Toca Race Driver 3

Every Race Driver instalment was touted as the ultimate racer, but they were never proper simulations. Rather, they presented something between an arcade and a simulation racer. The latest game from Codemasters falls slightly more to the simulation side, but it is still not enough to warrant the game`s "best racer available" line.

For fans of easy-to-learn racing action without too many technical car set-ups necessary, this will surely be a win, and Codemasters should make shed-loads of money from gamers looking for something more than Need for Speed: Most Wanted and similar pure arcade titles.

What really does put this racer in a class of its own is the varied racing disciplines available and the amount of different cars. For example gamers can finish a Monster Truck career cup driving a behemoth with a heavily supercharged, American big-block V8 engine and then step into an open-wheel 1000cc motorbike-engined circuit race-car. After which, take on some rally racing in a Mitsubishi Evo and then back onto the circuits to do battle in the technically superior German DTM series, or the extremely exciting Aussie V8 Supercars (my personal favourite).

In Race Driver 2, I found the game too easy to master, after which driving gets a bit boring as it`s not involving enough, but this time I really had to watch the throttle and brake control. It is possible to control cars using just the throttle through corners, as well as tapping on the brakes and throttle simultaneously in order to avoid spinning out. I`m glad that Codemasters made the handling a bit more realistic and that more skill is required in order to finish clean laps and stay on the racing line.

The AI still needs work, and is nowhere near as smart as on Simbin`s simulations GTR and GT Legends, but those are different stories altogether.

What`s important is that the AI is not stupid, and that racing is much more disciplined and therefore realistic. Cheating by cutting chicanes and driving on the grass won`t help, which is welcomed, and the best strategy is to simply learn the car, learn the circuit, and most importantly, stay on the line!

Race Driver 3 can only be truly enjoyed with a steering wheel and pedals, as it`s impossible to control your brake and throttle input with a keyboard or a gamepad. Some cars like the open-wheeled racers or the American muscle cars need delicate control in order to be driven smoothly, yet others can be thrashed mercilessly around the circuit for the best times, such as the V6 Clios, which beg to be punished.

It has to be mentioned that the graphics are absolutely stunning and the game ran smoothly even on a medium-performance PC. When it was tested on a high-end machine, the beauty and the pain-staking detail Codemasters put into it really shows and that puts it above other titles in the genre. There is simply nothing else that looks as good as Race Driver 3.

Cranking the sound up is also recommended as each car has its own unique sound: some wail, some scream, some rumble, and the sound of gears crunching at high speeds is so addictive, the rev limit can`t come soon enough! Just make sure to choose the "manual" driving option and the "pro-handling" option to get the best out of the cars. Not only are they faster this way, but the game is much more of a challenge. With the pro-handling option turned off, Race Driver 3 is nothing more than a pretty looking arcade. With that option on, it edges towards a proper racing simulation, which is the way I like it.

Playing the career-mode unlocks countless tracks and over 70 cars, but it takes a long time and nerves of steel in some of the races, which have larger entrant lists. Drivers have to worry about tires, fuel, damaging bodywork (it upsets the aerodynamics), other drivers and even blowing the engine. If the temperature gets too high it might all end in one loud bang and the car won`t make it back home.

Career success means progressing to higher tiers of racing, which are always varied to keep the anticipation up. I found I was much more proficient on tarmac than on gravel, so I dreaded the rally races, but longed for technical circuits like the stunning Adelaide Park.

The circuits are so pretty, it is fun just sitting there and admiring your driving skills in the replay mode. Progressing further and further up the racing ladder unlocks many cut-scenes which are also visually awesome, and kept me coming back and trying just one more time to beat those Germans in their own backyard at the famous Hockenheim.

If one registers at Codemasters` Web site after buying the game, two free cheats are made available, which would usually have to be bought.

Race Driver 3 has something for arcade and realistic simulation fans, but it falls short of the hurdle set by leading racing simulations, mainly GTR and GTL. Although these two are notoriously difficult and take months of practice to perfect, Toca is simple to learn, but difficult to master, which is what maintains interest in the game.

Gamers can load up their favourite track, (of which there are bound to be a few as they are all unique and different). The variety, once again, is better than anything else out there and that alone is worth the purchase price, as are the graphics and the sound.

So, not a perfect simulation, but then again, it was never meant to be. It`s meant to be a fun, great-looking and great-driving racing game. And that it is. I rate it a 7/10.