World Driver Championship

World Driver Championship is a racing game that features ten locations. Most locations feature six tracks (marked "A", "B", and "C"), three of which are in reverse (marked "R" next to "A", "B", and "C"). The exception is Black Forest, which has only four tracks, two of them being in reverse. These are the ten locations: Hawaii, United States; Les Gets, France; Las Vegas, United States; Auckland, New Zealand; Lisbon, Portugal; Rome, Italy; Sydney, Australia; Zürich, Switzerland; Kyoto, Japan; and the Black Forest in Germany.

The game was showcased at E3 1999.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Midway+is+|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606123201/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Midway+is+%22Ready+2+Rumble%22+At+E3+With+Its+Knock-Out+Product+Lineup.-a054630960|title=Midway is "Ready 2 Rumble" At E3 With Its Knock-Out Product Lineup|website=Business Wire|archivedate=June 6, 2013|date=May 13, 1999|accessdate=July 31, 2021|via=The Free Dictionary}} One of the last racing simulations to be released for Nintendo 64, this graphically intensive title uses custom microcode optimization and high polygon count modelling. The development team was able to optimize the usage of the various processors within the N64 to allow a great draw distance (reducing the need for fog or pop-up), highly detailed texturing and models, Doppler effect MP3 audio, and advanced lighting and fog effects for realistic weather conditions. Additionally, unlike many other games of its type on the platform, the game runs high resolution at a smooth pace.

The soundtrack, consisting of original rock and heavy metal tunes, was composed by musician Zack Ohren.

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 75/100

| Allgame = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=McCall|first=Scott|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116021653/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=17710&tab=review|archivedate=November 16, 2014|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=17710&tab=reviewt|title=World Driver: Championship |work=AllGame|accessdate=October 8, 2020}}

| Edge = 6/10{{Cite magazine |title=World Driver Championship |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=74 |page=88 |date=August 1999}}

| EGM = 7.25/10{{Cite magazine |title=World Driver Championship |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=120 |page=127 |date=July 1999}}

| GSpot = 5.7/10{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/world-driver-championship-review/1900-2544201/ |title=World Driver Championship Review |website=GameSpot |date=April 28, 2000 |first=Ryan |last=Mac Donald |accessdate=March 10, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512182423/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/world-driver-championship-review/1900-2544201/ |archivedate=May 12, 2019 |url-status=live}}

| IGN = 8.8/10{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/06/17/world-driver-championship |title=World Driver Championship Review |website=IGN |date=June 16, 1999 |first=Peer |last=Schneider |accessdate=January 15, 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115130930/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/06/17/world-driver-championship |archivedate=January 15, 2015 |url-status=dead}}

| N64 = 91%{{Cite magazine |title=World Driver Championship |magazine=N64 Magazine |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=32 |first=Jes |last=Bickham |pages=56–61 |date=September 1999}}

| NGen = {{rating|4|5}}

| NP = 8.7/10{{Cite magazine |title=World Driver: Championship |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |issue=122 |page=112 |date=July 1999}}

}}

Although World Driver Championship received generally positive reviews from critics,{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/world-driver-championship/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-64 |title=World Driver Championship |website=Metacritic |accessdate=July 17, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717133134/https://www.metacritic.com/game/nintendo-64/world-driver-championship |archivedate=July 17, 2012 |url-status=live}} it suffered from intense competition at the time. While the game was an improvement in nearly every way compared to Boss's similar earlier effort, Top Gear Rally, it was up against the impressive new Gran Turismo series and other new racers. Complaints included a somewhat unconvincing driving physics model, non-licensed cars, and poor sound effects and music quality. The dislike for the physics model often stems from the beginning cars being difficult to drive and offering a "sloppy" feeling of control. Next Generation praised the graphics, gameplay, cars, and tracks, but noted that due to its driving physics model the game will be difficult to master for arcade racing fans.{{Cite magazine |title=World Driver Championship |magazine=Next Generation |publisher=Imagine Media |volume=2 |issue=1 |page=85 |date=September 1999 |first=Daniel |last=Erickson}}

{{reflist}}

• {{moby game|id=/n64/world-driver-championship|name=World Driver Championship}}

{{Boss Game Studios}}

Category:1999 video games

Category:Boss Game Studios games

Category:Midway video games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:Nintendo 64 games

Category:Nintendo 64-only games

Category:Racing video games

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Video games set in Portugal