Game preview: Project Cars 2

Fans of motorsport video games have never had it better.

OK, so Super Monaco GP on the Sega Megadrive was pretty amazing in its day but in September 2017, three of the world's biggest and most coveted racing games will drop.

Gran Turismo Sport is the Sony PlayStation exclusive, while Forza Motorsport 7 will hit Xbox and PC.

Project Cars 2, meanwhile, has the treble. It's available on all three platforms from Friday, September 22 (2017), and it brings a new level of realism that its predecessor lacked.

With accelerated time, of course.

There's around 180 cars on offer in this game, from exotics like the Lamborghini Veneno to regular cars such as the Ford Mustang GT and Renault Megane RS 275 and Mercedes-AMG A45.

There's even a ute in there, the Ford F-150.

There's plenty of classic cars too, such as Group A race cars from the 1990s and even some epic F1 machinery like the 1972 Lotus Type 72. Playing these cars with 3D virtual cockpits is pretty special.

Oh, and there's 60 tracks to race them on  too, including Brno, Nurburgring, Bathurst, Fuji and Daytona. There's even rallycross tracks if you want to get a little loose and wild.

The physics engine and collision detection are slightly more realistic than Gran Turismo Sport, of which we played preview code in July, with crashes taking on a more visceral quality.

The damage modelling is awesome too. The front-end of a LaFerrari crumpled and the engine cover loose after a big stack at Silverstone is a sight to behold.

Weather effects are also a highlight, as water will pool on tracks and roads after heavy deluges, adding plenty of puckering moments throughout important races as you try to avoid puddles.

There’s an incredible amount of depth in the options menu to tailor the game and indeed the gameplay to suit your skill level and, although the cars don’t feel quite as solid or substantial as in Gran Turismo Sport, the gaming is good and the racing engaging.

Next up it was the Ginetta race cars, which were more predictable, and after that the career took us to Renault Clio Cup cars, whose skittish lift-off oversteer tendencies translate nicely from real-life to the digital world.

The game plays decently with a control pad but it’s a more engrossing experience with a steering wheel.

The breadth of cars, including a number of Indy cars and other open-wheelers -- not to mention some seriously desirable classic vehicles -- ensures there’s always different ways to approach a given corner.

Perhaps the only real quibbles I had with the game were the graphics. The cars themselves look impressive and being able to race with virtual cockpits – especially in the open-wheel race cars – is a treat. But the complexity and polish of trackside details can't quite match Gran Turismo Sport.

This won’t be a deal breaker but when you glance at the trees on the Nurburgring, the level of detail is wanting.

If anything, this preview code reveals a more challenging simulation than Polyphony Digital’s magnum opus, one that’ll suit hard-core motorsport fans than casual racers. It’s also much-improved game compared to its predecessor and you can even race go-karts. Be warned though, they're some of the toughest cars to master!

OK, so it takes time to become dominant in this game but, as with any significant challenge, the rewards are considerable once you master it.