-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
DriveClub Review Thread.
- Thread starter Saty
- Start date
Saint Gregory
Member
I played the game for several hours last night (love it btw) and had no idea that there was a way to change your cars' colors prior to reading the previous page.
The club editor was locked out for me since it said that I had no connection to the server and I didn't see any other editing options on the car selection page. I can definitely understand why a reviewer thought that it wasn't possible based on my playtime.
The club editor was locked out for me since it said that I had no connection to the server and I didn't see any other editing options on the car selection page. I can definitely understand why a reviewer thought that it wasn't possible based on my playtime.
NullPointer
Member
I think it really comes down to two things:
* He didn't like the simcade handling in DriveClub. He said it gave him no joy, no sense of realism nor enough arcade craziness, and no sense of reward in learning it.
* He'd just put serious time into Forza Horizon 2. That game has a LOT of content, and a lot of established formulas, and also trying new stuff.
That makes for a perfect storm and a low review score. Justifiably one too - because not everybody IS going to enjoy DC's handling, and if you don't enjoy it, there's no redeeming it.
Jeff knows his stuff (lol)
TheBryanJZX90
Member
Wait I thought the Euro-only car list was because Europeans like racing games more than anyone else and the car list was just trying to cater to the strongest fan base?
Ingueferroque
Banned
Shouldn't he review it for what it is? Should someone who can only appreciate PC racing sims review Mario Kart without an open mind?
Obviously GB is a personality driven site, and Jeff isn't lacking in that. The cynicism can be entertaining. But at the same time people do take their opinions to heart and are all too eager to take them as fact, rather than opinion. Obviously liking or disliking the handling in DC is subjective and not factual. There aren't any mechanical or design issues with it that make it broken, or impossible to enjoy.
Yes, that's why all the Destiny OT's have been unanimous circle jerks about how amazing it is.
...oh wait
But yeah, fuck firsthand impressions on GAF because we are all a bunch of "invested" fanboys.
NullPointer
Member
Definitely, and I think amirox makes a damn good point about mismatched expectations - and docking a game for not living up to a false image that was never sold.
My point really is that if you don't like the handling - and Jeff really didn't like it - then you're not going to enjoy the game at all and you'll have a very low opinion of it. He explains in great detail why he doesn't like it, so I can't harp on him for giving a low score.
Maybe too low considering false expectations? Sure, but ultimately its one person's experience, not an objective measurement.
I love the handling, and the tracks , and the cars
But hey, that's just me - just another subjective experience. Between the people I know that enjoy racing games I figure it'll probably be split in terms of who enjoys the DC model and who can't get into it.I don't see how those two can be confusing at all. Stay on the track and don't bump into people. Being "Grippy" helps to accomplish that.
BloodMoney
Banned
My impressions from the OT, for what they are worth.
Its been disappointing not having access to PSN and being unable to engage in DCs social function and multiplayer component. These technical issues are all too common these days, but that is neither here nor there. With the network down I had plenty of time last night to familiarize myself with the game, get a handle for the controls/physics, and make solid progress in the Tour mode. Ive gotten every trophy or challenge or whatever they are called for all of the races in the first two categories (Rookie & Amateur) and have made solid progress into the Semi-Pro Tour. I think I stopped my session last night when I got to level 12. My thoughts thus far are as follows:
The graphics are quite spectacular, but I really wish there was better AA. As you level up into faster and faster cars, cockpit view becomes a bit difficult to drive from considering the POV, subtle jaggies, and speed do not play well together. The sensation of speed is spectacular, but until I memorize the circuits, I just cant see clearly enough to race from the cockpit view in the really fast cars at the moment. So towards the latter part of my play through I opted for the Dash cam. Minor quibbles aside, the graphics, especially at sunrise and dusk are spectacular. Mid-day cloud cover is also a highlight. I cant remember the name of the track, but in the Amateur Tour (I think) there was a point to point race in Chile that was a photorealistic jaw dropping spectacular turbo-beauty-shed-a-tear kind of amazing experience. There was ominous cloud cover above as I climbed the desert mountain, at one point I was racing along the side of a ridge with a spectacular view of the valley to my left in the distance the cloud cover broke and sunlight was piercing through and illuminating the valley. At that moment the depth and scale of the landscapes really set in. It looked like a photo.. it was amazing blasting along the ridge in the Lotus Evora, the painted lines on the road flying under the car, the supercharger squealing as I redlined really, truly, spectacular. This is just one (probably the best so far) of many graphically impressive moments I had last night.
