IGN Hands-on Preview
January 28, 2003 - Originally titled Mercedes-Benz World Racing, TDK's racer has dropped Mercedes-Benz from the title, though the license remains. In fact, there are 107 Mercedes-Benz cars in the game, ranging from old school classic race cars to futuristic prototypes. Before you start going ho-hum, thinking this is merely another track racer with a license, know that World Racing features seven giant areas comprising 117 tracks, plus 48 missions. When I say these areas are gigantic, I mean it.
TDK hopes to set World Racing apart from the other racing contenders by offering the ability to go off the track, forget all about the race at hand, and explore your surroundings. When you're in Nevada, for example, you may be tempted to follow the guide arrows and stay between the imaginary lines, but the real fun comes in crashes through a barrier and driving along the desert. Not only will you find short-cuts to help you win the race, but you'll see all manner of odd thing. Heck, cow abductions alone are worth the venture beyond the standard race track.
I could tell you about the cars (they're all from Mercedes-Benz and many look amazing) or give exacting details on the Championship Mode, but from my short time playing World Racing, the exploration aspects are really where it's at. It's quite hard to actually stay on a track, simply because everything you see on screen, no matter how far off in the distance it may appear, can be reached. I've put this to the test on three of the seven areas and found that I really could reach everything in sight, which ain't bad at all.
Now, while the main racing mode has you trying to actually stay on a course (and who wants to do that when you can drive through a herd of cows?), there are also free ride modes so you can toot around and of the areas you've unlocked in any of the cars you've unlocked.
The exploration aspects and some of the background interactions, like planes flying by and cows grazing on grass are shaping up to be the best aspects of World Racing. On top of this, you get over 100 licensed cars that you can customize in any of 15 lovely colors. Plus there is deeper customization options, for those looking for more than just a simple "hop-in-and-drive." It works either way.
Each car handles differently and the environment affects handling as well. Riding across the alps, you'll literally be slipping and sliding across the snow, though you won't have as much trouble on the less icy road paths. Turn too hard and you'll easily spin out. This is actually a little too extreme, because even a minor twinge sends you spinning out of control. But with a couple more months of tuning, that should be fixed.
The controls are nothing new with the triggers acting as brake and acceleration and the B button working as the e-brake. Along with standard third-person and bumper cams, World Racing has a cockpit cam with unique cockpits for every single car. Yowsah! You'll also see your driver (there are several models to choose from ) turning the wheel as you drive.
Toss in real-time damage modeling that actually affects performance for added measure.
Visually, World Racing isn't likely to compete with Midtown Madness 3, Rallisport Challenge 2, or Project Gotham Racing 2, but the graphics are solid. The cars look great and are fully reflective and the lighting is well done. There are quite a few clipping issues at the moment, though that's being work on and some of the textures look a little weak up close. But if it's a racer with an expansive world you're looking for, then these minor quibbles shouldn't matter much. Hopefully an extra layer of graphical polish will be laid on World Racing before it ships exclusively to Xbox in March.
For those looking to get with friends, World Racing offers 2-4 player split-screen racing. Sorry, no System Link. The frame rate chops on two-player, though, but it's nothing too dramatic. The open exploration aspect may seem a bit useless when racing a buddy, but finding shortcuts is the best way to take advantage of your buddy. But really, most multiplayer moments involve trying to run your friend off the road. And isn't that what a racing game is supposed to be?
Outlook
World Racing has some awesome cars, good handling, and big worlds to explore. It's unique from most racers out on Xbox, because you can leave the beaten path at any time and for any reason. The thing with racers, is that it's hard to judge racing AI and longevity after only an hour or two of play. World Racing, from first view, doesn't seem like it's going to revolutionize the genre or make you cancel your pre-order of the other Xbox racing games coming in 2003, but it looks to be a solid game that lets you roam the countryside in a car built by one of the best manufacturers in the world. That ain't bad.
Check out our new screens and movies of World Rally to see it in action and take a gander at these two sweet trailers.