Review: Race: The WTCC Game

Games consoles like the Playstation 2 and Xbox 360 have got top-notch racing titles coming out of their ears and, while some of these occasionally make it onto the PC format, many of the best (see the Gran Turismos and Project Gothams of this world) simply don’t have a desktop equivalent.

Thank heavens, then, for Simbin, which has been producing quality PC-exclusive racing titles for a while now.

The Swedish developer was behind last year’s excellent GTR2, for instance, and has followed this up with the equally impressive Race: The WTCC Game. For those unfamiliar with that particular sporting acronym, Race is the official game of the World Touring Car Championship.

The main game is based on the 2006 season and features more than 30 real-world cars along with digital representations of 10 tracks from around the world.

As a bonus, the game also includes a series of historic races based on the 1987 WTCC season, including accurate cars and tracks of the time. There’s also a Mini Challenge Cup mode available, which features instant action with a selection of different Mini Cooper S cars.

As well as the single-player campaigns you can take Race online or onto a Lan network and play against up to 24 other human drivers in multiplayer races.

This is a game that demonstrates a keen eye for detail, with car models not only looking extremely realistic (right down to the dashboard) but also handling very authentically. Braking, suspension, power, cornering and the like can all feel radically different from car to car and your driving experience can be massively affected by aspects like the ambient weather conditions.

The game’s default cockpit view, complete with mirrors and gloved hands on the steering wheel, helps to heighten the authenticity of the experience – as long as you can get used to it, that is. It works best on a widescreen monitor and some players with smaller 4:3 ratio displays may find that this option is too cluttered and switch to one of the game’s more traditional viewpoints.

Race’s level of realism is certainly absorbing, but it can work against you too. This isn’t one of those games where you can drive like a maniac and come away with your paintwork intact, for example, and there are no extra points for skidding or sliding round corners. Collide with a fellow racer or drive headlong into a barrier and your vehicle will sustain the appropriate level of damage, possibly scuppering your chances of success.

On top of this, there’s a whole world of tinkering and tweaking to explore. This aspect won’t appeal to everyone – particularly those eager to get on with the racing – but it certainly adds to the scope and depth of the title.

We also recommend that players use some kind of game controller with this title, too. Keyboard-only control is possible, but doesn’t really do the game justice. An analogue joypad or, better still, a USB racing wheel will complement Race’s realism nicely and infinitely improve your enjoyment.

Race: the WTCC Game is a pretty hard nut to crack. Opponent AI at the default settings is fairly tough and the realistic driving physics mean that you’ll quickly have to learn how to take a corner properly and how to adapt to different vehicles and driving conditions. But, while it’s possible to reduce the difficulty levels, this also lowers the challenge somewhat, so it’s worth pursuing.

Those looking for arcade thrills will be frustrated by the way that the game takes itself so seriously. If you’re up to the task, however, and willing to put in the time on and off the track, Race is a thoroughly enjoyable simulation.

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