B+ on the Graphics
Speaking of cars. Ive unlocked most of the hot hatches, many of the sports cars, two supers, and one hyper. The hyper is the Ruf, and as I mentioned above, it was unwieldy from the cockpit view racing on an un-memorized track it was a beast. I really love the Lotus Evora, it handles well, inspires confidence, and sounds amazing. Ive got a full on home theater system with 7.1 Klipsch speakers, a 1000watt Onkyo receiver, massive Outlaw Audio subwoofer, and the game really shines. The cars also strike me as sounding very accurate. The first few races from the cockpit view, I was slightly underwhelmed with the hot hatches, they didnt sound all that powerful, but then I got the A3 (my friend has one in real life) and I realized, shit this is exactly how the A3 sounds when you wring it out to redline. The second I was in the seat of a Mercedes AMG, the audio started having more grunt. Then I drove the Evora, and the supercharger was phenomenal, as was the rear engine audio coming through the back speakers. Then the R8, then a Ferrari, then a Ruf they kept sounding more and more beastly. Evo nailed the sound design.
A on the sound.
Going into the release I was super bummed that my G27 is not supported, but considering how the game is being billed as a sim-cade racer, I hoped that it would be assessable without a wheel, and it definitely is. It did not take long before I felt very confident driving the cars with the DS4. There is just enough sim in the handling to make the cars feel unique. Even when I push a vehicle to the edge, the DS4 allows me to catch an error and recover. In this regard I am very pleased and am no longer in a rush to get a T500/300RS. Drifting took me a few laps to get down, but now Ive got it and can collect the points when pop-up drift challengers are goals in any give race though drifting is not really my style, Im a hug-the-apex kind of driver and like to get on the power early when exiting a corner. Oh and also, the bumps, and rises on various tracks are awesome, the sense that you are on the verge of catching air when you go over a rise in the road is thrilling (its caught me off guard a few times and Ive lost control).
A+ on the sim-cade physics.
The AI is also fun, though it does like to really get up on your ass. It seems rubbing is racing is a credo of Driveclub. I dont mind (in fact I enjoy) the side to side jostling, but I really avoid rear ending the AI because its a bullshit way to race. I wish the AI was as polite on the road as I am, but its understandable. Often when I get rear ended by the AI they are in significantly more powerful cars and they blaze up on me after a long straight its the nature of the beast though. The AI is plenty fun, and only once or twice last night did I feel I was unfairly impacted in a way that ended up affecting my race negatively. Honestly running the hot hatches with cars 3 abreast nudging one another side to side, was awesome. I dont think that kind of racing is going to fly when I get to the hyper car level, but at slower speeds it is very fun.
B- on the AI.
Finally... The menus oh god the menus (and music) are excellent, best in class, minimal, tight, quick, effective, clear sharp is the best word I can think of. You can blaze through the various layers from the intro menu all the way through to a Tour race in a matter of seconds. It is so fast and just sitting on any give menu, listening to the background music is good times. Last night Id do a few races, then sit on a menu and post a message on GAF and I was repeatedly impressed by the background music. design/graphics and sound are stellar.
A+ on the menu & way-finding.
So that was a bit of a novel, but I hope many of you agree with my assessment and are enjoying what Evo has developed. More importantly I hope that many of you sitting on the sideline wondering if this game is for you, have been able to gleam some useful information from the post. What is presented at the moment is a really good couch racing game, and we all know its simply going to get better once they introduce proper leader boards, private lobbies, race replay, photomode, and weather. I just hope those updates are not all that distance.
