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PS2
Publisher: Codemasters
Mon, 6 December 2004
by: Ando
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After the highly acclaimed original Toca Race Driver, or V8 supercars (Depending on what gets your motor running if you know what I mean) comes the highly anticipated sequel from codemaster’s London studios - V8 Supercars 2.
This new edition to what has become a true contender for the title of king of motor racing games has come along nicely, with some new tech features and solid handling simulation charecteristics. We get to race around the world, not just virtually but literally, with other players utilising the games online features from all over the globe. This, for the playstation anyway, is an outstanding and in alot of ways ground breaking feature as this is the first racing simulator to take full advantage of the ps2’s network capability. I cannot explain the buzz you get from racing a DTM Audi TT round the Hokenhiem ring against a couple of German Schumacher wannabes or taking a Formula Ford around Brands Hatch against a bunch of hardcore international motorsport enthusiasts. This game literally brings people together from around the world to share their passion for motorsport, although at times things can get a little heated.
King of Sim
For some time a little racing sim franchise by the name of Gran Turismo has held the title of King of Racing Simulators and with a new edition (GT4) due for release in the coming months it’s status is set to be up for review once again. While GT3 offered a great deal of cars, tracks and general racing playability, it was notably lacking in actual real life Racing Series. At least racing series, or formulas if you like, that we (or motorheads like me) know and watch. Of course this is where Toca Race Driver (the game's non Australian release title) comes into its own; with the standout racing series, for Aussies anyway, - V8 Supercars (Australian release title).
V8 Supercars, for those who are less inclined to enjoy the alluring smell of burning rubber, or the noxious aroma of high octane vapour, is Australia’s premier Touring Car category. At its core this is a battle between the 2 top commercial automobile manufacturers in Australia – Ford and Holden. The fans are devoted, the engines are big, loyalty is at a premium and the level of competitiveness in this series is on par with the some of the best racing series in the world. The series has seen a huge growth period in the last 5 years with big sponsorship deals, manufacturer support and television rights making it somewhat of an Australian institution. This series combined with international racing formula like German DTM and Formula Ford make this a motorsport game with an extraordinary amount of depth and lifespan.
Tale Spin
The Career Mode, or Single Player Story Mode if you like, makes up the core of the game, taking you on your journey from zero to Hero and containing all the tracks and racing series that are available in the Simulation Modes. Along the way you will meet various characters who either help you on your rise to stardom, or hinder your progress through the ranks of world motorsport. Your main companions along for the ride are your Scottish racing Engineer (aproppriately named Scottie) and what would appear to be your Manager or PR rep (Enter Name Here). Enter Name Here is an attractive piece of… ah, the scenery and makes it her task to get your career moving onward and upward... Let’s just say she gives you somewhat of an incentive to plough through the levels to see the next FMV sequence and soak up the admiration. You also get to know a few of your competitors along the way, which makes for some very interesting post race engagements to say the least. As your career takes off you compete in a series of elimination style battles between a handful of these competitors, with the eventual winner taking the prize race seat in the Masters Grand Prix. Now I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but the Masters Grand Prix Series is the game's own version of Formula 1...except it is unofficial. It has none of the teams or drivers of formula 1 but what it does have is the speed, competitiveness and that phenomenal engine sound associated with formula 1 and some F1 tracks are thrown in to boot.
Although quite flexible in its gameplay, the story mode has essentially a linear path forward in regards to the FMV sequences. You usually have a choice between 2 racing series at any particular time. When you finish each series you are presented with another choice of racing category with your performance in the previous championship effectively dictating what offers are made. Basically the better you perform the quicker you get the plum jobs. There are some real doozies too (jobs that is), for example: along the way you are offered a short stint in the Super Truck racing Series. Quite an unconventional series and let me tell you, it’s no ordinary ride. The handling on a Super Truck is (surprisingly) quite boatish, but it certainly makes for some very interesting thrills and spills. On your career journey you will get to race on all types of surfaces, drive a wide range of vehicles - 4WD’s, rally cars, open wheelers and numerous sports cars, all with their own unique handling and racing characteristics.
