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Auto Modellista Review - PS2

Capcom are currently the kings of survival horror and every now and then make some decent fighting titles to follow up on their early dominance. Now Capcom have thrown their hat into the racing ring. Car games are extremely popular titles and there are some absolutely crackers already out on the PS2. Can Auto Modellista mix it with the big boys or should Capcom just stick to zombies and haunted mansions and 2D fighters??? Ladies and Gentleman, start your engines....

Gameplay

This is a car racing game with a major identity crisis. The appearance and sound of a straight out arcade racer, with a detailed tune up and garage function to appeal to hardcore racers. Is this a match made in heaven or one serious confused racer??

The game works pretty closely to the Gran Turismo formula, in fact too close for comfort - chose an initial car, win a few races to unlock more races while either modifying your existing car or upgrading to a better model with your winnings. Modifying your car and buying parts is quite user friendly with a lot of tips and hints being provided in the form of emails. The actual amount of options that can be specified is pretty daunting, from the actual shelving layout of your garage, exact performance parts, to even the all important placement of stickers on your car.

So, at least off the track, the game provides enough depth and options to keep car enthusiasts happy. For those of you who wouldn't know the difference between a spark plug and a muffler, don't fret as there is the ability to break it all down to your personal preference in general terms. You can change your car so the emphasis is on power or speed, handling, or just maybe just looks.

So how does it play?? Pretty sluggishly in my mind. Most of the cars handle like a German tank, despite any adjustments you make. You will be forever crashing into walls- meaning your brakes will cop a whopping workout. Even more frustrating is the fact that brake for a tad too long and you will be thrown into a spin. One mistake like this will pretty much wipe out any chance of getting yourself back into the race. While this forces you to learn the tracks a bit better, the difficulty and lack of decent physics engine soon eats into your enjoyment.

Of course, car racing is all about speed and through the use of the speed trails - Auto Modellista at least manages to replicate this aspect quite well. But your finger will never be far away from the brake button because of poor stage design, cutting into any nose bleeding speed moments.

Besides the 1-Player "Garage Life", there is also the option of racing against a friend or time challenges. There is also a theatre feature, which allows you to save replays as ... (continued next page)