Project CARS Reviews
Project CARS is a game that punishes every mistake you make, which makes successes and victories infinitely more rewarding.
Project CARS is going to give some of the bigger racing games a run for their money. There is depth, detail and fun to be had with this game. It certainly was worth the wait.
Project CARS is a racing game that simulates the act of racing lots of different vehicles in locations all over the world. It is very excellent at that, and if you like the idea of a racing sim you should give it a shot. I had a great time racing around the tracks, but it isn't something I am going to turn on very many more times. If a good simulation of driving cars at moderate-to-fast speeds is what really rocks your world, buy this game because I don't think it gets better than this. If you want something a little more exciting, grab the infinitely-excellent Blur or start rocking your Big Wheel again.
The kind of shake-up that this genre badly needed
All in all, colour me surprisingly impressed by Project CARS.
If you want to learn how to drive the vehicles you can't get ahold of in real life, this is for you. If you want a real racing experience this is for you. If you want to collect them all, or have a bit of fun, then you're better off waiting for Gran Turismo or getting an arcade racer instead. For the most realistic driving simulation available though, Project CARS is all you'll need.
All substance, not enough style
Everywhere else I'm always racing for a reason -- to earn money for cars, to unlock new areas, to build my driving level for some unknown reason -- but in Project CARS I'm racing for the sake of it.
It's technically impressive, gorgeous, accessible yet challenging and definitely worthy of your gaming collection.
Whether you're a hardcore or fringe fan of racing titles, Project Cars is a must buy.
With Project CARS, the simulator aspects are co-opted and somewhat compromised by a desire to simultaneously appeal to the arcade racer crowd - without actually being an arcade racer.
Project CARS expects you to spend hours on end, placing all your concentration on the race at hand, perfecting each turn, to chastise yourself for making simple mistakes, and to drive the same course over and over again in an effort to get that "perfect lap". While not all of their efforts have translated perfectly, Project CARS comes pretty damn close. Some frame rate drops hampered my experience, but overall Project CARS has done what it set out to do: build a fantastic looking, authentic racing simulator.
Bearing in mind that it was impossible for me to assess the quality and stability of the online components of the game, but it was still clear to see that Project CARS is a bloody good racing simulator. Those of you looking for more of an arcade racer may be better off looking elsewhere, especially at launch price, but if you're looking for a beautiful and in depth racing experience then shelling out £40 on Project CARS will be money well spent.
In short, Project CARS is a racing game that has everything, but doesn't necessarily appeal to everybody. It's hard to fault the game in any particular way. It runs well, looks gorgeous, and does exactly what it advertises, which is a lot, but nothing more. I wouldn't call it a breakthrough in racing design, but rather a refinement of the racing sim formula. It knows what it is, and knows what its audience is. If you are part of that audience, definitely give it a look. It's probably the best racing sim on the market right now. Just know that it's meant to appeal to hardcore gear heads first and foremost, and people looking for a more casual racing experience should probably look elsewhere.
If Slightly Mad Studios wanted to prove they could build an engine to compete with the likes of Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport, Project CARS is a definite success, with driving that feels as realistic as anything else out there. If they wanted to compete with the polish and robustness of those bigger titles, though, they've come up slightly short.
It's great that developers Slightly Mad Studios have moved away from the more modern approach of racing games that include gaining experience points to unlock new aspects of the game. Rather, they give the player a more holistic and realistic race experience by throwing everything at you.
Project Cars is infatuated and enamored by cars, but only cars, not the modes or features to make them interesting.
Slightly Mad Studios have, in the year since release, tidied up Project CARS no end. There's still a few small niggles here and there, but overall this is now a title I will happily have adorning my shelf.
Project CARS delivers on its promise of a demanding racing experience that requires skill and knowledge in the automotive space.
Project Cars offers a racing simulation experience for a very specific audience. It will satisfy the die-hard gearheads, but most players will be dissuaded by inconsistent handing, lack of progression, and a variety of technical issues.