The simulation and handling characteristics are very different from vehicle to vehicle, which gives you a sense of realism in itself, and while the physics and handling dynamics are as good - if not better - than Gran Tourism 3, there is an issue of realism, that while not of paramount importance must still be addressed. There is quite a significant variation in lap times when you go to a track like Bathurst and you compare the times achievable with the real V8 Supercars and the virtual cars. Not something most gamers will care about, but the real enthusiasts can take issue with such things. The level of car customization and tuning capabilities are nowhere when you compare them with the detailed depth of GT3. Not that you notice, quite the opposite, it gives you the freedom to focus on the driving, and this is as good as it gets in that department. There is a level of customisation for the vehicles in the Simulation modes, and the usual options are there – down force, ride height, gear ratios and so forth. But tuning options are quite limited in career mode for the most part, you will need to use raw aggression and skill to beat the competition and master the tracks. Speaking of the tracks – there are a lot, and they are all based on real tracks from around the world. Some of them will be familiar to those of us who have experienced the likes of GT3 and Formula 1 sims. Tracks like A1 Ring, Laguna Seca and Bathurst have never been reproduced in such detail on the PS2. They are absolutely gorgeous. The detail of the tracks is, I think, some of the best seen on the PS2 and can even be a little overwhelming at times. I found myself inadvertedly taking in the scenery at the A1 ring on my first visit there. I had driven this track many times before on my numerous F1 titles, but never had the mountain landscape looked so good. There are some fog and pop up issues on certain tracks, but overall the quality of the graphics is superb.
The AI is good, very good. The opposition is aggressive at times, relentless at others and downright vengeful on occasions. But its also fallible in the heat of racing, which not only adds an element of realism, but can make for some very interesting action packed incidents.
Speaking of relentless and aggressive opponents, the best place to find them is online. There are no opponents more relentless and aggressive than the horde of online gamers already putting this game through it’s paces over the international broadband networks. And I have to say, I’ve seen PS2 online motorsport titles like Need for Speed Underground and Burnout 3 and playing these quality non-networked games online is like pulling teeth. The amount of disconnections, errors and non-compliant hosts is a real problem that must have something to do with the way the Server is designed because V8 Supercars makes it effortless. Getting a game, while you may have to wait a few minutes for a race to end or a few players to join your new server, is easy going and makes for a very enjoyable experience. Games are listed on the main server by race category, with a ping rating (server response speed) and the amount of players in and maximum players allowed. When you join a game you will be taken into the game lobby, where you can play around with a few options like audio settings and vehicle selection, chat with your opponents via a headset and even hear the players banter while racing as you wait to join them. An idea that a fellow gamer suggested (and I concur) would be a cool feature would enable the players waiting in the lobby to view the current race as you wait to join. A little feature to make the wait a little less painless.
The amount of talent out there is a surprise. I pride myself on being a seasoned veteran of games like Gran Tourism and F1 sims and I’m not too shabby with a couple of analogue sticks between my thumbs, but geessh it really is a challenge! Which, at the end of the day, makes for extended playability and a truly rewarding game experience when you finally do conquer the mountain, so to speak. The cross compatibility is worth a mention. The Xboxers and PS2ers are actually together on the same network, which was a pleasant surprise to say the least. We can only hope to see more of this kind of cross platform gaming going on in the future.
All up V8 Supercars 2 offers a mixture of arcade type spills and thrills as well as a compelling and realistic racing simulation for the harcore motor head. While maybe not at the level of simulation that Gran Tourism offers, V8 Supercars 2 has a good balance of realism and character or story driven gameplay, which the Gran Tourismo series has been sadly lacking. There a few little niggly problems, things like: not being able to change your gear box type in the online menu and having to log out to do so. Or not being able to go back through and play some of the race series after finishing the game. But these things are of little significance when you weigh up all the good features.
The stand out feature for me is the aforementioned online playability. It really is one of the first online console games to actually get it right. I can’t tell you how great it is to be able to race around the world with a large variety of nationalities and a great selection of international circuits. Not to mention our very own Australian tracks. All this is done with an ease lacking in previous online racers and with cross platform compatability as well. Places like Bathurst, Phillip Island and Gold Coast Indy really are world class motorsport venues, and are now available for an international audience to enjoy using a much more engaging medium.
It can get a little tense though. When an online amateur takes the corner a little to fast and decides to use your boot for a brake - the heat can be seen coming off more than the Brake Pads! Sometimes it pays to be cautious, other times aggressive. But if you come across me on your V8 adventures you’ll probably just be nauseous from inhaling all my exhaust fumes.
by: Ando
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