Toca Race Driver 3: The Ultimate Racing Simulator

by Codemasters

Product Features

• Experience racing simulation with new level of realism and freedom
• 116 championships including bonus championships with rules and regulations
• 35 different racing styles; 70 different licensed race cars; 80+ track variations
• Realistic and licensed tune parts; up to 21 cars racing on track at a time
• Up to 8 players in multiplayer mode

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000CC5CVI
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches ; 3.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: September 8, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,197 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Toca Race Driver 3 features 6 thrilling autosports, all brought together in extraordinary detail. It's really 6 games in one, as you play GT, Touring Cars, Off Road, Open Wheel, Track and Classics modes. World Tour mode gives you immediate access to the game and lets you sample all the different racing styles on offer. Pro Career mode lets you concentrate on one autosport discipline of your choice at a time: Open Wheel, GT, etc. Work your way up from entry level vehicles to the ultimate race cars in the class and become the ultimate racing driver! The real driving physics, crash engine and tracks will make you feel like you're really out there on the asphalt, testing yourself against the world's best racers. More than 70 licensed race cars and over 100 different circuit variations on tracks including Bahrain International, Indianapolis, Laguna Seca, Hockenheimring and Bathurst Intense pack racing with up to 21 cars on track at once Cinematic cut scenes create a plot-driven narrative that focuses on your progress as a racing driver, as well as the history and detail of each car New online game modes including practice, qualifying and eliminator, plus leaderboards for individual driver ratings. Hardcore head-to-head multiplay with 12 players

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars first class racing game, April 22, 2006

By 

James W. Goetsch (Studio City, CA. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Toca Race Driver 3: The Ultimate Racing Simulator (Video Game)

GT 4 is the standard which all racing games are judged, and rightly so due to the amazing physics that have been reached with that 4th installment. Although you've heard "just as good as Grand Turismo" before (as with the woeful "Enthusia"), this one truly is a match. There is no mental compensation for any idiosyncries, you simply drive this as you would drive real cars.

It appears to have been designed for the Driving Force Pro wheel, because it works just absurdly well with it. You can let the car find its own path like Lauda or Prost, or manhandle it like Mansell. The wheel kickback is just perfect.

The drawback with Gran Turismo is that beyond a some great new addtions (like Le Mans), there's mostly the same tracks that have been in the series since the beginning. if you're looking for new tracks, this is for you.

To true racing conniseuers, some of the best racing going these days is the DTM and Australian V8 sedan series. All those great European tracks and Australian tracks are here, plus the new tracks in Shanghai and Istanbul (with that wild four apex corner). I've seen former F1 drivers who are driving DTM say what a blast these cars are, and it shows here. The Australian cars are just as good.

But those are just two of the classes here. There's open wheel cars and sports cars of all types to run these tracks, including classics going all the way back to the '30s. There's also a small American oval series that has four very different ovals, including a very well done version of Indy. There's also both a short dirt track and rally series which actually exceeds the shortcomings of GT4 dirt track races (although still short of the standard, 2001's still great "WRC").

This is obviously aimed at a European market, so for American fans of European racing, you will love this.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Impressive..., December 19, 2006

By 

James W. (La Mesa, CA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Toca Race Driver 3: The Ultimate Racing Simulator (Video Game)

The best way to review this game is to draw comparisons with GT 3 & 4, since most people considering this game probably have these already; and of course, GT 3 & 4 are considered by many to be the best racers on the PS2.

Let me start off by saying that I have been playing racing/driving games for 25 years. I am very particular when it comes to this genre. In the short amount of time that I have owned Toca, it has become one of my all-time favorites.

Graphics: The GT series has the more realistic graphics. Toca has an arcade racer look, sporting more vibrant colors with less detailed textures. There are some aliasing issues but the texture "sparkle" effect that's prominent in the GT series is not as noticeable in Toca. The car models in GT look much better, especially in the third person view. However, Toca has a nice cockpit view that all racing games should emulate; this is the only view to play this game in. You can actually look to your left and right by clicking the shoulder buttons. When you crash, the windshield cracks making it difficult to see ahead.

