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[NullPointer]

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.

Nor is a conscious decision to exclude those options a negative.

Those options might be a common expectation with modern racing titles (though not across the board in arcade racers), but its worth at least some exploration on why assists and tuning aren't in DC rather than a quick knee-jerk that the game feels unfinished like some of the reviews.

 

[-Snooze-]

Wait, what kind of racing are you hoping for?

You're hoping there's a battle mode or something?

I don't expect anything, I'm simply pointing out common criticism. Fact is games can't be reviewed "for what's there"

The fact there are more fully featured, similar titles available calls into question the variety and quantity of the content DC has.

And I won't even debate the car selection ...

 

[Nyx]

For me, the penalties have gotten in the way both of coming in first and, subsequently, earning stars.

Ok, maybe I'm not that far into the game yet.

 

[soundscream]

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.

He said the cars felt to grippy so a lack of assist would have improved his enjoyment.

The cars have an overly grippy feel on the track, letting you get away with some occasional shenanigans by braking at the last possible moment instead of gently braking or coasting into the curves. The developers claim this is an attempt to make the game easier and fun for everyone. But this doesn't make the game feel more fun or thrilling. It just makes what otherwise feels like an attempt at simulating real cars instead feel like it misses the mark by a mile. If this were on by default as an assist for new drivers that could be disabled, potentially along with a series of additional options to let people tailor the driving a bit, maybe this would make sense. Instead it makes the game feel inauthentic to real-life racing while also not going far enough in the "fun" direction to make it an exciting, arcade-style racer.

 

[hwy_61]

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.

I suppose. I'm talking more for single player though. It'd just be nice to have them that's all. The only assist I use is abs on. But with this it seems like what you see is what you get. Again, I haven't played it, so of course I'm not putting it down definitively.

 

[watership]

Nor is a conscious decision to exclude those options a negative.

Those options might be a common expectation with modern racing titles (though not across the board in arcade racers), but its worth at least some exploration on why assists and tuning aren't in DC rather than a quick knee-jerk that the game feels unfinished like some of the reviews.

I think people have different expectations on what Driveclub is. Arcade/SimCade/Sim? What are the primary things needed for a game to meet expectations? If you strip down the other features, don't you build other aspects? I'd love to skip forward 2 months from now and see what people are thinking then.

 

[Nafai1123]

He said the cars felt to grippy so a lack of assist would have improved his enjoyment.

The grippy nature of the cars is due to how the developers chose to make the cars feel. Assists has nothing to do with it.

Can we stop comparing this game to Forza/GT/etc? Comparing it to other more arcadey games like NFS/Burnout/PGR (which also don't have assist) is much more apt. It's not about adjusting the game around you, it's about learning the nature of the game.

 

[Shining Sunshine]

I don't expect anything, I'm simply pointing out common criticism. Fact is games can't be reviewed "for what's there"

The fact there are more fully featured, similar titles available calls into question the variety and quantity of the content DC has.

And I won't even debate the car selection ...

You're comparing a game that isn't just racing to a game that is.

 

[Konosuke]

So, since one of the main pillars of Driveclub isn't working, how long until Polygon or someone else updates their reviews à la Battlefield 4? Because this situation is ridiculous and reminds me of BF4.

 

[soundscream]

The grippy nature of the cars is due to how the developers chose to make the cars feel. Assists has nothing to do with it.

Can we stop comparing this game to Forza/GT/etc? Comparing it to other more arcadey games like NFS/Burnout/PGR (which also don't have assist) is much more apt. It's not about adjusting the game around you, it's about learning the nature of the game.

Its a built in assist (Traction/Stability control)

 

[Neuromancer]

So, since one of the main pillars of Driveclub isn't working, how long until Polygon or someone else updates their reviews à la Battlefield 4? Because this situation is ridiculous and reminds me of BF4.

I'm surprised they haven't already to be honest.

 

[Onemic]

Looks like I was right on the money with my prediction that this game wouldnt get above 74 on metacritic.

 

[hwy_61]

The grippy nature of the cars is due to how the developers chose to make the cars feel. Assists has nothing to do with it.

Can we stop comparing this game to Forza/GT/etc? Comparing it to other more arcadey games like NFS/Burnout/PGR (which also don't have assist) is much more apt. It's not about adjusting the game around you, it's about learning the nature of the game.

Ahh, OK. For some reason I thought it was much more sim than those.

 

[StoopKid]

So, since one of the main pillars of Driveclub isn't working, how long until Polygon or someone else updates their reviews à la Battlefield 4? Because this situation is ridiculous and reminds me of BF4.

It's literally hasn't even been 24hrs since it came out.

Bf4 was broke for way longer.

 

[soundscream]

Ahh, OK. For some reason I thought it was much more sim than those.

