Product Reviews

TOCA Race Driver 3 is one of the most ambitious racing games ever. Most games pick a single genre, such as track racing or rally driving, but TOCA gives you all of them. There's a mix of time periods, so you can strap on some goggles and race against drivers from the 1930s.

There was concern that too much diversity would lead to each section being poor, but TOCA's developers have done an excellent job. The graphics, ranging from Silverstone to a rally course in the hills of England, are spot on and cars look detailed and suffer realistic damage.

The controls strike a good balance between arcade game and simulation, although

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we'd recommend using a steering wheel or other analogue controller rather than a keyboard.

The game has several play modes, but before you can unlock them you need to do well in a championship. The World Tour is the best place to start, as this takes you through the game's full range of racing options. It starts off sedately enough with track racing at Brands Hatch, but soon throws in a rally, four-by-fours and, for the boy racers, American muscle cars.

Completing each section unlocks more play modes. This is where TOCA gets difficult, as you have to be a Jack of all trades to progress. If, like us, you're shoddy on the rally courses, you can find yourself frustratingly doing the same track time and time again to get to the next stage. Alternatively, you can choose to enter a Pro Tournament with a single discipline, which lets you focus on the style of racing that you prefer.

There's a choice of standalone races, but to unlock all the modes you need to complete the championships. Still, once you've completed all the official races, there's lots to come back for.

With its detailed graphics and many racing modes, TOCA Race Driver 3 is the ideal game for anyone who loves all forms of driving.