Well done Rushy & team. Kudos
Its been disappointing not having access to PSN and being unable to engage in DCs social function and multiplayer component. These technical issues are all too common these days, but that is neither here nor there. With the network down I had plenty of time last night to familiarize myself with the game, get a handle for the controls/physics, and make solid progress in the Tour mode. Ive gotten every trophy or challenge or whatever they are called for all of the races in the first two categories (Rookie & Amateur) and have made solid progress into the Semi-Pro Tour. I think I stopped my session last night when I got to level 12. My thoughts thus far are as follows:
The graphics are quite spectacular, but I really wish there was better AA. As you level up into faster and faster cars, cockpit view becomes a bit difficult to drive from considering the POV, subtle jaggies, and speed do not play well together. The sensation of speed is spectacular, but until I memorize the circuits, I just cant see clearly enough to race from the cockpit view in the really fast cars at the moment. So towards the latter part of my play through I opted for the Dash cam. Minor quibbles aside, the graphics, especially at sunrise and dusk are spectacular. Mid-day cloud cover is also a highlight. I cant remember the name of the track, but in the Amateur Tour (I think) there was a point to point race in Chile that was a photorealistic jaw dropping spectacular turbo-beauty-shed-a-tear kind of amazing experience. There was ominous cloud cover above as I climbed the desert mountain, at one point I was racing along the side of a ridge with a spectacular view of the valley to my left in the distance the cloud cover broke and sunlight was piercing through and illuminating the valley. At that moment the depth and scale of the landscapes really set in. It looked like a photo.. it was amazing blasting along the ridge in the Lotus Evora, the painted lines on the road flying under the car, the supercharger squealing as I redlined really, truly, spectacular. This is just one (probably the best so far) of many graphically impressive moments I had last night.
B+ on the Graphics
Speaking of cars. Ive unlocked most of the hot hatches, many of the sports cars, two supers, and one hyper. The hyper is the Ruf, and as I mentioned above, it was unwieldy from the cockpit view racing on an un-memorized track it was a beast. I really love the Lotus Evora, it handles well, inspires confidence, and sounds amazing. Ive got a full on home theater system with 7.1 Klipsch speakers, a 1000watt Onkyo receiver, massive Outlaw Audio subwoofer, and the game really shines. The cars also strike me as sounding very accurate. The first few races from the cockpit view, I was slightly underwhelmed with the hot hatches, they didnt sound all that powerful, but then I got the A3 (my friend has one in real life) and I realized, shit this is exactly how the A3 sounds when you wring it out to redline. The second I was in the seat of a Mercedes AMG, the audio started having more grunt. Then I drove the Evora, and the supercharger was phenomenal, as was the rear engine audio coming through the back speakers. Then the R8, then a Ferrari, then a Ruf they kept sounding more and more beastly. Evo nailed the sound design.
A on the sound.
Going into the release I was super bummed that my G27 is not supported, but considering how the game is being billed as a sim-cade racer, I hoped that it would be assessable without a wheel, and it definitely is. It did not take long before I felt very confident driving the cars with the DS4. There is just enough sim in the handling to make the cars feel unique. Even when I push a vehicle to the edge, the DS4 allows me to catch an error and recover. In this regard I am very pleased and am no longer in a rush to get a T500/300RS. Drifting took me a few laps to get down, but now Ive got it and can collect the points when pop-up drift challengers are goals in any give race though drifting is not really my style, Im a hug-the-apex kind of driver and like to get on the power early when exiting a corner. Oh and also, the bumps, and rises on various tracks are awesome, the sense that you are on the verge of catching air when you go over a rise in the road is thrilling (its caught me off guard a few times and Ive lost control).
A+ on the sim-cade physics.
The AI is also fun, though it does like to really get up on your ass. It seems rubbing is racing is a credo of Driveclub. I dont mind (in fact I enjoy) the side to side jostling, but I really avoid rear ending the AI because its a bullshit way to race. I wish the AI was as polite on the road as I am, but its understandable. Often when I get rear ended by the AI they are in significantly more powerful cars and they blaze up on me after a long straight its the nature of the beast though. The AI is plenty fun, and only once or twice last night did I feel I was unfairly impacted in a way that ended up affecting my race negatively. Honestly running the hot hatches with cars 3 abreast nudging one another side to side, was awesome. I dont think that kind of racing is going to fly when I get to the hyper car level, but at slower speeds it is very fun.
B- on the AI.
