Pro Race Driver
- January 09, 2003 00:00 AM PST
Blending racing with a meaningful story line hasn�t been managed before, and Codemasters� latest racing game deserves accolades for making an honest effort to pull that off.
Pro Race Driver gets an �A� for effort but winds up with a �C� for execution. Playing as rookie driver Ryan McKane, you�re struggling to follow in your father�s heroic footsteps after a suspicious and fatal wreck ended his legendary career. The racing side sticks to the standard format of a series of cups where victories unlock new events and earnings buy new cars. Extensive cut-scenes make meaningful connections between the action on the track and McKane�s tale.On paper, it sounds promising, but in action, it falls flat. The story is laughably bad, and McKane has to be one of the most unlikable protagonists ever. Even worse, the racing gameplay just isn�t that exciting, largely due to lackluster handling and A.I. competition. Except for the impressive damage modeling, the bland graphics and sounds provide scant reasons to hold your attention�quite simply, the PS2 is capable of far better.
If you�re one of those rare but dedicated fans of the TOCA series (to which this game is the sequel in spirit), you might find your way to appreciating Pro Race Driver. Everyone else should stick with the PS2�s extensive garage loaded with far superior racing games.
