Previous Next

Game Boy Color in realistic driving game shocker!

When popular driving games get ported onto the Game Boy Color what you usually get is a behind-the-car racer where the track seems to turn more than the car! Well TOCA: Touring Car Championship has opted for the more old-fashioned isometric view and you know what? It plays like an absolute dream!

Unlike most isometric racers, TOCA handles superbly - the turning circle is super-smooth and surprisingly realistic. From this perspective you usually get a jumpy multi-staged turns but with TOCA you can literally cruise around the corners. Press the pad hard enough and you can even do powerslides - something that happens quite a lot until you get used to the tracks because of how blindingly fast the game is! You really need to learn the layout of the nine official tracks in TOCA or your car can end up spinning across the grass.

What really stands out about TOCA is the graphical effects. Dust clouds come off the car as you spin off the track, skid marks over the road and you even get spray off the tyres when it's raining! As if this weren't enough, you can even see the little wheels turning around on all eight cars as they speed around the track. Yes, you read that correctly, there are *eight* cars on the track at the same time, and no, there isn't any slow-down!

The only major let-down to this game is that you can't play link-up with another Game Boy. Definitely an opportunity wasted. On the plus side, however, there are some 'Party Play' games for four people, but it does mean passing the Game Boy around between you! This is only a small flaw, though, and if you can orgive it then TOCA Touring Car Championship is the best driving experience you can find, short of buying your own car!

He's not wrong, you know! Even if you're the kind of dude who would usually rather tear off all your fingernails and post them to Les Dennis than play a racing game, you'll love zipping around all the tracks on TOCA.

The car graphics aren't outstanding, but at least they don't look like beer crates, and there's enough crammed into the cartridge to keep you whooping and hollering until doomsday. Race on!

Graphics 80% Small cars but fast.

Sound 60% Just adequate.

Playability 100% Lots to keep you racing!

Lastability 60% Fun for a while.

Overall 92% The cream of racing on the Game Boy Color!