Total Drivin

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1997 video game

title: "Total Drivin" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1997-video-games", "activision-games", "atlus-games", "eutechnyx-games", "ocean-software-games", "playstation-(console)-games", "playstation-(console)-only-games", "racing-video-games", "magazine-branded-video-games", "video-games-set-in-easter-island", "video-games-set-in-hong-kong", "video-games-developed-in-the-united-kingdom", "multiplayer-and-single-player-video-games"] description: "1997 video game" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Drivin" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1997 video game ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox video game"]

Field	Value
title	Total Drivin
image	TotalDrivin cover.png
caption	PAL cover art
developer	Eutechnyx
publisher
platforms	PlayStation
released
genre	Racing
modes	Single-player, multiplayer
::

Total Drivin, known as Car & Driver Presents: Grand Tour Racing '98 in North America, Gekisou!!! Grand Racing in Japan and as M6 Turbo Racing in France (as a tie-in to the M6 motoring show), is a 1997 racing video game developed by British company Eutechnyx exclusively for PlayStation, their first release under this name having previously been named Merit Studios. The game saw highly mixed reactions from critics due to its broad stylistic approach and unusual steering controls. It was followed up by C3 Racing released in Europe in 1998 and 1999.

Gameplay

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Total_Drivin_02.png" caption="Gameplay screenshot"] ::

Total Drivin is a racing game that features six courses set in different locations across the world, each with different weather variations. The game supports the Dual Analog Controller. Multiplayer is available via both split screen and the PlayStation Link Cable.

Development

Total Drivin was developed by the UK-based company Eutechnyx. The developers created a zoom-capable, 360 degree camera for use as a programming tool, but later decided to leave it in so that players could look over the track landscapes while the game is paused.

The game's North American publisher, Activision, acquired a Car and Driver sponsorship for the game, leading to "Car and Driver Presents" being added to the game's title in that region.

Reception

| GR = 71% | Allgame = | CNG = 4/10 | Edge = 8/10 | EGM = 7/10 | Fam = 23/40 | GI = 7.75/10 | GameFan = 86% | GSpot = 7/10 | IGN = 6/10 | NGen = | OPM = | rev1 = Playstation Plus | rev1Score = 86%

The game received above-average reviews. In Japan, where the game was ported and published by Atlus under the name '''*Gekisō!! Grand Racing: Total Drivin'''''' on 23 April 1998, *Famitsu'' gave it a score of 23 out of 40.

While Edge praised the game for successfully combining the realism of a racing simulator with the style of an arcade racing game, most reviews assessed that by taking on every single racing style in one game, Total Drivin failed to excel at any one style and came out highly inconsistent. Next Generation, for example, stated that "It's a nice idea, but for the most part, it's neither well-executed nor well-integrated into gameplay, and comes across like more of a gimmick than anything else." Both Next Generation and IGN remarked that most of the tracks are too easy, while the buggy tracks feature extremely difficult handling, making the challenge too uneven.

Some critics complimented the sound effects as realistic, while others found the engine sounds grating, likening them to motorcycles or blenders. The graphics also met with mixed reactions, with critics noting grainy bitmaps but a pleasing lack of pop-up. A few reviewers praised how the aggressive A.I. leads other cars to cut opponents off or push them into walls when going around curves. Kraig Kujawa of Electronic Gaming Monthly summarized that "With so much depth, GTR has something for all, despite its rough edges", and his co-reviewer Dean Hager similarly concluded, "In the end, the good elements outweigh the bad."

Gary Mollohan of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine highlighted the game's selection of vehicles and large environments, noting that a single lap can take up to four minutes to complete. However, he criticized the game's questionable car physics and unconventional controls. IGN likewise found that the controls make the steering oversensitive.

Notes

References

(2002-04-26). "GameSpot: Video Games News: Grand Tour Racing '98 Hits PlayStation".
EGM staff. (July 1997). "Grand Tour Racing '98 (Preview)". [[Ziff Davis]].
(September 1997). "Activision's Nightmare". [[International Data Group.
"Car and Driver Presents: Grand Tour Racing '98 for PlayStation". CBS Interactive.
Marriott, Scott Alan. "Car and Driver Presents: Grand Tour Racing '98 - Review". [[All Media Network]].
Marrin, John. (5 December 1997). "Grand Tour Racing ['98]". [[CNET]].
Edge staff. (December 1997). "Total Drivin'". [[Future plc.
EGM staff. (October 1997). "Grand Tour Racing ['98]". Ziff Davis.
"激走!! グランドレーシング Total Drivin' [PS]". [[Enterbrain]].
(November 1997). "Grand Tour Racing ['98]". [[FuncoLand]].
(November 1997). "GTR [sic]". Metropolis Media.
Gerstmann, Jeff. (13 November 1997). "Car & Driver Presents: Grand Tour Racing '98 Review". CBS Interactive.
IGN staff. (29 September 1997). "Car and Driver Presents Grand Tour Racing 98". Ziff Davis.
(December 1997). "Grand Tour Racing '98". [[Future US.
Mollohan, Gary. (October 1997). "Grand Tour Racing 98". Ziff Davis.
Jon. (November 1997). "Total Drivin".
Bad Hare. (October 1997). "Car and Driver Presents Grand Tour Racing '98". IDG.

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