TOCA Race Driver 2 Review

Donâ??t ask how, but somehow Sumo Digital has managed to squeeze every aspect of Codemasters hugely impressive TOCA Race Driver 2 onto Sonyâ??s handheld system.

Much like its big brother the bulk of the single-player game lies in the narrative based storyline, which sees players assuming the role of a rookie driver who must earn success on the circuit to win the ultimate racing experience â?“ a drive as a Masters Grand Prix professional. Naturally there are plenty of thrills and spills on and off the circuit as rivalries and grudges develop, while your jock mentor guides your progress through the ranks. As we stated during our review of the PS2/Xbox version, itâ??s welcoming to see the typically sterile driving game experience injected with a sense of personality and charisma, however itâ??s far from perfect and is likely to frustrate as many people as those who enjoy it. The overall structure perhaps could have benefited from a less linear arrangement guiding progress through the game, and a handful of scripted events on the circuit tied into the storyline wouldnâ??t go amiss.

However thatâ??s about the only complaint you can have about TOCA Race Driver 2, a game that features a level of depth rarely seen in a home console title let alone a handheld. TOCA Race Driver 2 maintains the scale of its home console cousin with a diverse range of motorsports on offer, including the likes of GT Sports Car Racing, Street Racing, Rally Cross, Formula Ford and Super Truck to mention but a few.

Not only can you get your hands on virtually every classification of vehicle ever constructed, but Codemasters have also implemented its unparalleled damage system across to the PSP; tyres burst, doors hang open and bumpers fall off. Donâ??t get us wrong the PSP has quickly become the handheld format of choice for racing fans with the likes of Ridge Racers and Wipeout Pure, but thereâ??s very little to touch the depth and simulation of TOCA Race Driver 2 on the format. Not only is the damage a neat visual effect but thereâ??s also a profound sense of it actually impairing your performance on the track: gearbox failures affect your ability to reach top speeds and shift gears; damage to the suspensions affects road-handling and cornering; steering damage makes it harder to hold the racing line, while wheel or engine damage could prevent you from completing the race â?“ itâ??s even got fuel meters, this level of depth is just not normal for a handheld game.

Thereâ??s a distinct sense of variety to the handling and performance of the various vehicles featured within the game, from the titanic-esque turning circles of the Super Tanks to the hyper-twitchy Formula Fords, which again on the PSP is just an unfamiliar experience but most certainly welcome â?“ TOCA Race Driver 2 provides that rare experience on a handheld, a game to truly sink your teeth intoâ?¦

The quality throughout TOCA Race Driver 2 continues into the gameâ??s presentation with absolutely amazing visuals and a sound system that highlights the distinct differences between vehicles and finer details such as whether an engine is misfiring or not. The most impressive aspect comes in certain championships when up to 21 cars are featured on the track, leading to some insane experiences as youâ??re bustling for position. All of this without a hint of slowdown; sure it may not have the lightning pace of Ridge Racers but at least Sumo Digital have managed to lock the framerate at a reasonable standard despite how much is going onscreen.

Not only does the game feature an extraordinary level of detail when it comes to sound effects, the game also supports the ability to create a custom soundtrack from tunes stored on the MemoryStick â?“ truly Codemasters have thought about everything with this one.

If providing the most comprehensive roster of licensed vehicles, a detailed damage engine and fantastic visuals wasnâ??t enough, Codemasters have completely obliterated the competition with support for up to 12 players to engage in Wi-Fi multiplayer modes. To date this far outstrips the competition and although we havenâ??t actually got 12 PSP owning TOCA fans to test it out, weâ??ve enjoyed a two-player setup without a hint of lag.

Until Gran Turismo 4: Mobile arrives thereâ??s nothing to touch TOCA Race Driver 2, and in all honestly with its lack of damage thereâ??s a claim that Codemasters sim will hold the title of the most authentic racing simulator for quite some time â?“ and itâ??s a launch title!

As a conversion from the home consoles itâ??s up there with Tony Hawkâ??s Underground 2: Remix, faithfully replicating every aspect and in many ways expanding upon them via the use of Wi-Fi multiplayer.