Race Driver: GRID Comments by Tom Bramwell

14 May, 2008

Including multiplayer action.

View gallery.

Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!

Poster

Comment Low-scoring comments hidden. Log in to see them!

bef

29/11/07 @ 14:18

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Sweet. Hope this plays just as well as TOCA 2...

steoc4

29/11/07 @ 14:20

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Don't like those screenshots.

They're pretty and all but I'd rather see proper racing cars on proper racing tracks, which is what Race Driver does better than anyone else. Those screenshots look awfully Need for Speed-ish...

UncleLou

29/11/07 @ 14:39

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Hm, yes, slightly need-for-speedish, though I guess PGR is a bigger inspiration.

Still, not bad looking - it's the Neon-engine, right?

OnlyMe

29/11/07 @ 14:56

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

While Gran Turismo and Forza strives for more realism and depth, Codies decides to take the TOCA franchise on a continuous downward spiral towards brainless arcade-style gameplay.

When will we see a proper touring car game again, with a proper career mode (like in TOCA 2 or 3 on the PS1)?

I assume GTR is what I'm looking for? I need it to be console, though.

ZuluHero

29/11/07 @ 15:22

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

man, once you've seen one racer you've seen them all...

at least until the next generation...

Edited 1 times, most recently on 29/11/07 @ 15:22

T4RG4

29/11/07 @ 15:25

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Looking far too cop-out-Arcade-wannabee for me!

Proper TOCA career (with some actual handling/physics/AI please) as has been mentioned. This looks like a no purchase.

UncleLou

29/11/07 @ 16:12

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

The article says it will have proper race tracks as well, so I bet there'll be touring car racing.

Agreed on how it's getting too arcadey though, I haven't bought Toca 3 because I didn't like the handling any more.

asphaltcowboy

29/11/07 @ 16:33

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

I think the screens are stunning!

Talha

29/11/07 @ 17:41

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Just like DiRT, Codies seem bent on wasting all that graphical glory on a nanny- (and American-) friendly driving physics model, by the looks of it.

And they look good, but not all that special IMHO.

BBIAJ

29/11/07 @ 18:31

#10

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Talha, how the FUCK can you get a feel for the physics from still screenshots!?

The mind boggles...

FlamingCarrot

29/11/07 @ 20:24

#11

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! They have PGR'd / NFS's it! Looks great but you can't call it Race Driver and then have modded street racing.

freedumb

29/11/07 @ 22:17

#12

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

UncleLou, Toca 3 is brilliant. They've got an option for sim or pro handling for every single discipline.

This is looking like what they did to Mcrae, dumbed down a bit. TOCA 3 is the best racing game with the best online mode, it'll be a shame if they mess it up.

UncleLou

29/11/07 @ 23:11

#13

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

UncleLou, Toca 3 is brilliant. They've got an option for sim or pro handling for every single discipline.

I've played the demo(s) (I think there were two), and the touring car event felt like Burnout. I didn't even need the brakes, and that was in sim mode. Couldn't stand it at all.

BadBoyBonner

30/11/07 @ 09:56

#14

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Looks like how I imagined Project Gotham Racing 5 - San Fran is right up there with Edinburgh as one of the best ever cities to drive round quickly.

Willum

30/11/07 @ 18:38

#15

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

RD3 wasn't very good IMO, and it's a shame they've gone down the street racing path for this one... the graphics look good though, and if they can make these new features live rivalries etc a fun part of the game then it could be worth a look. Here's hoping.

Edited 1 times, most recently on 30/11/07 @ 18:39

Calgon

02/12/07 @ 16:35

#16

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Looks nice but doesnt look nearly as good as PGR4(take a closer look at the geometry, drawdistance and texture detail none of them are even on par) but being multi-platform you wouldnt expect it to.

Edited 2 times, most recently on 02/12/07 @ 17:06

Talha

03/12/07 @ 11:10

#17

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

@BBIAJ :

Hint 1: tricked-out cars drifting amid smoke
Hint 2: The whole 'street' vibe coming off the shots
Hint 3: Emphasis on 'accessiblity'
Hint 4: DiRT

Need more effing hints?

db3

03/12/07 @ 13:22

#18

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

"Just like DiRT, Codies seem bent on wasting all that graphical glory on a nanny- (and American-) friendly driving physics model"

DiRT has a superb realistic feel from bonnet/in-car view. Even GT HD demo feels floaty and unconnected in comparison.

