Project CARS Review

The racing simulator has been around for ages. So many different developers trying to master what exactly is a racing sim, each with their own design and take on the genre. Slightly Mad Studios teamed up with Bandai Namco to bring a fresh new take on the racing sim, but does Project CARS successfully live up to the standards that we were promised all those years ago?

Project CARS looks gorgeous from the get-go, its dynamic weather system, lighting effects, and attention to detail on the actual cars is spectacular. The game runs smoothly on the PS4 and boasts 1080p playback. Playing the game at the Project CARS launch on the Xbox One proved one thing, the 900p in which the Xbox One runs the game is clear from the start with jagged lines across the screen and on objects. Sure it runs the game just as smoothly as the PS4, but it would not be my ideal platform for the game.

I reviewed this game on the PlayStation 4, and the first thing I noticed is that Project CARS wants to be taken seriously. This is not an arcade racer, or even something that can come close to one. It is a serious game but it does appeal to everyone, and that is what makes it unique. The team behind the game have made sure that there is a little something in it no matter what your preference is.

Starting off you can choose from a series of options that will tailor make your driving experience. There are dozens of things to tweak and change that effects the game and overall difficulty. This is where the “anyone can play” comes in. Opponent skill can be increased and decreased, your hud can be modified – even the console versions have visual settings that change the heat haze, motion blur and rain drop on screen. This is something new for console games, normally players need to take what they get and deal with it.

Some of these options will go straight over your head at first, but there are a few that you will keep going back to every race, like the opponent skill and session length. The opponent skill goes from making you feel like Michael Schumacher, to making you feel like you are racing against Michael Schumacher. Regardless of difficulty the AI still does a great job at self-awareness, knowing what is around them and what weather they are racing in etc. You never feel like they are dumb drivers.

Starting off your career in Project CARS revolves around you signing a contract in any specific themed race. If you feel like jumping into F1 then you can, I personally started off with my favourite past-time, go karts. I also chose this because it was the lowest ranking event and I knew I could work my way up to the big leagues. The choice is yours as Project CARS does not force you to do anything you don’t want to do, you can start with whatever you want to start with.

The cars feel real, it is as dynamic as it is going to get. Every car you get into has a weight to it that is apparent when turning corners and slowing down. Karts and F1 cars feel unbelievably realistic as do any of the cars in the roster. The sounds are perfect, from gearing up to over revving, it all sounds spectacular. Cars that are made for the road feel like they belong on the road, it just works well and thanks to the sound and simulations, it works together.

When you aren’t in the career mode, you can set up Race Weekends. These events allow you to create set races and determine what the weather will be like, how many opponents you will race against, and the date. The same customization goes for online, allowing a deep set of settings for every race which prevents it from becoming monotonous.

The game’s engine is the true star of the show. From the deep race customizations, dynamic weather and visuals, to the precise sun settings and heat on the roads. It all makes for great experience and the feeling that you really are in control of things. Racing in thunderstorms blurs your windshield with rain drops, the glare of the sun really gets in your vision, and kicking up some dust into your opponents face is all very pretty. It’s a remarkably good looking game.

Project CARS can either be the hardest racing simulator in the world, or the easiest. That is how it manages to stay relevant even after you become a pro. Just when you think you have mastered it, a few tweaks will have you learning all over again. The car roster might not be up to standard with titles like Driveclub and Forza, but it doesn’t need hundreds of cars to make its mark.

Project CARS is a great racer, its attention to detail is rare and its tweaks are plenty. You can race, don’t be scared, it’s made for everyone.