The main difference between V8 Supercars 3 on the Xbox and PlayStation 2 and V8 Supercars 3 Shootout on the PSP is the redesigned main career option, the World Challenge mode. Rather than just jump into a championship and work your way up, there are certain challenges in the PSP game that you'll need to fulfil before you get behind the steering wheel in an actual championship. One of these events is steering control, where you'll need to try and manouevre your way through the cones as quickly and as accurately as possible. Every time you miss a cone, you'll be penalised. Meanwhile, the braking test requires you to stop within a small blue square, a slightly frustrating exercise, as you'll be accelerating at a comfortable pace and will then need to quickly stop. It's quite easy to overshoot the mark, too - the target area should have been a little bigger.
Oooh, it's a close one...
In the "drive the line" challenge, you have to try and follow the recommended racing line as closely as possible, and do so in a speedy manner. This is a lot more difficult than it sounds, as the racing line is quite thin, and you'll need to be right on the line - being close isn't good enough. One of the more enjoyable challenges is average speed. With average speed, you need to race around a course as quickly as possible and try and beat the average lap speed for a track. The game calculates your average speed in real time, so you'll always know how you're going. There's also a no damage challenge, which is self-explanatory (though rather contradictory in a game which encourages aggression and risk-taking). For every event you'll be awarded either a bronze, silver or gold medal, and for some of the challenges you'll actually want to return to get a higher medal. After you've completed these mini challenges, you're able to qualify for the championship proper, and from there placing first in each championship will move you onto the next one.
Throughout the World Challenge mode, you'll go through a series of international championship tiers, and get a chance to play through the V8 Supercar Champonship, but there are also events in North America, Germany, Britain and more. There's plenty of content in the World Challenge mode alone to keep you going for a lengthy amount of time. One of the most appealing aspects of V8 Supercars 3 Shootout is the fact that there are 37 fully licensed cars with 34 real world tracks, with favourites like Silverstone and the Nurburgring both making the cut. By the time you get sick of one championship, you'll be racing against a whole new set of opponents.
Luckily the game is a little forgiving.
If you're tired of the World Challenge mode, then there are plenty of other gameplay options. You can choose Quick Start and leap straight into a race, whilst there's also a Free Race option and a Time Trial mode. The game supports ad-hoc multiplayer, so up to twelve players can compete with any of the content which has been unlocked via the World Challenge mode. The title also supports game share for up to four players, but this option is a little too limited, which subtracts from the usefulness of the feature.
In terms of handling, the game isn't an arcade title where you can powerslide around corners and bump into other cars carelessly, but is still reasonably forgiving. During a race, you can underestimate a bend or accidentally nudge another car and still recover. The game features a comprehensive damage system where you can damage gears, suspension, steering, wheels and the engine, but you have to knock the car around pretty badly before you're forced to withdraw.
Regrettably, there is a few issues with frame rate, though with 21 cars on track at one time, it's still a remarkable technical achievement for the PSP. Trackside detail has taken a hit as a result, and although the tracks are still distinguishable, they do look a little flat at times. The sound in the game is almost identical to last year's console incarnations. That's not a bad thing however, as you'll hear all of the grunts of the V8s, and all of the other engine noises sound great too. The PSP version also includes custom soundtrack support, so you can play any of the tunes you've got stored on your memory stick through the PSP.
Don't worry, you won't see this view in game.
The World Challenge mode is likely to keep you occupied for a lengthy amount of time, and if you're finding things a little easy, then there's five difficulty settings, so the game should always be challenging you. After you've completed World Challenge, then you can play multiplayer or improve your times in the Time Trial mode. V8 Supercars 3 Shootout is a tough game to dislike, simply because it offers up a bundle of different race options in the one game; just about everyone will find something to like here. When it comes to variety, you won't find much better in the racing genre than V8 Supercars 3 Shootout - the game is great fun and can serve up a real challenge. Highly recommended for those who appreciate their portable racing games.
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