Finally... The menus oh god the menus (and music) are excellent, best in class, minimal, tight, quick, effective, clear sharp is the best word I can think of. You can blaze through the various layers from the intro menu all the way through to a Tour race in a matter of seconds. It is so fast and just sitting on any give menu, listening to the background music is good times. Last night Id do a few races, then sit on a menu and post a message on GAF and I was repeatedly impressed by the background music. design/graphics and sound are stellar.
A+ on the menu & way-finding.
So that was a bit of a novel, but I hope many of you agree with my assessment and are enjoying what Evo has developed. More importantly I hope that many of you sitting on the sideline wondering if this game is for you, have been able to gleam some useful information from the post. What is presented at the moment is a really good couch racing game, and we all know its simply going to get better once they introduce proper leader boards, private lobbies, race replay, photomode, and weather. I just hope those updates are not all that distance.
Well done Rushy & team. Kudos
Driveclub is coming out years after a boom of stylized, feature rich arcade racers.
It's lacking even basic features like replays, photo mode, split screen, upgrades/tuning/assist options, private lobbies for online, and even the weather that was advertised in parallel with its promotion. The core game hearkens back to a time when a racing title would fall or fly based on how players reacted to its take on the "feel" of driving, because they simply weren't aiming for (or weren't capable of being) simulation. It's why some reviewers simply find it not fun to play. It has fundamental game issues where players are punished for things simply out of their control in what's supposed to be a test of skill. Being rear-ended on a straightaway and having your engine throttled is simply unacceptable. It has an anemic three game modes; which amount to a race, a time trial, or a drift challenge. It has fewer cars on track or in online modes than many other games of its kind. Its multiplayer framework has also been severely compromised during its release window.
This isn't to say people can't or won't enjoy it. I'm probably going to love it, once the PS+ version is finally available in the US, but pretending that its criticisms amount to a petty squabbling that "its not open world!" shows a poor understanding of the expectations of the genre, and a poor reading of most of the reviews I've seen through the Metacritic list.
It's lacking even basic features like replays, photo mode, split screen, upgrades/tuning/assist options, private lobbies for online, and even the weather that was advertised in parallel with its promotion. The core game hearkens back to a time when a racing title would fall or fly based on how players reacted to its take on the "feel" of driving, because they simply weren't aiming for (or weren't capable of being) simulation. It's why some reviewers simply find it not fun to play. It has fundamental game issues where players are punished for things simply out of their control in what's supposed to be a test of skill. Being rear-ended on a straightaway and having your engine throttled is simply unacceptable. It has an anemic three game modes; which amount to a race, a time trial, or a drift challenge. It has fewer cars on track or in online modes than many other games of its kind. Its multiplayer framework has also been severely compromised during its release window.
This isn't to say people can't or won't enjoy it. I'm probably going to love it, once the PS+ version is finally available in the US, but pretending that its criticisms amount to a petty squabbling that "its not open world!" shows a poor understanding of the expectations of the genre, and a poor reading of most of the reviews I've seen through the Metacritic list.
If I like and are hyped for a game, yeah 7 is quite disappointing, but that rarely happens to me now.I am pretty good at predicting how well a game will review and if I will like it based on the first few gameplay videos and the dev teams game history.
For example one of my hyped games this year is evolve, Iam very confident that will receive a metacritic of 85+.
Some devs are just better then others, I have no experience what so ever in developing games, but after watching a few mark cerny's presentations It looks to me a very hard job and only the cream of the crop will achieve 90+ review scores.
and sometimes it best to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vQaVIoEjOM
It's laughable to suggest an outside influence is taking part in the negative reviews. It's also laughable I feel people are compelled to like a game and going on a crusade against the reviews. I never understood that. I'm a huge Halo fan and despite that, I thought Halo 4 absolutely sucked balls in literally every aspect from the DMR, to online right to its interlace, and thought the single player wasn't good. I am not saying the same for DriveClub, to each his own, but I think a lot of people including reviewers who actually tried a lot of other racers are more informed of what is a quality title and the number of features (like types of races, content like lobbies which is missing, photo mode,etc.)/options (social or otherwise) to be expected since they tried other racing titles. That is not to say you will not enjoy the game but they provide a level of measurement.
