Project CARS 2 PS4 videos

Driftwood
Monday, September 18, 2017 | 3:00 PM
26 comments

GSY Video PC PS4 Xbox One

Back when it was released in 2015, the first Project CARS had issues, some of which had been fixed after a certain number of patches. Although we were aware it was not a perfect game, we preferred to focus on its many qualities and had great fun playing. When the sequel was officially announced, we were hopeful Project CARS 2 would address the remaining issues and make us even happier. Well, not quite it seems, and here's why.
Note: All the videos we have decided to share with you is the exact testimony of our experience with the game since last Friday. In no way are we trying to make it look bad, we just cannot hide some of the problems we have seen in the PS4 Pro version. Each sequence you'll find inside were recorded during our long game sessions in the course of the past 3 days.

Verdict

To make it really clear, this is no review. Despite spending as much time as possible on the game, we haven't played enough of it to give you a final verdict. That being said, there are still many things we can say based on our experience. For a few days, we have been quite frustrated with the game, mainly because of the AI which seems to get its kick when taking the player out, even when set to 100 with a zero aggressiveness level. It's not all the time, but it happens more often than not, and it makes the experience very annoying. To that, you must add the few bugs we have seen already, which may not be game breaking bugs but that still should not be in the final release. We expected so much more from Slightly Mad Studios, not in terms of content, as the game is pretty rich in that area, but in terms of overall quality. There is still fun to be found in Project CARS 2, don't get us wrong, and it's possible the PC version is more polished, but until we can get our final backer code, until we can test the game with a wheel, we can only advise you guys to wait a bit and see what people say about the game. After a few patches, it might also be a different story, but until then, don't rush. We really liked the first game and the coverage that we had for so many months back then clearly showed that, but it's also probably why we are so disappointed this time around.

On the plus side
Pretty good-looking game in gameplay
Cars look great
Excellent engine sounds
Damages are pretty well done
Varied types of motosports
Many tracks to drive on
Dynamic weather system, day/night cycle, seasons
180 cars is quite honest
Ferrari and Lamborghini are in
Rallycross, is cool
1440p on PS4 Pro
Better performance overall
HDR compatible on consoles
The driving model remains solid
Much better with a gamepad than in PCARS 1
Some of the tracks have a snowy version

On the downside
The game can be frustrating
The AI can be a major pain in the neck
Collisions aren't always the best
Driving on snow/ice/rain might be too demanding for some
No new Point A to B stages
A sort of Project CARS 1.5 vibe technically
Cars leave no marks on dirt or snow
Tearing on PS4 Pro and a few occasional frame drops
Environnements look a bit dated now
The flickering of shadows can be distracting
Why can't we choose to hear the engineer's voice in the TV speakers?
Manual wipers aren't assigned to any button by default
Tyre sound is way too loud by default
Latency in menus and long, long, long loading times
Could have used a bit more polish
Some bugs, some of which were already there in the first game
30 fps replays, why not, but they could look better

Commented on 2017-09-18 16:10:16

that AI mayhem video...lol

In reply to

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Driftwood

Commented on 2017-09-18 17:02:51 In reply to KORNdog

Posted by KORNdog

The problem is, that was already the case in the first game in such a scenario. That's why we had to show it, because the sequel has the very same AI problems and it's not acceptable. We gave it a pass for the first one, despite having experienced such crazy moments, but it should have been fixed. For starters, they should have made it impossible to push the number of drivers to 30 something on that track. It happens a lot less with just 20, though it still can occur.

SplitTongue

Commented on 2017-09-18 17:05:09

Slight Bad Studios did it again. I'll just skip this one.

unknownuser0001

Commented on 2017-09-18 17:22:36

With this AI it's unplayable...

Sdarts

Commented on 2017-09-18 17:49:46 In reply to Driftwood

EuroGamer's review - neutral - also shares many of the things you mentioned, it's worth a read if you have the time, but to resume:

"[About Project Cars 1] I should have loved it, but it never really clicked for me; the handling was unapproachable on a pad and inconsistent on a wheel, its career was a featureless grind and it was hard to shake the feeling in the months after its initial release that it wasn't quite complete."

"Some of these are known issues, and I've no doubt many of them will be addressed in the coming weeks or months, but know that on launch day Project Cars 2 is every bit as spotty as its predecessor. It's a shame, as it obscures an otherwise remarkable achievement from Slightly Mad Studios."

Project Cars 2 review:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-09-18-proje...

And from 2 users' comments:

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... Not picking this up at release.
'On a pad it's playable, at least'
Yeah not good enough. After struggling with the first one this should have been a main priority."

"Wanted to cry when I read about the qualifying times bug. The same thing hit me several times in PC1 and the need to see every boring qualifying session through to the end was a big part of what drove me to drop the game."

While I'm not invested in Project Cars 2, it seems like there's a very good game bogged down by many annoying design decisions and bugs. Which is always a real shame when developers don't take important feedback from a previous game to make a sequel better and/or don't fix bugs that were present in a prequel.

Though it's always their loss, since with time, more and more players will start moving away from the franchise and less and less inclined to give other sequels a chance, even if they deserve it.

EuroGamer's review - neutral - also shares many of the things you mentioned, it's worth a read if you have the time, but to resume:

"[About Project Cars 1] I should have loved it, but it never really clicked for me; the handling was unapproachable on a pad and inconsistent on a wheel, its career was a featureless grind and it was hard to shake the feeling in the months after its initial release that it wasn't quite complete."

"Some of these are known issues, and I've no doubt many of them will be addressed in the coming weeks or months, [b]but know that on launch day Project Cars 2 is every bit as spotty as its predecessor. It's a shame, as it obscures an otherwise remarkable achievement from Slightly Mad Studios.[/b]"

Project Cars 2 review:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-09-18-project-cars-2-review

And from 2 users' comments:

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... Not picking this up at release.
'On a pad it's playable, at least'
Yeah not good enough. After struggling with the first one this should have been a main priority."

