Crazy Ways, the renowned game development company, made a significant impact on the world of virtual racing with the release of TOCA Race Driver. This game brought a fresh perspective to the genre and laid the foundation for a whole new series.
The origins of the TOCA series can be traced back to 1997 when the first game, TOCA Touring Car Championship, was launched for the PlayStation console. Five years later, TOCA Race Driver not only paved the way for the brand’s future but also established a new cycle that would follow.
In an attempt to revolutionize the racing genre, Crazy Ways introduced a unique feature called “CaRPG,” which aimed to combine elements of racing and role-playing games. Let’s take a closer look at what set TOCA Race Driver apart from other racing games.
Racing with a storyline: Whilst not the first racing game to incorporate a storyline, TOCA Race Driver was one of the pioneers in making it a prominent feature. Players assumed the role of Ryan McKane, who witnessed a tragic accident on the track during his childhood, resulting in the death of his father. As the protagonist grew up, he followed in his father’s footsteps and embarked on a racing career. The story unfolded through impressive cinematic cutscenes.
Realistic opponents: The AI opponents in TOCA Race Driver were designed to react to the player’s actions on the track. If players bumped into their rivals, they could expect retaliation in future races. This feature, which later inspired the GRID series, added an extra layer of realism to the game. After races where players aggressively pushed their rivals off the track, they would be confronted by the defeated opponent, expressing their opinions about the player’s behavior.
Abundance of licenses: TOCA Race Driver was released under different titles in various countries and regions. For instance, players in North America enjoyed Pro Race Driver, while German players had DTM Race Driver, and Australian fans played V8 Supercars: Race Driver. The game featured a wide array of licensed tracks, cars, and championships, including the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), German DTM, V8 Supercars, Alfa GTV Cup, and Pacific Challenge.
Simcade gameplay: TOCA Race Driver struck a balance between arcade and simulation-style gameplay. Even playing with a keyboard did not require extensive training, but the game still provided enough realism to challenge players right from the start. The game also implemented a mechanic to simulate car damage, discouraging players from crashing into opponents or barriers.
What came next? TOCA Race Driver achieved great success both artistically and commercially, leading to a swift sequel and the release of TOCA Race Driver 3 two years later. However, these successors did not include the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), and the series eventually transformed into Race Driver: GRID in 2008.
Where to play TOCA Race Driver today? As of now, TOCA Race Driver is not available on platforms like GOG.com or Steam. However, interested players may find physical copies of the game for around 20-30 PLN. Please note that the graphics may not hold up well compared to today’s standards, and the damage model may feel outdated.
Sources:
– Midjourneyi
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