I have high hopes - please don't go too Streeeeeet Codies...no need!

rhubarbandcustard

06/12/07 @ 15:01

#19

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Got high hopes for Race Driver. One of the few Brits who loved Dirt and I thought the graphics, I have the PS3 version, are spectacular. A truly beautiful game and several times more fun than Forza on my X360. Just make sure to include the cockpit view - must be mandatory in all car games now. It's abscence in Forza makes that game already seem horribly dated.

rotmm

14/02/08 @ 07:23

#20

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Those are some purdy screenshots, but I don't see any damage on any of the cars. Hopefully there will be a comprehensive damage model.

monkey-ken-wizard

14/02/08 @ 08:36

#21

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Looks sweet

rhubarbandcustard

14/02/08 @ 08:58

#22

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Now that I have TrackIR4 all of the driving games I get will be PC only. If this doesn't have TrackIR support when it is released, I won't buy it until it does. Come on Codemasters, you know it makes sense.

BBIAJ

14/02/08 @ 09:04

#23

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Erm, which ones are new? I'm sure I've seen all of these before!

bad09

14/02/08 @ 09:37

#24

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Whilst I love PGR. I don't think that is the direction TOCA should take. I was looking forward to next gen touring cars game. not more street racing!

GamerAddict

14/02/08 @ 09:47

#25

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

First look at the screenshots, I thought they look bloomin' sweet!!

Now I've read the comments, I have to agree with what people have written. We've got enough street racing with PGR, NFS and Burnout games. Even Gran Turismo 4 went street on some races.

Lets go back to what the TOCA series excelled at, proper track racing! Yes, I realise its now "Race Driver" not "TOCA", but RD came from the TOCA series, lets go back to its roots, what it was originally good at!

Edited 1 times, most recently on 14/02/08 @ 09:49

sonmi451

14/02/08 @ 09:53

#26

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

agree with OnlyMe. i was a big fan of the first two Tocas for PS1. the pack racing was excellent.

i was a fan of the Mcrae games until GT included rallying and got the physics spot on for me. GT and also PGR manage to get a sense of weight to the vehicles. must say though the damage in Dirt was well done.

Snooz

14/02/08 @ 10:37

#27

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

@talha and db3

I'm very close to picking up Colin DIRT from a bargage bin (pc version), but I hate the latter Colin versions after Colin 2-3 somewhere. Though is it more like Rallisport challenge then it would still be fun.

Db3: what is realistic physics to you as in RBR or rallisport challenge 2?

Edited 1 times, most recently on 15/02/08 @ 10:32

ChrisOTR

24/03/08 @ 04:32

#28

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Unclelou: I didn't even need the brakes, and that was in sim mode.

I don't usually pick fights, but that just seems like nonsense to me.

Beano

18/04/08 @ 14:28

#29

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

A picture says a thousand works and five of those words are : "tearing", "frame", "rate", "problems" and "goddammit!!"

Beano

18/04/08 @ 14:31

#30

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

And why do Codemasters insists on dumbing down their exellent racing games to attract Amerians consumers?... first Colin McRae and now Race Driver. :(

Triggerhappytel

18/04/08 @ 14:53

#31

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

@ Beano - I don't mean to state the obvious, but sales figures. They don't really have any games which have made a big impact over there just yet, so Americanising their franchises is a seemingly safe way of ensuring good sales over there. In theory.

Anyway, screens look immense, I'm not liking the idea of drifting, but Codies produce some of the best racing/driving games in the world so I'm expecting good things from this.

Beano

18/04/08 @ 15:18

#32

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

I'm of course aware of the appeal of a larger audience... but that's only a potential larger audience. I'm not buing the next McRae/DIRT game because the last one ruined the series for me and the new GRID looks like it will ruin the Driver series. I'm not convinced the new "american appeal nessesary mean bigger sales mumbers in the long run if the games are poor.

Edited 1 times, most recently on 18/04/08 @ 15:18

Triggerhappytel

18/04/08 @ 15:31

#33

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Oh, I do agree, but then I think the Toca/Race Driver series has been on a downhill run ever since the immense Toca World Touring Cars on PS1. All that story bollocks in the PS2 iterations was unnecessary and irritating.

defdaz

20/04/08 @ 21:57

#34

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Some of those images are good enough to crack one off too! Fap! ;)

Edited 1 times, most recently on 20/04/08 @ 21:57

AtomicBanana

14/05/08 @ 14:46

#35

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Looks awful, far far FAR too much post processing going on. I assume they are just catering to thier '13-year-old-american-kid-with-ADD' demographic. This is before we even get to the laughable 'handeling'.

Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!