For example, people in this thread say DriveClub has a good presentation and good music. Many review sites say it has a bland presentation and poor music and sound because most likely they have seen what other racing titles have done in this area. Heck, one reviewer cited EA's social aspects of its racing titles seem to be more in-depth than DriveClub. My two cents.
For example, people in this thread say DriveClub has a good presentation and good music. Many review sites say it has a bland presentation and poor music and sound because most likely they have seen what other racing titles have done in this area. Heck, one reviewer cited EA's social aspects of its racing titles seem to be more in-depth than DriveClub. My two cents.
Shpeshal Nick
aka Collingwood
Is the game really missing that much?
So what the fuck was Evolution doing for the last couple of years and what kind of fucking state was the game in a year ago if this is what the delay produced?
I have yet to play DC (wanted to try out the PS+ version and I'm not a huge racing fan to begin with) but some lower rated reviews, as others have pointed out, seem to be judging the game based on the reviewers expectations rather than what the game is offering (see Amir0x posts for a better explanation). Then you also have reviews that are low but blame it on things that are not true, such as Gerstmann's review which said that customizationw as basically non existent and you could not change a cars colours and only a club leader could change a cars colours, things that have been brought up here by people who play them and actually are not true, yet GB gives it a 2/5. It's one thing to not like a game because it is bad, it's another to judge it based on false assumptions.
Jeff didn't like Gran Turismo on ps3 and I did so I take his opinions on car games with a grain of salt. That being said, this does look lifeless. Then again, so does Gran Turismo but there's so much content there to unlock that you have fun doing it. Also, there's always a rocking soundtrack.
After putting some good hours in, I think reviews on this seem fair and off at the same time. Game is definitely barebones and feels more like a polished launch title. But what is there is a fucking awesome arcade racer with the best tracks in forever. I'm biased because Sega Rally, Rallisport Challange 2, Dirt 1/2 are my kind of racers. I fucking loooove point to point rally racing in sexy environments across the world and that's all driveclub is. 55 tracks of P2P in exotic locations with a great sense of speed and arcade handling and really, really impressive graphics (bumper cam looks like real life/CG). There was an article somewhere knocking the game for feeling like a current-gen Ridge Racer. While it doesn't control anything like Ridge, I could see the game being kind of a modern reboot of RR as there are some similarities in the non-fluff pure arcade racing along a bunch of tracks with dumb AI. Some of the little touches like driving at dusk which turns into night and the road is lit up entirely by little red flares on each side of the track are really cool. The tunnels in this look insane!
So far I'd give it like an 8/10 as it's a 10/10 arcade racer that's missing a lot of standard features and has a fairly short campaign you can beat in a few days. If Sony doesn't bail on the franchise, the next one could be pretty amazing if it's like the Motorstorm -> Pacific Rift jump since DC is already better than all 3 Motorstorm games.
So far I'd give it like an 8/10 as it's a 10/10 arcade racer that's missing a lot of standard features and has a fairly short campaign you can beat in a few days. If Sony doesn't bail on the franchise, the next one could be pretty amazing if it's like the Motorstorm -> Pacific Rift jump since DC is already better than all 3 Motorstorm games.
A lot can happen behind the scenes when a technical/planning issue will come up, and seriously hamstring even strong efforts from developers. We know the release calendar wasn't where it needed to be for its original launch, so chances are they had resources redirected while they worked out those problems. A game in development doesn't have every staffer active at the same time. It's sort of like how some games have "been in development" for a long time, but in terms of full-scale studio efforts, it's a much shorter measure. I mean, at the initial Driveclub reveal, they made a big point that it had been in planning for over 9 years, but it would be unfair to say "what were they doing for almost a decade?"
Absolutely - no game should be judged by false assumptions. For every game released, there is a bad review written and that can be one of them. From the reviews I've read though there are plenty of valid points in its criticisms with a lot of features not there but are in other racing titles and especially for online to what was marketed as a "social" racer and with "friends". Everyone should try the game for themselves. Maybe you will like it.
Also to those who say DriveClub shouldn't be compared to Forza for being "different" types of games. DriveClub like Forza Horizon marketed its online play with friends and it is the one who labeled itself in direct competition to it by saying its "Forza's killer".
