Project Cars 2 came out in 2017, but it still holds up as one of the most popular sim racing games on the market. It brought with it a diverse range of tracks and game modes, and there are plenty of talking points regarding almost every aspect of Project Cars 2.
Project Cars 2 is one of the best sim racing games on the market, and while it’s not a full-on simulator like iRacing or rFactor, its handling model and driving physics make it a strong contender. Project Cars 2 also has an excellent selection of game modes, cars and tracks.
In this Project Cars 2 review, we’ll take a look at what we think are the most important aspects of this sim racing game. We’ll cover the good and the bad, and by the end of it you should be able to decide if this is the right racing game for you.
Overall Experience Of Project Cars 2
Project Cars 2, or PC2, is a truly enjoyable game from the moment you load it up. While the game definitely had its fair share of issues when it first launched, it’s now a well-rounded gaming experience. It’s a sim racing game that is trying to be a true racing simulator, but it’s definitely at the high end of simcade racing.
Starting with some of the most important factors of any sim racing game, the overall driving experience in this game is great. The handling model is exceptional, and the driving physics are spot on for even the more advanced sim racer. While it can’t compete with iRacing, it still does far better than many other simcade racers on the market.
How It Feels To Drive
You get a very linear feeling of grip in all of the cars, but there are of course nuances between individual classes and individual vehicles. This is obviously from the point of view of someone using a sim racing wheel, where the game really shines. However, it’s still very playable on a controller, but using a wheel is the best way to enjoy this game.
One aspect of the game that enhances the realism of the driving experience is the LiveTrack 3.0 feature. This simulates real conditions on the track, from the weather effects to the track rubbering in and becoming grippier over the course of a race. This will really please the advanced sim racer looking for some dynamism in the actual racing.
Dynamic Tracks
However, beginners will still benefit from this, as they learn how tracks evolve during a race and simply enjoy the clear-cut nature of the handling model. The dynamic weather itself is second to none. With puddles that grow and shrink depending on the conditions, and the track drying as more cars drive round it, races can become all about timing your tire strategy to come out on top.
One thing to note for beginners is that they might want to play around with some of the settings when they first get started with Project Cars 2.
Note For Beginners
By default, a lot of the assists are turned off, and this might make it difficult for those not used to playing without traction control and ABS to struggle to keep the car on track. However, these settings are easily changed, and there are plenty of other settings to change too. The overall experience of driving is best described as challenging but very enjoyable.
How Does The Game Look And Sound?
Overall, Project Cars 2 looks and sounds amazing. The graphics, even several years after release, are still very much on par with its competitors. The environments all look great, as do the cars. If you want an even more immersive racing experience PC2 even supports VR. However, just playing with a single screen and a good wheel and pedal setup is enough to get the most out of the game.
You might see the occasional frame drop, especially if you’re using VR or a slower console, but this is rare and doesn’t take away from the overall look and feel of the game. Project Cars 2 also sounds great, with everything from the windshield wipers moving across your screen to the subtle engine notes sounding realistic and making for an immersive experience.
Customization And Control In Project Cars 2
If you do find yourself looking to change some settings, you’ll be pleased to hear that there are lots to play with. From fine tuning specific aspects of your suspension to changing gear ratios, you can really go deep into the options to make your racing experience exactly how you want it.
Setup Suggestions
However, if you’re a casual player and just want basic control over how the game handles, you can simply tell your virtual engineer what aspect of your driving experience they need to change, and they’ll suggest setup changes for you. From too much oversteer to weak stopping power on the brakes, there’s a quick fix for everything at your fingertips.
An interesting and useful setup you can take involves changing the individual car settings all at once based on the authentic car setup in real life. This is handy for those that want to get an almost 1:1 representation of what it would be like to drive that car in real life. But when it comes to car and track selection, what does PC2 have to offer?
Car And Track Selection In Project Cars 2
There are plenty of cars and tracks to choose from in Project Cars 2. While there might not be as many cars on offer as in some other games like Forza Motorsport 7, 180 is more than enough for most racers. Plus, these are spread out across a wide range of classes and racing disciplines, so you’re not going to get bored very quickly.
Plenty Of Tracks And Layouts
Track selection is where this game really shines, however. With 60 tracks and even more layouts, spread out across Europe, Asia and America, there is a great mix of real circuits and some fictional ones too. Some are even laser scanned for increased accuracy down to the finest of details.
Whether you want to take on Bathurst in an F1 car or drive around Monaco in your favorite supercar, there are plenty of ways to test your driving skills across lots of different racing disciplines. You can try your hand at everything from GT3 to LMP, and there are even rallycross options too. Plus, you can choose the weather and conditions in every race to make for near limitless combinations.
Game Mode Selection
One of the best aspects of Project Cars 2 is its progressive career mode. This is where I imagine a lot of players will spend most of their time, as it’s a truly enthralling way to play a racing game. Tie that in with excellent physics and handling models, and a vast selection of cars and tracks, and you have a recipe for success.
Where To Start?
You can choose to start your career at the very bottom of the motorsport ladder, or closer to the top if you prefer. However, the upper echelons are still hidden behind a progression-based lock, so you do need to show your skills before you can try out the top career modes. This keeps it interesting, and it forces you to challenge yourself too.
The progressive career mode takes you on a journey of becoming a better racing driver, which is great for beginners and advanced racers alike. It’s worth noting that the AI in PC2 is known for being a little inconsistent. You can control the difficulty to an extent, but you might find this takes a while to get right for your own experience level.
Some AI Inconsistencies
This can become especially apparent during qualifying sessions. You might set a time several seconds faster than your nearest competitors, and then right at the end of the session the AI blasts past your time. Plus, the penalty system is often a little unreliable. However, that’s a problem that isn’t always apparent, and is not exclusive to Project Cars 2.
Multiplayer
There is also a decent multiplayer game mode in Project Cars 2, and this is a good way to try out some of the cars you haven’t unlocked in single player yet, or just to play with friends in a competitive setting. You can create fun custom races too, and mess around with the rules yourself or use the Motorsport Presets for different racing disciplines and competitions.
Final Thoughts
Project Cars 2 is one of the best sim racing games on the market, especially for those looking for a great single player racing experience. With one of the best track selections in sim racing, and a brilliant driving experience, Project Cars 2 is an excellent sim racing game.
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