Also those games are full of assist, you just cant turn them off.

 

[-tetsuo-]

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.

The difference being that you can set stock car, fixed assist setting races in the other games. You can certainly go online and have the same feeling that you get with Driveclub if you want.

 

[Pop]

So, since one of the main pillars of Driveclub isn't working, how long until Polygon or someone else updates their reviews à la Battlefield 4? Because this situation is ridiculous and reminds me of BF4.

I couldn't play a game of BF4 for the first 3 months. This has been 24 hrs, let's slow down a little.

 

[Nafai1123]

Its a built in assist (Traction/Stability control)

No, it's not. Traction control applies braking or cuts power to the wheels when it recognizes that they are slipping. Stability control applies braking to one or all four wheels when it senses a skid. None of that happens in this game.

Ahh, OK. For some reason I thought it was much more sim than those.

From my experience with the game I'd said it's only slightly more sim than PGR. It is most definitely not a sim and it's not hard at all to pick up and play.

 

[THRILLH0]

The problem with the "it's all about the racing, not the fluff" defence is that there are other titles that do the racing just as well if not better yet also include the "fluff" that a lot of people enjoy.

The idea that DriveClub should be reviewed in a singular vacuum where other games don't exist is bizarre.

 

[Abriael]

He said the cars felt to grippy so a lack of assist would have improved his enjoyment.

The funny thing is that the cars do *not* feel any particularly grippy. The cars that are supposed to be grippy are, disrespect a super/hypercar and it'll send you spinning.

Driveclub's cars are actually *less* grippy than those of other semi-sims like Forza 5 or Horizon 2 (in Horizon 2 you can actually drive a supercar straight in the dirt and turn without spinning lol).

This should give you an idea on the overall credibility of the review.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV11PsC4hSo
Too grippy, lol.

 

[-tetsuo-]

The problem with the "it's all about the racing, not the fluff" defence is that there are other titles that do the racing just as well if not better yet also include the "fluff" that a lot of people enjoy.

The idea that DriveClub should be reviewed in a singular vacuum where other games don't exist is bizarre.

It seems like a simple enough point to understand. It seems that to some if you were to take Driveclub and clone it, then add all of the "fluff" that it wouldn't be a better game.

 

[Abriael]

The problem with the "it's all about the racing, not the fluff" defence is that there are other titles that do the racing just as well if not better yet also include the "fluff" that a lot of people enjoy.

If by "racing" you mean the driving model, that's actually very debatable. Driveclub's driving/handling model is the best in the market in the field of semi-sims, at least the ones released for this generation of consoles.

Forza is way too grippy and stable even with all assists off (racing hypercars in the dirt? really?). Gran Turismo would be a good term of comparison, but it's not on PS4 yet.

Project Cars is more simulative, but the driving model still needs refining, and I'm hoping they'll make it by release.

Other racing games do other things better, but racing is strongly based on how the cars handle, and Driveclub does that really, really well.

 

[TheAssist]

Yup. That's the game in a nutshell.

It's got good mechanics, but... Nothing else. Just menus connecting races.

But since when is this a bad thing? What are people expecting from a racing game nower days? GT has never been anything more than races connected through menus and everyone seemed fine with it.

I really dont need framing devices in racing games.

 

[-tetsuo-]

Forza is way too grippy and stable even with all assists off (racing hypercars in the dirt? really?). Gran Turismo would be a good term of comparison, but it's not on PS4 yet.

Not sure if serious

But since when is this a bad thing? What are people expecting from a racing game nower days? GT has never been anything more than races connected through menus and everyone seemed fine with it.

I really dont need framing devices in racing games.

The game is in the 7s on metacritic which almost universally means "good" on most sites review scale. Gran Turismo has waaaaaaaaaaaaay more cars and really deep car tuning on top of top shelf driving physics. Thus the higher scores.

 

[soundscream]

No, it's not. Traction control applies braking or cuts power to the wheels when it recognizes that they are slipping. Stability control applies braking to one or all four wheels when it senses a skid. None of that happens in this game.

Traction control doesn't act as a brake assist it allows maximum traction under acceleration without wheel spin, allowing you to not spin out while slamming the gas while turning hence the grippy feeling.

 

[soundscream]

Driveclub's cars are actually *less* grippy than those of other semi-sims like Forza 5 or Horizon 2 (in Horizon 2 you can actually drive a supercar straight in the dirt and turn without spinning lol).

Um, this is BS.


I play both games with all driving aids off and I know for a fact you are incorrect here.

 

[Nafai1123]

Traction control doesn't act as a brake assist it allows maximum traction under acceleration without wheel spin, allowing you to not spin out while slamming the gas while turning hence the grippy feeling.

