I noticed that Race Driver 2 (RD2) was available in stores this last weekend so I shot over to my local software retailer, fought my way past the Everquest geeks and found my $30 speed fix there on the shelf. I made my way back to my Ram Air Pontiac, the smell of oil was already seeping from the RD2 package, or maybe it was the differential on my Pontiac again. One thing that has become apparent in all my years of racing simulations, it�s far cheaper to beat the crap out of a �simulated� vehicle than the ones that sit in the garage.

The perspective of this little review will focus on those issues that most directly relate to the community of simulation drivers and how I believe this title can be appreciated. By the time I�m all done here, I�ll do my best to thoroughly explain all the strong points of the software while touching on a few things that could use a little improvement in the future.

So anyways, I get home and rip open the game box to find it chuck full of stuff. Well, not really. All that comes in the box is a very brief manual, a single sheet of paper with the disc key code, and the game disc itself. I should clarify � the game �DVD�. I sat there staring at those three letters for a moment and finally I remembered installing a DVD burner a few months ago, so I was off the hook. Of course anyone going to the store to purchase this title would be far more intelligent than myself and would check the box before laying down their cash to know exactly what they were getting, a DVD or a bunch of CD�s. It wouldn�t hurt to glance at the system requirements either just to be sure you are up to speed.

Thank goodness we�re in the age of the giant freaking hard disk, �cause this puppy is going to set you back about 1.2GB for the measly install, and a whopping 3.75GB for the install with kitchen sink included. There are two things in life that truly suck, the time it takes for paint to dry and waiting for information to load from an optical drive when your hands are already on the steering wheel. For those of you that have already had your pint(s) for the day, that translates to choosing the �full� install if at all possible. Of course it will ask you if you wish to install Gamespy Arcade which I leave up to you and your multiplayer habits. Then after a quick reboot, you�re ready to go.

STARTING THE GAME AND THE USER INTERFACE

The first thing that you will need to do is use the external �setup� application that is included in the install to configure your graphics and your sound. They don�t go crazy with options here, but with regards to the actual performance of the game, we�re left happy with the choices they give.

Upon launching the game full screen, you are immediately prompted for a user profile with associated controller settings. In typical console fashion, we PC folks find ourselves navigating the menus with the keyboard. It�s intuitive and it works fine so I don�t complain. Once you crank through that you find yourself with only one option, �Begin.� So you hit it and immediately you find yourself in a Ford GT at Laguna (at least in the version that I purchased). Your pit chief gives you a few audible pointers as you muddle around the road course trying to remember which button you assigned to switch the driving camera from �car on a stick� to �cockpit.� At the end of that quick little run you end up with some storyline and it eventually returns you to a �home� screen so to speak. Now you have a few options as to how you would like to play the game.