If you don't like using the SIXAXIS for steering, stop reading now. That's the only way to steer in this game, as the analogue stick isn't supported. Presumably, this also means that steering wheels peripherals aren't supported.
The rest of the controls are button based. You accelerate and break with the triggers. You also have a side break and can perform tiny jumps and a turbo dash.
Even if you aren't into motion controls, there's a lot to like in Toy Home. The game encourages players to drive wildly, taking huge leaps through the occasionally airborne checkpoints, and power-sliding for quick turns. The tracks are littered with hundreds, or possibly thousands, of objects, from smaller dominoes and blocks to larger items like soccer balls and furniture. These use the Havok physics engine to react realistically to collisions.
Initially, there isn't much to worry about as far as pitfalls are concerned, but things get more complex as you advance to the later races. The first stage is a toy room with most of the driving taking place on a flat mini soccer field. A later stage requires that you navigate tiny bridges connecting the counter tops of a kitchen. Fall off the ledges or into one of the kitchen sinks, and you lose a few seconds as your vehicle is brought back onto the course.
Online racing complete with voice chat and two player offline split screen racing should make this another steal at 800 yen. The determining factor will be your willingness to accept motion controls. I despised the game at first, but after a few races, and once I discovered the convenience of the side break for on-a-dime turning, my opinion became a bit more positive. Given the choice, though, I'd switch over to analogue controls in an instant.
As with Dark Mist, the credits for Toy Home have lots of special thanks to folks from Sony America and Europe, suggesting that an international release is on the way. If the international release includes an option for standard controls, this will be another must-download title.