Which it can do by either applying braking to the wheels under power or by cutting back fuel from the engine. In either case it will prevent you from oversteering (drifting) which is entirely possible in this game (and is in fact encouraged).

 

[watership]

If by "racing" you mean the driving model, that's actually very debatable. Driveclub's driving/handling model is the best in the market in the field of semi-sims, at least the ones released for this generation of consoles.

Forza is way too grippy and stable even with all assists off (racing hypercars in the dirt? really?). Gran Turismo would be a good term of comparison, but it's not on PS4 yet.

I feel by this statement your revealing that you don't know how forza plays at all. At least Horizon 2. You can take any car in the forza physics system, you can tell the different between pavement/dirt/stone/grass. Then that cars base driving stats, based on weight/tires/suspension/engine also impacts the way it drives. Some cars work like ice on wet grass, then suddenly hit pavement and peel out. It's about the car, the environment and the setup. Not 'grippy/not grippy'. Most of the events are geared around the type of car. Sometimes you need to go offroad with a car that's not meant too, but that's more like the "here is a weird thing to try and do" rather than the norm in that game.

 

[captainraincoat]

Having played about 5 hours last night of this I think this is another great tech demo for a ps4 but nothing more

The handling is stiff and rigid. ..The events are mind numbingly boring and the game still feels like it could of been in the oven a bit longer as some courses look really good and the rest honestly look like a ps3 game...and no replay camera????Surely they could of seen that pretty much every racing game back to the snes had a bloody replay camera

I can see why this game was going to be a ps+ freebie now as its pretty to look at but doesn't offer much more. ....here's hoping the crew will fill that great ps4 racing game

 

[Shining Sunshine]

I feel by this statement your revealing that you don't know how forza plays at all. At least Horizon 2. You can take any car in the forza physics system, you can tell the different between pavement/dirt/stone/grass. Then that cars base driving stats, based on weight/tires/suspension/engine also impacts the way it drives. Some cars work like ice on wet grass, then suddenly hit pavement and peel out. It's about the car, the environment and the setup. Not 'grippy/not grippy'. Most of the events are geared around the type of car. Sometimes you need to go offroad with a car that's not meant too, but that's more like the "here is a weird thing to try and do" rather than the norm in that game.

90% of the cars in Forza Horizon 2 have no business driving offroad.

 

[GrizzleBoy]

Um, this is BS.


I play both games with all driving aids off and I know for a fact you are incorrect here.

Yep. My fully upgraded Lotus exige in Horizon 2 will wheel spin right up to gear four without precise throttle control.

Don't even ask me about off reading with it.

 

[freefornow]

Driveclub's cars are actually *less* grippy than those of other semi-sims like Forza 5 or Horizon 2 (in Horizon 2 you can actually drive a supercar straight in the dirt and turn without spinning lol).

Well, maybe play Horizon 2 before stating outright falsehoods.
You have no idea!

 

[watership]

90% of the cars in Forza Horizon 2 have no business driving offroad.

Ya, I know right? How dare they.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

90% of the cars in Forza Horizon 2 have no business driving offroad.

It's an arcade racer (with optional hardcore sim elements), so who cares?

 

[Ingueferroque]

Nor is a conscious decision to exclude those options a negative.

Those options might be a common expectation with modern racing titles (though not across the board in arcade racers), but its worth at least some exploration on why assists and tuning aren't in DC rather than a quick knee-jerk that the game feels unfinished like some of the reviews.

Well put. DC's controls are arcade enough that they do not require any additional assist options.

 

[Abriael]

I feel by this statement your revealing that you don't know how forza plays at all. At least Horizon 2. You can take any car in the forza physics system, you can tell the different between pavement/dirt/stone/grass. Then that cars base driving stats, based on weight/tires/suspension/engine also impacts the way it drives. Some cars work like ice on wet grass, then suddenly hit pavement and peel out. It's about the car, the environment and the setup. Not 'grippy/not grippy'. Most of the events are geared around the type of car. Sometimes you need to go offroad with a car that's not meant too, but that's more like the "here is a weird thing to try and do" rather than the norm in that game.

It's not a matter of why you have to do that.

Fact is that if you drive a hypercar on that kind of terrain, it won't keep grip for more than a few seconds (besides getting completely totalled just a few seconds later because you'd destroy the bottom). In FH2 you can drive a whole race in the dirt with all assists off, flooring it like mad, and just do some sliding.

Spinning cars on both Forza 5 and Horizon 2 is *extremely* difficult, even with all assists off. The only ones that feel slightly tail happy (but still much less than they should be) are racing cars, but even the most high powered, tail ended hypercars are glued to the asphalt in a way that's definitely not even close to realistic.

