Project CARS 2 (PlayStation 4) Review

If being a professional race car driver is filled with stiff controls and long load times, then Project CARS 2 does a near perfect job simulating the average driver's day-to-day. The controls, while stiff, can be adjusted to, and understanding them can be seen as part of the fun, but being forced to sit through long loading screens for the chance to race for a few minutes is exhausting.

The cars, the tracks, and the distracting advertisements look fine enough, but not to the point where such long load times aren't intrusive. That said, it would be a lie to say Slightly Mad Studios hasn't created an immersive simulator though the graphical fidelity.

Driving looks the part, and getting into the flow of a race is, admittedly, satisfying. The controls are incredibly awkward and alienating, but adjusting to them is all a part of the simulation. Crashing or veering off course sports higher consequences than other racing titles, which is a welcome change of pace. Project CARS 2 doesn't hold hands, expecting a level of commitment to refining the controls and learning each track.

In theory, this is a pretty good idea. Encouraging mechanical mastery is one of the best ways to increase overall length without padding. The problem is when those mechanics aren't welcoming or lack a proper learning curve.

Adjusting to the controls is going to be difficult for just about anyone. It's all a part of the simulation experience, but it falls more on the "realism as tedium" than "realism as fun" side. The great thing about franchises like Forza or Gran Turismo is that anyone can start either up and start playing. Both series have a dedication to offering a realistic experience, but not without compromising their identity as a video game.

Career mode is where the bulk of playtime will be sunk into in Project CARS 2. It's tiered into several categories, and certain cups need to be completed before progressing onto the next tier. As simply a concept, the idea is fantastic, as it allows a great amount of leeway in personal advancement and presents itself as immersive off the bat. Again, though, even the lowest tiers will prove to be fairly challenging without patient driving and at least some amount of knowledge in regards to how the controls work.

Cars can be tuned via the race engineer to modify braking, downforce, suspension, and gearing, but the act of fine tuning each category is a bit convoluted. In the push for realism, every category requires a short conversation between the driver and the race engineer where the engineer explains what exactly is going on with the car before modifying it by a miniscule percentage. If a driver wants to tune their stats significantly, however, then they do have the option to do so in a separate menu.

A loss of fun, of potential, is really what looms over Project CARS 2. It's ambitious and it does manage to present itself as an incredibly realistic title, but it just isn't very enjoyable to sit down and play. It's a dedicated time sink and not one that feels rewarding.