Just got Race Driver on DS

CiDeRmAn

i picked up Race Driver, create and race for the DS and didn't really know what to expect.
Most racing games on DS, that is all bar MarioKart, have been pretty poor, lacking the needed visual punch to compete with the PSP, not to mention the lack of analog controls and the gameplay they never seem to get just right.
Well, codemasters new offering, Race Driver, is a revelation.
It is, essentially, a DS edition of its Race driver series on the home consoles and has the eclectic range of racing vehicles you'd expect, together with a whole host of licensed circuits, 32 of them all told, and all recognisable, not something you'd expect from the DS.
The cars look great, so far I've raced in several different disciplines and the cars handle according to type and more impressive, everything moves at 60fps, nice!
The colour palette is suitable muted, adding to the real world feel and the track side scenery looks great, even with the limited amount of popup thats present.
The big deal with this edition of the franchise is that you can design your own courses with the stylus and race them with your mates, none of whom need a copy of the game, in fact it offers up to 4 players racing on the one copy of the game, pretty sweet.
As you race and win championships you unlock things to buy in the reward area, adding to the various track pieces available, as well as unlocking cheat modes and such.

This game really redefines what is possible on the DS and what we can expect from the machine in future, it is capable of far more than mere reheats of N64 ips and puzzle games.

Roll on a rally title or perhaps even a flight sim.

Anyone else play this yet, and what do they think?

smokingman

I didn't realise this was released yet - is yours an import?
I've been watching this for a long time and the vids of it on ign looked good - their only gripe was that you couldn't see a lot of the corners until it was almost too late - are you finding that Ciderman?

Can't wait to create Mondello on it.....

CiDeRmAn

Its no harder to see oncoming corners than most racers, its just that some of the conventions introduced over the years like a big arrow onscreen to warn of an upcoming corner and its severity or a visible racing line are absent here, meaning you need to keep half an eye on the map display.
Its not an import no, I didn't realise it was out either, I had just bought a bunch of preowned GBA stuff when I spotted it on the way out of Gamestop, Santry, a quick look at the back of the case and I had to have it, so I returned my purchases and took Race Driver instead, it was only €39.99 as well, so pretty good value to boot!

smokingman

Hmmm.....sweet. Might just take a little trip into Smyths on the way home so.

TheAlmightyArse

CiDeRmAn wrote:

This game really redefines what is possible on the DS and what we can expect from the machine in future, it is capable of far more than mere reheats of N64 ips and puzzle games.

Eh? You must have missed out on a ton of stuff if you think the DS has been all N64 rehashes and puzzle games up until now.

smokingman

smokingman wrote:

Can't wait to create Mondello on it.....

Actually, scratch that - it already has Mondello!

Adelaide (AUS), Barbagallo (AUS), Bathurst (AUS), Brands Hatch (UK), Brno (CZE), Donington Park (UK), Dover International Speedway (USA), Eastern Creek (AUS), Eurospeedway Lausitz (GER), Gateway International (USA), Hidden Valley (AUS), Hockenheim (GER), Indianapolis Motor Speedway (USA), Istanbul Grand Prix (TUR), Laguna Seca (USA), Mondello Park (IRE), Nashville (USA), Norisring (GER), Nûrburgring (GER), Oran Park (AUS), Oschersleben (GER), Phillip Island (AUS), Pukekohe (NZ), Queensland Raceway (AUS), Sandown (AUS), Shanghai (CHI), Silverstone (UK), Snetterton (UK), Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), Surfer's Paradise (AUS), Symmons Plains Raceway (AUS), Zandvoort (HOL)

CiDeRmAn

Ton of stuff, ok, sorry, I've had the thing since the Jap launch and I have loved it, but I have to say, like the GBA, GB Color and GB before it I never bought a ton of games for it, I always only bought key titles, like Super Mario DS, Brain training and Electroplankton, too many seem like N64 rehashes, like Diddy Kong racing, not as great as I remembered, and puzzlers, Meteos and Zookeeper to name 2. I accept Phoenix Wright and Contact look good, but not €50 good!
That said, Race Driver is definitely worth the price of admission, hope that maybe we'll get MotoGp or even, dare I say it, a version of PGR on the DS, I tell you, what Codemasters squeezed out of the little console, I wouldn't bet against it! I can see a conversion of the great MSR working rather well on the machine, lovely jubbly!