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When I heard there was going to be another racing game for the Xbox, I thought it would have to be impressive to stand out from the likes of Project Gotham Racing and Colin McRae. Of course there is another way to stand out from the crowd and that is to be different, and Auto Modellista is certainly that. This game is a cell shaded racing game. Forget about other racing games and how they play because you are not going to find it here. This game will bring you a totally new experience, whether that is a good thing or a bad thing all depends on you.
Auto offers the usual array of options from ‘Single Races’ to a career mode called ‘Garage Life’. Nothing special yet on offer but wait, there is more. You can edit and create your own movies from any of the replays that you save after you have raced. Plus, it is Xbox Live enabled.
The main area of this game is “Garage Life”. This is where you start your career and build up your fleet of cars and garages. There are 17 car manufacturers from which to choose from, with some of the cars blacked out as they are secrets waiting to be unlocked whilst you progress your career. Another unusual feature is developing your garage. You get the chance to create the layout of the garage you own, adding posters and various items on the floor or walls. Once again, many of the items are locked until you have completed a certain race. The last thing you might need to do before racing is tune up your car. This has been made simple for players who can not be bothered like myself in working out all the fine details. All you have to do is select “Easy Tune-up” and pick from the selection presented to you of the type of race you are going to be racing in next. The car is then tuned up, ready to race and optimise to that kind of track., but if “simple” is not your style, you can tune-up the car manually to your own specs.
It’s Race Time !! The engine is revving and the light’s turn green, you are off like a rocket and then BAM, it hits you to how different this game is to any other racing game. What I mean, is that the handling of the car is very unusual compared to the others. Your car moves left or right as if it is on a pivot stick. Ok…let me see if I can describe it, if you stuck a pin thru the centre of a piece of paper and then moved the paper right or left, than that is exactly how your car reacts on the track. Great if you are going straight and haven’t moved yet but once you do, it is very hard to straighten up again without drifting to the sides, as the car does not self-centre. Of course, you do get used to it and then use it to it’s maximum effect. There are 11 different types of races you will be faced with over the many levels you progress thru.
Graphics:
The graphics are cell shaded and done in such a way, that everything looks smooth and free flowing. The races are fast with no frame rate lost whatever view you choose to race in.
Sound:
The sounds you would normally associate with a car racing game are here, so nothing new and the tunes are ok.
Longevity:
It’s a racing game, with a novelty value of being a cell shaded game. There are several levels with numerous races in each, which can last you for a while and if that wasn’t enough, you can always play on Live. If you don’t have Live, than you might find this game a bit repetitive.
Round Up:
Overall, if you like cell shaded games, than this is one hell of a racing game, but if you don’t, than don’t dismiss it but go hire it out and make your mind up there. The Live aspect of the game might help keep it’s value, but one will have to wait and see.
Pros:
- Cell Shaded
- Xbox Live
- Editing Replays to make movies.
Cons:
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