Auto racing has consistently been one of the most popular sports in America. Tapping into a deep-seated human need for speed, we’ve always been fascinated by drivers who shatter the speed limit. Yet while most races are packed with emotion, drama, and tons of action, transferring this intangible quality over into games has been rather difficult. Often, players have to infuse their own imagination into their gameplay, establishing their own rivalries and challenges along with the onscreen driving. Well, hoping to solve this fundamental problem, the racing gurus over at Codemasters are preparing to release Pro Race Driver, a story fueled racing title on PS2. The story of Pro Race Driver is one of success and tragedy, of love and revenge, of inheritance and independence. (God, how prosaic … Ok, enough of that.) Players are cast into the role of Ryan McKane, youngest son of a racing legend. When Ryan was a young child, he was at a racetrack watching his father win yet another race, when suddenly, a rookie named James Randle forcefully bumped his car into the wall. Crashing hard and spinning out, it took seconds before the car burst into flames, trapping and incinerating his father before his eyes. Obviously a motivating influence, he and his brother Donnie leap fully into mastering their father’s profession, though Ryan is the one brother who wants revenge upon Randle. This, of course, will require you to win races around the world and build up your tour rankings from rookie to seasoned pro so you can have your final showdown with your father’s killer. Over 35 different tracks and 13 Global Championships will await Ryan as he tries to establish himself. However, in the driving world, one definitely has to walk before one can jump into a car and drive 200 m.p.h. While you’ll receive your first car as a “loaner” vehicle, you’re also hoping to build your car stable up with newer vehicles and equipment. All in all, more than 40 different cars can be purchased for your garage and set upon the track for the right price. This is a typical feature of driving games, and in most situations, choosing the right car for the track will get you into the winner’s circle. In Pro Race Driver, however, customizing the car is more important than your wheels. Every aspect of running a top-performance machine, from tightening your suspension to adjusting engine timing, even manipulating downforce and differential can be fully tweaked, making this game perfect for budding gearheads. However, even if you’re an ace mechanic, you’ll still need some definite driving skills, because the AI within this game could make Skip Barber jealous and nervous at the same time. Willing to do just about anything to gain the advantage, you’ll notice computer driven cars edging each other out for extra inches on the inside corner of a turn, or jostling for space along straight-aways. If you’re not careful, you’ll find your car heading towards a wall or taking damage from the minor accidents. Much more so than other games, damage has a definable impact upon your driving performance. For example, continually getting slammed in the trunk of your car can affect your rear differential, axles, even total torque, forcing dramatic changes in your handling, top speed, even cornering ability. Plus, if there’s a true demolition derby occurring on the track, you may find previously connected parts of cars littering the road, hampering or endangering other vehicles. This damage modeling is truly impressive, considering the different ways that equipment can splinter, break, or fall off cars. There’s something eye-catching and thrilling about seeing a car cartwheel end over end, (especially in championship races) that makes you think of crash replays on SportsCenter. Tracks are similarly detailed, with deformable terrain within the outfield and upon the tracks. It’s common to note where a serious wipeout occurred near a wall or where someone burned rubber on the track. As for Ryan and other characters, there’s a large attention to detail in facial animation and expressions. While the lip-synching is a tad bit off, the general idea of the emotion that a character is going through is effectively communicated, so scowls, smirks, and raised eyebrows seem as full of life as they do in reality. The sound quality is also carried over well, with distinctive engine roars for individual cars. You’ll also be able to detect a well-maintained engine versus a damaged one. Aside from the automotive sounds, the vocal acting is a standout, primarily because it’s done rather well. With multiplayer support for up to four players, and additional modes, such as time trials or free races, Pro Race Driver should have plenty of replay value attached. Of course, that’s not counting the hidden movies, music, or other bonuses that can be unlocked by placing in the winner’s circle during circuits. Hitting the roads of store shelves everywhere very soon, Pro Race Driver just may put a new spin on the racing genre. Spin back here for a full review! Questions or comments about the upcoming release of Pro Race Driver for the PlayStation 2? Talk to us! [ E-Mail Jeff 'Linkphreak' Haynes ] [ Comment in our Forums ]

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