Race Driver cruises onto DS

By Robert Purchese Published 18 April, 2007

Codemasters revs engine.

Codemasters has popped the trunk this afternoon and revealed a brand new game in the Race Driver series.

But rather than the expected next-generation outing, Race Driver: Create & Race will only be available on DS. This has given Codemasters the chance to ignore the graphical rat-race and focus on the elements that make racing games fun in the first place.

"We couldn't make Race Driver any bigger, so we made it smaller," a spokesperson for Codemasters told Eurogamer this afternoon. "But you can't just drop the Race Driver experience as it stands onto Nintendo DS and expect it to fly. The rules are different on that platform."

Firebrand will be developing the game and aims to add some swanky new touches. There's the track editor for starters, which will let you "Create & Race" against the computer or wirelessly with your friends - cart-sharing locally if you want.

Or you can simply zip around one of 32 real-world circuits using your pick of 25 proper pucker motors, including the Koenig GT and Chevrolet Silverado Truck. Even more cars and courses lie in wait for those who best the World Tour Mode, too, adding up to a grease-covered overall's worth of fun.

And don't let other shonky racing games on the DS put you off, as Codemasters insists it's pushing the envelope with this one.

"The engine is amazing," the spokesperson modestly added. "3D has rarely looked as slick on DS as it does here. It's beautiful, and it's frighteningly rapid."

"The handling has been tweaked for a more Nintendo DS-y experience. Race Driver can be an unforgiving game, but the handling for the DS game is firmly set for fun. Don't worry about bashing the other cars or clipping the grass, you'll get away with it. We've done exactly what we needed to do to make Race Driver fun on the smallest screen."

The series began on PS2 back in 2002, when TOCA Race Driver raced out of the pits to critical applause. Since then two more console outings have followed, along with a pair of PSP efforts. And this new DS offering is far from being a gimmicky cousin.

"As far as what the DS can offer, we've incorporated touch. But not in illogical ways," the spokesperson continued. "There's no blowing in the mic to clear rain off the windscreen, or an interactive gearstick on the touch-screen. You use the touch-screen to intuitively draw your own courses. Courses you can race against friends on- and off-line."

Zip over to our Race Driver: Race & Create gallery for a closer look at the engine.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (12) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Murbal #1 5 years ago

    Neat idea.

  • Freelancepolice #2 5 years ago

    vrooooooooooom

  • CallousB #3 5 years ago

    About time someone did the "draw your own track" idea on the DS. I was hoping it would have happened with Mario Kart. DS is ideal for editing.

  • lefizz #4 5 years ago

    The gfx look good for a DS title. by which of course we mean they look about up to Amiga level gfx. I have to say why are Nintendo so bloody cheap with the hardware they have put in the Wii and DS. And before any one answer, yes i know so they can make money but still, gfx like this are a bit sad when the developers is really trying and the year is 2007.
    Edited by 1 at 18/04/07 @ 16:02

  • jonsaan #5 5 years ago

    Sounds good Codies. Next up, Brian LARA!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssss eeeeeeeeeeeee.

  • Rirekon #6 5 years ago

    Fantastic, good to hear the touch isn't being forced in.

  • kissthestick #7 5 years ago

    i can honestly say the graphics look pretty decent for the DS

    http://ww w.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.p...

  • effinjamie #8 5 years ago

    Sod this, Where is the Mext Gen Version?

  • some1 #9 5 years ago

    If this is by Firebrand games, then its going to be crap. What a bunch of incompetent fools they have working there. They made state of emergency 2 for example.

    Plus they owe me money...I haven't forgotten Baron Greenback you fat bastard

  • jebus #10 5 years ago

    @lefizz I have to say why are Nintendo so bloody cheap with the hardware they have put in the Wii and DS


    2 reasons - they know that people will be able to develop for the Wii straight away and not have to spend a few years working out the technology like they will with PS3 say and secondly a good game is good primarily because of what it plays like not what it looks like. A bad looking game can still be really enjoyable (Advance Wars for example is utter genius but doesn't really look great. It's functional by PSP/PS3 standards) whereas a badly designed game will never be enjoyable no matter how many fancy shaders and polys you can throw around (see anything by EA)

    There are obviously some points where this crosses over - personally I think Resident Evil 4 still looks better than a lot of current games and decent graphics can help with imerssion and obviously some decent hardware grunt can also be used to great effect - some of the physics puzzles in HL2 for example are a great use of the Havok system which obviously wasn't possible in HL 1.

    There is a 3rd reason and that is the one you mentioned. The Wii was profitable from day 1 (as it is basically a GC as was the DS which is essentially an N64) unlike the Xbox or PS3 which will take a few years to start making money from the hardware alone.
    Edited by 2 at 18/04/07 @ 20:55

  • Charroux #11 5 years ago

    "popped the trunk"

    Tsk!

  • secombe #12 5 years ago

    I have to say why are Nintendo so bloody cheap with the hardware they have put in the Wii and DS.

    The DS can be played for a ridiculous number of hours without a charge, i.e. it works very well as a portable handheld system.

    The Gameboy brand has outlived 'superior' technology such as the Nomad, Game Gear, Lynx etc for a reason, the reason being that they have great handheld specific games, and a design which is fantastic for using away from home for ages without worrying about dropping it occasionally or needing power every few hours.

  • Kipster #13 5 years ago

    Looks good, i think the graphics could of been a little better, but apart from that, i think it looks quite interesting. =)