V8 Supercars 3

8.8
Great

Gameplay	9.0	"We’ll be playing this one for a long time to come."
Graphics	8.5
Sound	7.5
Value	8.5

By Shaun Hunter

We’ve heard the roar of the engine for a few months now, and finally, V8 Supercars 3 has screeched onto the scene.

V8 Supercars 3, or TOCA Race Driver 3 as it’s more commonly known as in the rest of the world oustide Australasia, is the latest in driving simulation from the guys at Codemasters - and what a driving simulator it is. Building on its predecessors, it features over 35 different racing disciplines. V8 Supercars offers quite possibly the widest and most expansive range of racing in one single game to date.

The great thing about V8 Supercars 3 is that every vehicle type in the game feels as realistic and natural as the next. Speeding a Dodge Charger around a NASCAR circuit will be a completely unique experience to attempting to manoeuvre a supertruck around any course. It’s this incredible physics engine that gives the game a natural driving experience which will be hard to resist time after time.

As nice as the vehicle models look, they seem to look that much better with panels missing and windscreens cracked in. Indeed, the damage models are great, but what gives the total feeling of being a victim in a collision is the effect that they’ll have on your car from a mechanical standpoint. As was the case with the previous games in the V8 Supercars series, you are able to damage various parts of your vehicle, from the transmission giving you grief to the very noticeable speed-loss thanks to your ruined engine. It is great to see a game where you actually want to avoid slamming into the wall for the consequences that will come from it, as opposed to other driving simulators in which you can bounce of walls.

As was the case with last year’s game, as soon as you get past the initial loading screens you are thrown straight into a race to prove to your mechanic, and perhaps yourself, that you do indeed have what it takes to steer a car around a series of corners. This is essentially the introduction to the story mode in which you progress through the 32 racing levels with the help of the mechanic. A highlight of this mode are the rivalries which form between you and the other drivers. While it doesn’t seem to have a great lot of influence on how the story progresses, it’s always good to have someone you can identify and race against. There is also the pro career mode, where you are able to choose a vehicle class and basically race the tracks and events suited for that type of vehicle.

The sound of the game is once again top-notch. When hooked up to a decent stereo system you’ll be able to blast away the neighbours with the roar of your favourite engine. Tires will squeal as they slide around corners, cars will smash together with the appropriate sounds, and the background music just blends in like a well-oiled machine. Sound isn’t one of the major selling points of the game, but it sure as hell holds up well.

Whether you're looking for the latest, greatest racing simulator, or just want to do some straight-up racing, V8 Supercars 3 will suit the occasion. Pick up this game if only to get behind the wheel of a V8 and fly around Bathurst. We’ll be playing this one for a long time to come.

NZGamer.com - V8 Supercars 3 Facebook