Control: Toca wins this one hands down. This is one area I don't like about the GT series. Toca has a very intuitive control scheme that anyone can get into right away, but without feeling cheap. The GT series control has always been too floaty for my taste. I remember playing GT 3 for the first time and having to struggle just to stay on the road...and this happening to a guy that has been playing racers for 25 years. Yeah, you do get used to the GT series control scheme, but you should not have to. The physics in Toca are better than GT, in my opinion. This is the first game since Sega's F355 that makes me feel as if I'm actually controlling a car. I cannot wait to see Codemasters' efforts on the PS3.

A.I.: Again, Toca wins this one easily. The GT series is infamous for its cheap A.I. This is not the case with Toca. In addition, you cannot get away with bumping up against the other cars in Toca. Not only will your car sustain damage, but you will get penalized for careless driving. Your pit man talks to you along the way and he'll warn you when you bump into the opposing cars. If you remain careless, you receive a black flag and get penalized on your time. If you continue your carelessness, you are disqualified. In the GT series, you can bump against opposing cars while entering a corner to gain an advantage. This technique is not only cheap but unrealistic. These are areas in the GT series that should be addressed. Toca gets is right.

Variety: When it comes to the number of vehicles available, Toca cannot touch GT. However, Toca has an advantage in the number of tracks and variety of vehicle types; I would much rather have a larger number of tracks and fewer vehicles. There are no fantasy tracks here; all the tracks are real world. Although there are fewer cars to choose from, the variety is much greater. You can choose from open wheel, Touring, Endurance, Stock Car, Rally Sport, Kart, Super Truck, Dune Buggy, Baha Bug, Monster Truck, Mini GT, etc. No other racing game offers this kind of variety.

In closing, this is a must-own game for driving game enthusiasts who own a PS2.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars JACK OF ALL TRADES MOTORSPORTS DRIVER!, March 4, 2006

By 

Jonathan A. wang "jon wang" (scotch plains, new jersey United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Toca Race Driver 3: The Ultimate Racing Simulator (Video Game)

Having played just about every Codemasters driving game over the past several years I was anxious to sample there latest offering TOCA RACE DRIVER 3. By and large it does not disappoint.
On the plus side there is the same enjoyable and mostly realistic driving dynamics/simulation we have come to know on all of there many fine Driving games. In some ways the Codemasters team have totally captured the experience of driving the big tin top race cars like the British GTs,German DTMs and Aussie V8s. The weighty steering felt thru the (very necessary) Logitech steering wheel, the brilliantly reproduced sound of a snorting V8 and the compellingly accurate cockpit driver's view all serve to reinforce the fact that Codemasters is a major player in the world of Driving games.
The dirt track cars and trucks represented here also have an absolutely superb overall feel and may be the highlight of the game - they are a total gas to drive. Many historic racecars are also represented here from the Lotus 49 to even more vintage Mercedes as well as the 70's, 80's and 90's Williams F1 cars - as well as a modern F1 car.
There are the usual compliment of the many fine British and Australian race tracks as well as the new Bahrain and Shangai Formula One racetracks - a very nice bonus for the Formula One student. Laguna Seca is there as well as Indy and just too many others too mention. The rally stuff is I'm afraid to say mediocre - track and car wise - EXCEPT for the historic rally machines represented which are very very cool.
Another slightly weak area is noted during any open wheel
racing event. There is an overzealous tendency for your competitors to smash into you from the side and mostly from behind. This really detracts from the game play.
Visually the game is fair to good, but cannot compare to a GT4.
The replays are a bit fuzzy and lack any real visual drama - this an area which needs major work.
Codemasters may have tried a bit too hard to be a Jack of all trades driving game, but they do manage to suceed in many areas. The wanna be 'boy racer' may find this game trying and tiresome, but for the real motorsports driving enthusiast there is a treasure trove of material here to be enjoyed for many many hours indeed.