"Wanted to cry when I read about the qualifying times bug. The same thing hit me several times in PC1 and the need to see every boring qualifying session through to the end was a big part of what drove me to drop the game."

While I'm not invested in Project Cars 2, it seems like there's a very good game bogged down by many annoying design decisions and bugs. Which is always a real shame when developers don't take important feedback from a previous game to make a sequel better and/or don't fix bugs that were present in a prequel.

Though it's always their loss, since with time, more and more players will start moving away from the franchise and less and less inclined to give other sequels a chance, even if they deserve it.

Xoar

Commented on 2017-09-18 18:18:14

Even with all it's problems it will still be miles ahead of what GTS or Forza 7 do in the coming months.

What wheels have you guys tested for this non review....how did they differ?

Commented on 2017-09-18 18:28:41 In reply to Xoar

No wheels, ours is not compatible anymore with new consoles and we weren't given a PC review code (and our backer version of the game has been unavailable for 2 weeks now).

That being said, I clearly wouldn't say that PCARS 2 is still ahead of Forza and GT. The physics engine is just as broken as before, which cannot be forgiven this time around, and the bugs, glitches and AI problems prove SMS have done a quite a bad job this time. Sequels are supposed to be better, they're supposed to fix the problems of the previous game.

Commented on 2017-09-18 18:47:50

I would never in a million years say GT5, 6, GTS Beta or Forza 6 have a better physics engine than PCars 1! Nevermind 2.

Guess we'l find out soon enough...You should get a decent wheel it might change your mind about the physics engine :)

Commented on 2017-09-18 18:48:49 In reply to Xoar

Don't remember being able to sweep under cars in those games though. So yeah, nevermind.

dohr07

Commented on 2017-09-18 19:35:26

I dont't know what happend. But to me, you seem to be personally gutted.

The game is anything but a disaster! Yes, there are apparently minor bugs. And in no other test it is said that the game is bad or unplayable. On the contrary, 90% of the tests gave the game an A or B and it gets scores of over 85.
Great hits as the Witcher 3, Gran Turismo 5, Battlefield 1 or F1 2017 showed definitely much more bugs than PC2...

PS: like in the preview video - either your pad is broken, or you are unable to cope with the controls - but your driving style is horrible. It looks like if you never played a racing sim before. I mean - you missed nearly every apex of any corner.

Commented on 2017-09-18 19:45:01 In reply to Driftwood

Posted by Driftwood

Ahh that's what you base a good physics engine on? Ok

Having played all 3 games with a wheel i can tell you PCars1 was so far ahead of them and AC again another massive leap up....for some reason Forza & GT games dont get the same level of scrutiny that other games face! I wonder why that is?

Commented on 2017-09-18 19:56:00 In reply to Xoar

Good physics engine in a combination of many things, the example I have is one of them. Spare me the patronizing tone please, I'm too old for this shit and I've been playing car racing games for more than 35 years. Like I said their physics engine is broken, it can do great things but it's bugged on several levels and that annoys me. Good for you if you're content with it though, I'm not one to judge.

Commented on 2017-09-18 20:01:44 In reply to dohr07

I'm not gutted. I'm being objective. Seeing the same problems than 2 years ago is making me very unhappy. I backed the game myself, with my own money, I'm entitled to be disappointed. To me, the game was rushed, there is no excuse when you're as big as SMS and Bandai Namco. It is nothing personal, but when you are cocky about a game you're working on, you should accept the backlash when it fails to convince. My opinion is that the game should not be purchased day one, or full price, for many good reasons, if yours differ, good for you, but there's more than enough good releases to come to bother with buggy ones.

Commented on 2017-09-18 20:02:40 In reply to Driftwood

Well i guess il find out soon enough i will also be majorly disappointed if it's as bad as you make out and somehow regressed that much it is worse than Forza or GT.

Commented on 2017-09-18 20:05:58 In reply to Xoar

Like I said, I'm still waiting to see what the final PC version will be like with a wheel. Same with the PS4 one if Fanatec actually sends us a wheel for review. I'll be more than happy to post another article saying the game is a lot better than a wheel. Now some of the things that have annoyed me will most likely still be there, wheel or not.

Commented on 2017-09-18 20:16:06 In reply to dohr07

Posted by dohr07

The likes of skyrim, fallout and assassins creed unity got scores like that too...sometimes jank games get good reviews.

Melmoth

Commented on 2017-09-18 22:21:26

The AI seems extremely advanced to me, like how it's adapting to and learning how the player drives :D j/k

A bit disappointed that they haven't fixed some of these things. Having a pc racing setup (wheel etc. not compatible with X1/PS4), as well as having an Oculus Rift, which the game supports, this game on pc with it's career mode was something i was thinking of spending some time with. I'll have to do some more research when more impressions (and reviews) turns up.

Being able to use VR is one of the main demands i have for a driving game, other than that physics and reasonable authentic feel to the handling is next. Having a good career is also high on the list.

Commented on 2017-09-18 23:50:46 In reply to Melmoth

Posted by Melmoth

Reviews are out there today...

http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/proje...

GunsnSwords

Commented on 2017-09-18 23:57:41

After watching the Crew 2 it has everyone beat graphically. well i haven't seen much of Forza 7's tracks but The Crew 2 looks better than Forza 5 and 6, GTSport and Project Cars.

Forza 7 by comparison though has like 700 highly detailed cars and an endless campaign mode. (as always) so that works in Forza's favor. Also Forza is a pretty classy franchise.

also After watching Project Cars 2 (ps4), i think GT sport has better car physics and AI.