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This thread has been linked to the game 'Toca 2: Touring Cars'.
I'm not one for reviewing games or anything, but at the request of Spikecast, here are my impressions on the above game...
If you've played the console versions of TOCA 2, you'll know exactly where you are - everything is the same. You start your career already in a race, get coached by that Scottish bloke and continue on to choose various competitions and go forth to win them.
Visually, it's very impressive - certainly on a par with it's PS2 cousin. Reflections are in there, particle effects, visual body damage etc. I haven't tested for parts that break off the car, but I'm sure they will feature too. As good as it looks, you can tell it's working hard. The framerate, while not juddery, isn't as smooth as something like Ridge Racer or Wipeout. It's not too noticeable though, and the game is still very enjoyable visually.
Sound? Well, there's the in-game soundtrack playing out in the back, you have clear speech from the Scottish bloke, coaching/criticising you mid-race (usually takes a dig at you just before a tough corner, making you screw up!). Then there are the sound effects - everything you'd expect is in there, from squealing tyres to shattering bumpers and glass.
Probably the coolest aspect of TOCA 2's Audio solution is the inclusion of Custom Soundtracks - this is a first on handhelds, and it's on a UK launch title that isn't out anywhere else yet - result! You do need to download a patch of sorts from the Codemasters website, but it's great - your own track pumping out over a console-quality racer in your palm! Not sure if this feature supports Atrac3Plus, although I should think it does, seeing as the PSP itself now does.
Onto the multiplayer - now, I can't say much on this as I don't know anyone else with the game, but I can confirm it's Ad-Hoc only, no Internet Infrastructure. It is 12 player though, which is very impressive for a handheld launch title!
Well, I hope that was enough - any questions, fire away. I'll pick them up at work in the morning, booting WoW up now :P
If you've played the console versions of TOCA 2, you'll know exactly where you are - everything is the same. You start your career already in a race, get coached by that Scottish bloke and continue on to choose various competitions and go forth to win them.
Visually, it's very impressive - certainly on a par with it's PS2 cousin. Reflections are in there, particle effects, visual body damage etc. I haven't tested for parts that break off the car, but I'm sure they will feature too. As good as it looks, you can tell it's working hard. The framerate, while not juddery, isn't as smooth as something like Ridge Racer or Wipeout. It's not too noticeable though, and the game is still very enjoyable visually.
Sound? Well, there's the in-game soundtrack playing out in the back, you have clear speech from the Scottish bloke, coaching/criticising you mid-race (usually takes a dig at you just before a tough corner, making you screw up!). Then there are the sound effects - everything you'd expect is in there, from squealing tyres to shattering bumpers and glass.
Probably the coolest aspect of TOCA 2's Audio solution is the inclusion of Custom Soundtracks - this is a first on handhelds, and it's on a UK launch title that isn't out anywhere else yet - result! You do need to download a patch of sorts from the Codemasters website, but it's great - your own track pumping out over a console-quality racer in your palm! Not sure if this feature supports Atrac3Plus, although I should think it does, seeing as the PSP itself now does.
Onto the multiplayer - now, I can't say much on this as I don't know anyone else with the game, but I can confirm it's Ad-Hoc only, no Internet Infrastructure. It is 12 player though, which is very impressive for a handheld launch title!
Well, I hope that was enough - any questions, fire away. I'll pick them up at work in the morning, booting WoW up now :P
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I'm not one for reviewing games or anything, but at the request of Spikecast, here are my impressions on the above game...
If you've played the console versions of TOCA 2, you'll know exactly where you are - everything is the same. You start your career already in a race, get coached by that Scottish bloke and continue on to choose various competitions and go forth to win them.
Visually, it's very impressive - certainly on a par with it's PS2 cousin. Reflections are in there, particle effects, visual body damage etc. I haven't tested for parts that break off the car, but I'm sure they will feature too. As good as it looks, you can tell it's working hard. The framerate, while not juddery, isn't as smooth as something like Ridge Racer or Wipeout. It's not too noticeable though, and the game is still very enjoyable visually.
Sound? Well, there's the in-game soundtrack playing out in the back, you have clear speech from the Scottish bloke, coaching/criticising you mid-race (usually takes a dig at you just before a tough corner, making you screw up!). Then there are the sound effects - everything you'd expect is in there, from squealing tyres to shattering bumpers and glass.
