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.
We've only spent a week playing preview code on the PS4 and although this version couldn't match the 4K splendour of Gran Turismo Sport in a graphic sense, Project Cars 2 delivers the sort of the depth and variable weather conditions that will make you eager to take on the Le Mans 24 Hours race.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.
Being rooted in motor sport, the majority of cars available are race cars, and I'm loving the modern GT3, GT4 and GTE racers. These race cars are based on real road cars, such as the Audi R8, Porsche 911 and Chevrolet Corvette. Awesome to look at, even better to drive.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.
Unlike Gran Turismo Sport, the stacks in this game are freeform as cars break and flip and bits falls off, adding consequence to errors.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.
The career mode has been improved this time around and I decided to start my motorsport journey on go-karts, which is a bit of thrill. They’re pretty challenging but rewarding when you get the hang of it.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.
Picking the right overtaking lines on long straights or choosing to dive in late under brakes is nerve-wracking too, and I love that. It's not always easy and that adds to the experience as you feel rooted in the moment. Do you throw caution to the wind to go for broke?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.
Then again, PC buffs will be able to play the game in 12K, on a three-screen set-up, or with an Oculus Rift VR headset, so there’s plenty of scope to ramp things up over the console versions.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.