And I'm not denying that there are (probably) valid criticisms of the game and I hope a good review would point those out as to inform consumers. That is the whole point of a review, not to find one that matches your personal hate or love of a game but to give you as much information so as a consumer you can make or not make a purchase (if you so wish to do it based on a review).
I was just pointing out how some reviews seem to have an agenda with the game, either because the reviewer was expecting something that was never going to be in the game (open world) or did not bother to look deep enough to see things they claim are actually there (change car colours).
Just reposting Amir0x since he says it more eloquently here http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=133399382&postcount=2939 on why the GB review is not what a review should be
Jamesways
Member
I feel my own thoughts echo Amirox's opinion of the game.
It does have issues, I can very much understand where some criticisms come into play, and it is missing some features prevalent in most racing games these days.
But the gameplay is very solid. Not to everyone's taste, to be sure, but personally I couldn't stop playing it yesterday. It's barebones racing that's very addictive. The AI fight you tooth and nail, and while times they do hit you fighting for position, it's not every race. Could be toned down though, but at least I feel I'm having to really push damn hard every race to beat them. The feel of the driving is the strong point for me.
To me it feels like a new PGR without the cities. No tuning, no parts, just simcade racing. And for what it sets out to do in those regards, I think it does well. As far as the social aspect, well, we'll find out if that's up to par when the servers are up.
I think you will like it Gestault.
I'm looking forward to the game getting better in time with all of the influx of cars, tracks, weather, and missing features.
I don't pay much attention to racing game reviews honestly. I know what I like and what's fun for me to play. Plus, there aren't that many racing games out this gen, given that's the genre I really adhere to, I'll gladly pick them up to try them.
We need more racing games this gen, across all consoles IMO.
How do you "review a game for what it is "
I keep seeing it said but really don't understand it.
Driveclub is an arcade racer lacking in content, compared to even titles that way preceeded let alone similar titles released more recently.
You can say the racing is good, as well as the graphics but it's still not even as good as the old Project Gotham titles, which is why I feel it deserves it mixed reviews.
I keep seeing it said but really don't understand it.
Driveclub is an arcade racer lacking in content, compared to even titles that way preceeded let alone similar titles released more recently.
You can say the racing is good, as well as the graphics but it's still not even as good as the old Project Gotham titles, which is why I feel it deserves it mixed reviews.
See You Next Wednesday
Banned
I think the game is fairly short, doesn't have good a.i., or a large variety of tracks & cars & replay is pretty low.
Those SEEM to be the factors for the low scores.
I'm not sure how the car handing & physics play a part for the reviewers.
Jamesways
Member
What does the game set out to do/ try to be? It's a circuit racer with social features. Does it do that well?
vs.
I don't like Driveclub because I can't drive tanks across the countryside, shoot missles, swim underwater, explore tombs, kill zombies, or play as the Green Bay Packers.
It's not a shooter, it's not open world, it's not a 3rd person adventure, zombie horror, or football game. Knocking off points because of that, that's reviewing it for something it's not intended to be.
See You Next Wednesday
Banned
Scoot McNairy
Member
Is there a way to turn off the 'turns your engine off if you hit someone' rule? Because that sounds awful and takes a lot of the fun out of the game.
NullPointer
Member
It must require a serious hit - in the 6 or so hours I've put in I haven't experienced one of those yet. In fact, you can trade some paint without getting penalties to your score either. If its a small love tap, nothing happens, hit with a bit more force and you'll get a score penalty, and I guess a much bigger hit will get you an acceleration penalty.
I've only experienced one acceleration penalty once so far, and that was from clipping a hairpin almost entirely. Small clips don't register at all, and larger cuts will get you a score penalty, with major bypasses getting your speed docked for a few seconds.
Its actually a pretty good system. Am worried about AI aggression as I continue along the tour but I haven't noticed anything crazy yet. Aggressive, yes, but not murderous and not unavoidable.
Exactly. Does the simcade handling work? Is it deep for sim drivers but accessible enough for arcade drivers? Does the scoring fit those goals? How do the large tracks and lighting conditions make for a different experience than its competition?
