try for yourself.
> Only one thing to say, don't!
--
Thank you
Marc Johnson
