Auto Modellista  Review for Xbox

Saturday, May 01, 2004

Game Info

News

Review

Preview

Videos

Screenshots

Cheats

Title: Auto Modellista .............................................. System: Xbox .............................................. Genre: Racing .............................................. Publisher: Capcom .............................................. Developer: Capcom .............................................. Release: January 20, 2004 .............................................. Online: Yes .............................................. ESRB: Everyone .............................................. Imagine yourself flying down a race track in a cel shaded, yet stylish, car. That is the principle behind Auto Modellista, a racer that has an abundance of cars all in their cartoony glory. A lot of hype surrounded this game before its release, and it made an impact with a different look, interesting upgrade system, and odd physics. Gameplay This game has a lot that attracts people, but once played most of them will shy away from it. On a bright note, this game has perhaps one of the absolute coolest career modes ever--Garage Life--and anyone who keeps it will be content unlocking parts and organizing the shop. This mode allows you to unlock parts and cars, and then use what you have unlocked without buying it. You can also keep the shop looking good by placing your trophies, pictures, and toolboxes inside. In addition, it also has the standard arcade and multiplayer modes to round out the mix. One of the drawbacks of the game is the overly steep learning curve, which seems too easy to start but after a few levels the game seems impossibly hard. Multiplayer Like most Xbox games, Auto Modellista has local multiplayer support even though it only supports two players. In addition to split screen action, you can challenge up to 8 people on Xbox Live, where you can always find an opponent to give you a run for your money. Graphics Perhaps the most recognizable and most appealing element to Auto Modellista is the cel shading. This provides a welcome change from the horde of other racers struggling to become more realistic in their look. The major fault in the graphics, though, is the tracks themselves. They are dull, uninspired, and seem to be lacking the pizzazz the vehicles have. Sound The audio department in this game is also lacking, thanks to a combination of cars that sound like bees, techno elevator music, and an obnoxious announcer. Another negative issue is that you can’t use custom soundtracks that are ripped onto your Xbox. Controls Even with a comfortable button layout, the physics are lacking. Quite often, you will find yourself restarting a race simply because of the overly slippery tracks. Oddly, there is no combination that keeps you on the road; only coming to a halt or smashing into a wall can save you once you start sliding. Here are the default controls: Directional Pad – Steer Left Thumbstick - Steer A - Accelerate B - Hand brake X - Brake Y - Hazard Lights White - Change Camera Angle Black - Switch to RearView Left Trigger - Downshift Right Trigger - Shift Up Start - Start game/Pause/Pause Menu Back - Horn Overall Overall, this is a racer set apart by its graphics, unique upgrade system and phenomenal replay value. However, with a steep learning curve, annoying audio and frustrating physics, this game warrants a rental. Other racers (like Project Gotham 2 or Need for Speed Underground) are much better investments.   The Core Score Overall 6.9 Fun 7 Gameplay 7.5 Graphics 8 Audio 3 Replay 9   How we score games