Auto Modellista (Hands-On) Preview

Developer	Capcom
Publisher	Capcom
Genre	Driving
Release Date	3/25/03

One of the PS2's most anticipated online games is nearly finished, and GWX gets an offer to get behind the wheel.

It's the game's cel-shaded look that took gamers by surprise, whether it was the shock of seeing a cartoony Gran Turismo wannabe, or a resounding cheer for a refreshing look. Make no mistake; the toon shading assures that Auto Modellista won't be mistaken for anything else out there.

But if Gran Tursimo is what you're expecting, don't. The hyper-realism of the GT series isn't to be found here. Sure, the cars are modeled after their real-world counterparts, all made by the true-life manufacturers, and you can tinker with the car's performance, but that's about it in terms of raw realistic racing. The handling feels like more Ridge Racer or Burnout than anything else. But is that a bad thing? The arcade-like feel is great, and other than a small niggle or two, there's certainly enough here to get car nuts salivating for a final copy.

What Cars Are in the Game?
A lot. Really, there are lots of cars we had access to, though we also saw a bunch of tweaked versions of the same car. Most (if not all) Japanese manufacturers are present and accounted for, and American and European makes are there as well. We raced the Subaru Impreza and it's three iterations, as well as the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, but that was simply a small taste. The Hondas are there, the Toyotas, Dodge, etc. The list goes on.

How Does it Play?
The meat of the game is called "Garage Life". This basically the career mode of the game, and this is where the heart and soul of Auto Modellista is located. Think of Gran Turismo, and you pretty much have the idea of AM, only with a few notable differences.

First, AM plays out a little more arcadey in that you win cars and parts, not money in order to buy them. You can tune up your car in it's current form, or add a plethora of after market parts, body kits, and even wheel styles. You can also customize your car's paint scheme; a truly spectacular addition that will only help the player even more to make his ride his own. GWX predicts these customization options will be Auto Modellista's shining star, as the street racing phenomenon gets bigger and bigger by the day. And just to point it out; Gran Tursimo doesn't have this going for it.

The handling of the cars themselves have a very arcade feel to them, and other than being just a tad touchy in corners, and therefore losing the rear a bit too easy, we can't complain too much. The sense of speed is certainly present, and the graphic presentation never slows or shows signs of pop-up, immersing us even more.

How is it Online?
So far, so good. Actually, so far, so friggin' perfect! Not one time while racing, did we get disconnected, and not one car lagged out onscreen. Zero lag! Zero! We were surprised at this, but it's true. We experienced nothing but pleasure with AM online.

Enter a room, and wait for other players (which in the meantime you can chat and show off your ride; a cool little detail), have your chosen horse, choose a track, and you're off. 2 to 8 players can go at it online in a single race (broadband), and we are excited to know that the Auto Modellista servers are currently kicking to poo out of SOCOM's servers (which have a nasty habit of kicking you off while in the front end menus). Capcom plans to take full advantage of Sega's Snap online infrastructure, and so far, is working fluidly. Playing Auto Modellista online will be free of charge.

Overall?
Not too damn shabby. At first, we had doubts, but if Capcom continues on the path they are already on with Auto Modellista, the game is sure to be a winner. It's got the graphics, the unique Fast and the Furious-style customizing atmosphere going, fluid online play, and lots and lots of cars. Now Capcom, just give us some voice-chat, and we'll be happily at your mercy.

Preview by Brendon Hivner