Instead of say, complaining that there's no rewind or tuning, both of which seem to have been very conscious design decisions, not "missing" features of a rushed game.
And thats why it got 72% on average, a absolut serviceable score for a genre title. I really don't get where you guys problem is.
Uh no that's not what I said at all. I'd appreciate if you didn't put words into my mouth. In fact you agree with me right there you silly. Smh
I know that I'm late but better late than never eh?
soundscream
Member
Is this not exactly how it's been reviewed? No one's complained that there's no QTE section, or no On rail shooting sections.
They're criticizing it for lacking features the vast majority of racers have, and for a lack of content.
If you're only looking at games in a vacuum then they're all 10's unless they're fundamentally broken, It has to be compared to other similar titles, and in falls short in certain aspects.
The handling model doesn't really need any assists though..
Shining Sunshine
Banned
How is it lacking content?
20 hours in, all fun, and I'm not even half done with the tour challenges. And that's when multiplayer isn't on.
3 race types, and a very small selection of cars being the main culprites
Alcoholikaust
Member
So I played for about 4 hours last night. Some quick thoughts. This is a cross post from the OT thread with a few tweaks.
- Graphics are definitely not as good as some of the preview footage we've seen for some reason. But I am still extremely happy with what I see. As a total package it's the best looking racer I've ever played. Can't wait for weather.
- Aliasing is an issue - not sure how people don't see the problems. The little flickering white dots on some of the cars is really jarring. (and no it's not my TV, I used a Spyder to calibrate it).
- Lack of AF. What's going on here? I thought AF was basically free, even for the level of GPU the consoles are using.
- It's obvious the "soulless" claims come from people who have not played the game with its online features and clubs. I also felt lonely playing the single player tour offline. Can't wait to play with everyone from DriveClub-GAF (I added like 400 people last night >_>).
- The gameplay is damn fun. It's 100% not a sim, but it's not NFS power slide around 90degree angles at 150+mph either. I love that this game takes skill.
- The car models are some of the best I've ever seen - they really make Forza's cars look plastic and fake when switching between both (comparing same car on two different HDMI inputs.). I think it might just be the way Forza decided to render the paint...
- The soundtrack is great. It just works and blends seamlessly into the racing.
- The sense of speed is unmatched.
- The AI is fantastic. I genuinely hate them for being good, and never feel like I'm being cheated even if I lose.
- When the handling clicked in my head, combined with the visuals (especially the lighting) and soundtrack I actually got goosebumps several times last night.
- It really is an amazing experience and I can't wait to see how it evolves.
soundscream
Member
Some might want less.
Shining Sunshine
Banned
Wait, what kind of racing are you hoping for?
You're hoping there's a battle mode or something?
DriveClub has a solid core, but it has plenty of issues too. Obviously the game is very barebones, which is currently being exasperated by the lack of online connectivity, but the weird choice to have cornering and collision penalties is, in my opinion, a terrible choice. Guess what, as much as I love racing games, I'm not too huge on "clean" racing. I love cutting corners, and I fucking love smashing into other cars on the track. I wanna sow a little chaos. I can already hear people saying, "well then you're a bad player and shouldn't play this game" but that's not true at all. I should have the option to play the game how I want to play it. The fact that DC doesn't let me is a big negative.
meanspartan
Member
The general vibe I am getting is that people playing the game seem to like it more than the reviewers (though maybe I am looking at the OT too much, which may skew positive on DriveClub).
Those penalties so far have never got in the way of becoming 1st or earning stars, so DC does let you.
Neuromancer
Member
One man's lack of assists is another man's even playing field.
It's nice to know that online, skill and maybe a little luck will be the determining factor of who wins a race or a challenge. Not who's got what assists on or off or what gear ration they're tuned to.
hearsaybear
Member
I don't care how well this reviews, but seriously, why is everyone throwing around "simcade" like it means anything?
This is the first I am seeing of it and I literally cannot think of two more disparate words to jam together.
This is the first I am seeing of it and I literally cannot think of two more disparate words to jam together.
Most modern race games either give you reductions in points if you use assists online, or lock out assists and even the playing field in a race. Options in a racing game are not a negative.