Well, maybe play Horizon 2 before stating outright falsehoods.
You have no idea!

You mean this Horizon 2?

http://xboxclips.com/video.php?uid=...iael&vid=dd24e11f-1af9-412a-b459-a615629a7176

I have a very clear idea, and having played actual sims since the times of GT legends and the first papyrus Nascars, moving all the way up to iracing, I have a pretty clear idea on actual simulative handling models to actually know when things aren't as they're supposed to be.

Forza Horizon 2 is a great game, but grip is way off. Maybe you shouldn't just assume that someone that differs with your views automatically did not play the game. I did, I still am, And I love it, but that doesn't prevent me from seeing its shortcomings, just as much as Driveclub's (but those aren't in the handling).

 

[Shining Sunshine]

It's an arcade racer (with optional hardcore sim elements), so who cares?

I didn't say Forza Horizon 2 has less traction than Driveclub.

 

[tuna_love]

90% of the cars in Forza Horizon 2 have no business driving offroad.

100% of cars have no business teleporting when driving off road

 

[Shining Sunshine]

100% of cars have no business teleporting when driving off road

My cars don't teleport because I'm actually racing.

 

[JAYSIMPLE]

The funny thing is that the cars do *not* feel any particularly grippy. The cars that are supposed to be grippy are, disrespect a super/hypercar and it'll send you spinning.

Driveclub's cars are actually *less* grippy than those of other semi-sims like Forza 5 or Horizon 2 (in Horizon 2 you can actually drive a supercar straight in the dirt and turn without spinning lol).

This should give you an idea on the overall credibility of the review.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV11PsC4hSo
Too grippy, lol.

What the hell is going on in this video. That looks awful to drive, and what the hell is going on with the camera in corners? Is the driver supposed to be hitting the walls on every corner. That just looks shocking lol

 

[Abriael]

What the hell is going on in this video. That looks awful to drive, and what the hell is going on with the camera in corners? Is the driver supposed to be hitting the walls on every corner. That just looks shocking lol

Too much downshifting, and the car itself is very tail happy. So much for "Too grippy"

 

[MightyHedgehog]

I didn't say Forza Horizon 2 has less traction than Driveclub.

I don't understand what you're saying, but I'll just say that any car can have nearly any range of traction, and on- and off-road readiness in FH2. All you have to do is either adjust game simulation assists, or tune the car, or change/upgrade parts, and then drive in accordance with its limitations when on varying surfaces. FH2 is much more complex than what I've seen of DC, but it's all down to the user to decide just how much more it is. In any case, it's all racing from point A to point B.

 

[see5harp]

Spinning cars on both Forza 5 and Horizon 2 is *extremely* difficult, even with all assists off.

Man these review threads make people say crazy ass things.

 

[QaaQer]

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.

He said on the bcast "It is a bad game." & "the handling is terrible" which makes me think his judgement has nothing to do with it not being his cup of tea, but that the game in his mind is objectively bad. Maybe he is a bad communicator, dunno.

But he is negative on most things and very judgemental, part of his schtick I guess.

 

[Steel]

Odd, a lot of really good reviews and really bad ones. Very little consistency here.

 

[Noobcraft]

90% of the cars in Forza Horizon 2 have no business driving offroad.

any car with a stiff suspension in FH2 is awful off road and bounces/gets stuck in first gear.

Here's some mixed rally/street gameplay it recorded for me in an awd rally car with TCS and ABS on. http://gameclipscontent-d3002.xboxl..._=1412810790_5504864eeb8af4f13bb71781f614d3f6

 

[watership]

Too much downshifting, and the car itself is very tail happy. So much for "Too grippy"

This is an Arial atom in first gear, i'm pretty sure that thing wigs out in any game.

 

[Hugstable]

Nor is a conscious decision to exclude those options a negative.

Those options might be a common expectation with modern racing titles (though not across the board in arcade racers), but its worth at least some exploration on why assists and tuning aren't in DC rather than a quick knee-jerk that the game feels unfinished like some of the reviews.

Wait there are no options for assists? Are the assists turned on in the main game or are they all completely off. I can't play with assists on at anytime in Gran Turismo games at all, they just slow you down and make the game way too easy since everything is way too grippy.

 

[thelastword]

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.

Well, I hope that standard is maintained throughout this gen. If it is that so many reviewers pan a game for lack of content and missing features, I hope there are no anomalies down the road. The big problem I have with reviewers is the countless double standards exhibited over the years.

 

[FunnyBunny]

I just listened to this week's Bombcast.

I love those guys and normally agree with Jeff, but he sounds horribly misinformed about this game. He and Brad even talk about how they thought DriveClub was supposed to be a sim stand-in for Gran Tourismo.

It was never that and I'm not sure why they would think it was.