Probably the coolest aspect of TOCA 2's Audio solution is the inclusion of Custom Soundtracks - this is a first on handhelds, and it's on a UK launch title that isn't out anywhere else yet - result! You do need to download a patch of sorts from the Codemasters website, but it's great - your own track pumping out over a console-quality racer in your palm! Not sure if this feature supports Atrac3Plus, although I should think it does, seeing as the PSP itself now does.
Onto the multiplayer - now, I can't say much on this as I don't know anyone else with the game, but I can confirm it's Ad-Hoc only, no Internet Infrastructure. It is 12 player though, which is very impressive for a handheld launch title!
Well, I hope that was enough - any questions, fire away. I'll pick them up at work in the morning, booting WoW up now :P
If you've played the console versions of TOCA 2, you'll know exactly where you are - everything is the same. You start your career already in a race, get coached by that Scottish bloke and continue on to choose various competitions and go forth to win them.
Visually, it's very impressive - certainly on a par with it's PS2 cousin. Reflections are in there, particle effects, visual body damage etc. I haven't tested for parts that break off the car, but I'm sure they will feature too. As good as it looks, you can tell it's working hard. The framerate, while not juddery, isn't as smooth as something like Ridge Racer or Wipeout. It's not too noticeable though, and the game is still very enjoyable visually.
Sound? Well, there's the in-game soundtrack playing out in the back, you have clear speech from the Scottish bloke, coaching/criticising you mid-race (usually takes a dig at you just before a tough corner, making you screw up!). Then there are the sound effects - everything you'd expect is in there, from squealing tyres to shattering bumpers and glass.
Probably the coolest aspect of TOCA 2's Audio solution is the inclusion of Custom Soundtracks - this is a first on handhelds, and it's on a UK launch title that isn't out anywhere else yet - result! You do need to download a patch of sorts from the Codemasters website, but it's great - your own track pumping out over a console-quality racer in your palm! Not sure if this feature supports Atrac3Plus, although I should think it does, seeing as the PSP itself now does.
Onto the multiplayer - now, I can't say much on this as I don't know anyone else with the game, but I can confirm it's Ad-Hoc only, no Internet Infrastructure. It is 12 player though, which is very impressive for a handheld launch title!
Well, I hope that was enough - any questions, fire away. I'll pick them up at work in the morning, booting WoW up now :P
Sounds good! Might grab this on payday next friday along with Virtua Tennis or Everybodys golf. On the multiplayer mode can you play the same modes as you can in single player? All of the cars/tracks etc? How about customisation of the system link games? Cheers!
Without being able to fully test the multiplayer, I can tell you this much:
* Select any race class (later ones need to be unlocked, via Career)
* Select any track (later ones need unlocking via above method)
* Option to include AI players & set their difficulty
* Vehicle Set-up feature
* Damage and Collisons enable/disable (collision can be set to only the front of the car, the whole car or disabled)
That's pretty much the basics of it. Without being able to test it out though, I can't say how well it actually runs.
* Select any race class (later ones need to be unlocked, via Career)
* Select any track (later ones need unlocking via above method)
* Option to include AI players & set their difficulty
* Vehicle Set-up feature
* Damage and Collisons enable/disable (collision can be set to only the front of the car, the whole car or disabled)
That's pretty much the basics of it. Without being able to test it out though, I can't say how well it actually runs.
Cheers for that :) Shame I don't know anyone with a PSP yet :( Would love some link up games!
XBConnect supports tunneling, like it did with offline Xbox games. Might be worth a look, I still haven't tried it out!
Anyone fancy trying it? I've got Ridge and Wipeout.
Just grabbed a copy of this from Toys R Us so I'll post my impressions later!
It's a great game. I've never bothered with them on the PS2, but it's great fun on the PSP.
I haven't played it for a while now, since I got the other 4 games... but I really must get back to it.
I haven't played it for a while now, since I got the other 4 games... but I really must get back to it.
Tried the custom soundtracks out yet?
Nope. I downloaded the patch, but haven't bothered installing it.
When I'm playing racers, I prefer to have just the SFX and always turn the music off, so there's not much point! :-)
When I'm playing racers, I prefer to have just the SFX and always turn the music off, so there's not much point! :-)
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