Summary
- Release Year: 1997
- Genres: Racing, Sport
- Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation
- Developers: Codemasters Southam
- Publishers: Codemasters, Imagineer, Lay-Up, Sold Out Sales & Marketing, The 3DO Company
TOCA Championship Racing (1997): A Classic Racing Game That Still Holds Up Today
Released in 1997, TOCA Championship Racing (also known as TOCA Touring Car Championship) was a groundbreaking racing game that set new standards for realism and excitement. Developed by SimBin Studios and published by Codemasters, TOCA Championship Racing was the first game in the TOCA series, and it quickly became a favorite among racing fans.
Gameplay
TOCA Championship Racing features a variety of game modes, including single race, championship, time trial, and party play. The single race mode allows players to race on any of the game’s nine tracks, while the championship mode tasks players with winning a series of races to earn points and ultimately win the championship. The time trial mode allows players to race against the clock to set the best possible time, and the party play mode allows up to four players to race against each other.
One of the things that makes TOCA Championship Racing so unique is its realistic physics engine. The game’s cars handle very realistically, and players need to be careful not to lose control of their car, especially when racing on wet or slippery tracks. The game also features a variety of different weather conditions, which can make the racing even more challenging.
Graphics and Sound
For its time, TOCA Championship Racing had very impressive graphics. The tracks are well-detailed, and the cars look realistic. The game also runs very smoothly, even on older computers.
The sound in TOCA Championship Racing is also top-notch. The cars sound realistic, and the game’s soundtrack is very catchy.
Cars and Tracks
TOCA Championship Racing features all of the licensed cars and tracks from the 1997 British Touring Car Championship. This includes cars from manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, and Vauxhall. The game’s tracks are all based on real-world circuits, and they are all very challenging to master.
Legacy
TOCA Championship Racing was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its realistic physics engine, challenging gameplay, and variety of game modes. It was also one of the first racing games to feature licensed cars and tracks, which helped to make it stand out from the competition.
The success of TOCA Championship Racing led to the development of several sequels, including TOCA 2 Touring Cars (1998), TOCA Race Driver (2002), and TOCA Race Driver 2 (2004). The TOCA series is still going strong today, and it is one of the most popular racing game franchises in the world.
Conclusion
TOCA Championship Racing is a classic racing game that still holds up today. The game’s realistic physics engine, challenging gameplay, and variety of game modes make it a must-play for fans of racing games. If you’re looking for a great racing game to play, then you should definitely check out TOCA Championship Racing.
Here are some additional details about TOCA Championship Racing:
- The game was developed by SimBin Studios, which is now known for developing the Race Driver series of racing games.
- TOCA Championship Racing was published by Codemasters, which is one of the leading publishers of racing games in the world.
- The game was released for the PC and PlayStation platforms in late 1997 in Europe, and in summer 1998 in the United States.
- The game was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to launch the TOCA series of racing games.
Review Score
8.5/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
