PK, you playing Pro Race Driver??

Heelfan71 · Post by **Heelfan71** » Sun May 11, 2003 1:26 pm

For Xbox?? I totally forgot about this game coming out since I was waiting for xbox version. How is it? Looks impressive from the IGN interview.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun May 11, 2003 4:16 pm

Heel:
 
 I played the hell out of it from the time I got it in late April until I left for Indy Thursday. No Xbox until after the 500, and I miss Pro Race Driver the most.
 
 PRD, the fourth in Codemasters´ TOCA series, is an excellent game. It has the more relaxed driving model of Jarrett & Labonte Stock Car Racing, which essentially was TOCA 3. It also has a very, very good racing model, just like J&L.
 
 There are up to 20 cars on track, more than the eight in the PS2 version, and there is qualifying in single-race mode. There´s also adjustable AI in the single-race mode, which really adds to the challenge.
 
 I enjoy the career mode, even though the storyline is a bit unnecessary. Still, I find myself disliking McKane´s rivals described in the cutscenes when I race them on the track. So while I think the storyline is somewhat dopey, it has pulled me in a bit.
 
 The AI isn´t that tough in the opening level of the career mode. I breezed through it easily. But the AI gets much tougher in the second level except for the DTM and American stock-car series. Those still were pretty easy.
 
 I imagine that the Lola World Championship -- the third and final level -- will be a real *****.
 
 There is nice differentiation between the driving model for front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive cars. The FWD cars will understeer much more than the RWD cars, which have some nice fishtailing, lurid oversteer when you put on the power too early.
 
 The Xbox controller is very well suited to racing games with its analog triggers for gas and brake, and PRD is no exception. A gentle touch with both triggers really makes a big difference in achieving fast laps. You can modulate the brakes just enough to prevent lockup under braking and wheelspin under acceleration.
 
 As in J&L, the sound is outstanding. The graphics are much improved over past editions of the TOCA series and really seem to take advantage of the Xbox hardware. Runs smooth, no pop-up, excellent in-car camera view. But I enjoy the bonnet (hood) view the most, as it gives the best sense of speed while still letting you feel like you´re steering a car instead of a camera. I can´t stand front-bumper cams that give you no perspective of the car.
 
 Finally, I really enjoy driving real cars on real circuits.
 
 PRD is a very, very good game for the Xbox.
 
 Take care,
 PK

Heelfan71 · Post by **Heelfan71** » Sun May 11, 2003 4:55 pm

I saw one view on a screen shot that just showed from the hood up, is that the view you are talking about?? Then I saw another which showed a view from inside the car, is that a playable view?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun May 11, 2003 5:40 pm

Heel:
 
 Yeah, the bonnet view is the first view you mentioned. The in-car view also is quite playable and more realistic than the bonnet view.
 
 But I prefer the bonnet view because it gives a much greater sense of speed. Plus this game inexplicably doesn´t have a rear-view mirror -- just like J&L didn´t -- although you can press the A button for a quick look behind, and the orange indicator arrow shows from where approaching drivers are coming. The orange/red color of the arrow gets more intense the closer the rival car gets, just like J&L.
 
 PRD has a few quibbles, but I still find it a very, very fun game in which you need to drive well at the upper levels to win.
 
 Take care,
 PK