Driveclub’s final content update was a brilliant send-off for the title. Launched at the end of last month, 15 new Urban circuits taken from Driveclub VR (complete with reverse variants) joined the game’s track list for free to conclude an incredible post-game support cycle. The tracks themselves are very impressive although short, giving some much-needed love to city-based environments.
We’ve picked out our personal favorites from the new additions and gave them a test drive for your viewing pleasure, taking some of Driveclub’s best cars on the road to show them off similar to our DiRT Rally ‘World Tour’ earlier in the year. Let’s have a look, shall we?
Canada – Port of Vancouver 1 – Nissan GT-R R34
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3A03QUemTc
Port of Vancouver is the first stop on our World Tour and the Canadian circuit is a high-speed throw-around suited to performance and sports class cars. The most notable element for Port is that most of the corners can be taken without needing to slow down considerably — providing you nail the racing line. The Skyline in particular illustrates this here thanks to it’s nimble handling and high levels of grip.
Japan – Gujo 1 – Mercedes AMG GT3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVGlc1vKil0
Gujo took a while to grow on us. At first, we didn’t really feel like the track flowed correctly, as it doesn’t really feel like it builds through momentum. However, after a few more laps the genius of this track hit us and what better way to showcase it than a GT3 monster?
The Japanese track has more of a mixed environment with half taking place in more typical Driveclub environments and the other half set in a small village. This means you get a lot of right-hand turns and few high-speed sections. Once you identify the driving line, it’s a blast to push cars to the limit on.
India – Ashii 1 – Lamborghini Diablo SV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLTIELhs9Dc
Out of all the new circuits, Ashii is a fan favorite and it’s easy to see why. As far as how urban an environment can be, this twisty delight is all about the city. Taking place in a favela-like area, the circuit contains plenty of incline changes and S-bends to navigate through.
Although some of the hairpins are just asking for multiplayer chaos, they still make for some nice driving. The Diablo SV’s engine sound bounces perfectly around the claustrophobic streets: music to the ears of any car fan.
Chile – Iquique 1 – Renault Alpine A110-50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWvWCB-Ijlc
Whereas most of the Driveclub urban environments have focused on finding a balance between speed and technicality, Iquique is all about straight-line racing with the occasional turn just to make sure it completes a loop. Although not the most fun for hot lapping, the track lends itself to close wheel-to-wheel racing in multiplayer and for that reason it’s a personal favorite of ours.
We also really enjoy the locale and lighting as it nails the climate of where it’s based upon. The Alpine is especially quick in it’s class, so it’s a good choice here.
Norway – Bryggen 1 – Ferrari FXX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Nf8fEBl14
Rounding off our tour with a trip to Europe, Bryggen in Norway is a definite looker. The Wintery atmosphere and Christmas decorations hanging from the city buildings give a comfort no other track can match. Don’t let your guard down though, as you have to navigate some exceedingly tight right-hand bends and hairpin corners throughout.
The Ferrari FXX is as suited as anything to take on this track and it’s a dream to drive in the technical and speed sections. Bryggen is a clear winner for us when it comes to the best new circuit in the game. Photo lovers will also get their fill from the varied locations on show.
With that, the Driveclub tale comes to a likely close. Despite sensational post-release support and a rise from the ashes of doubt, Evolution Studios was still closed down and any plans for the franchise from Sony seems unlikely.
A final content update larger than most games receive at all sum up what a hidden gem Driveclub became: a favorite for photography buffs, a wonder for the graphics lover and a change of pace in the ever sim-dominated racing genre.
Although not everyone’s cup of tea, DC will always have a special place in my gaming memories for the on-track greatness it provides. The last slew of tracks certainly kept up that trend until the very end.
See more articles on Driveclub Game Updates and World Tour.
Great article!
Dem puddling rain effektz are even dumber than Call of Duty’s bloody screen. Haven’t the devs heard of glass treatment? A swipe of Rain-X or something similar and the water rolls of the windshield faster than it came down from the sky.
Sometimes Drive Club feels less of a game and more like a weather and day-night cycle tech demo.
Effect and demand, or should it be the other way around? Games with deep space sequences still have sound with the explosions, even when that isn’t even remotely realistic. The balance between truth an beauty, eh?
i wish the game had physics and FFB like AssettoCorsa or ProjectCars.
PLEASE NO!! The worst thing about those two games is the actual driving, in fact the last time I had a game ruined by that ‘Pencil through the roof’ handling was in Total Immersion Racing.
I’m speaking controller wise here, not wheel, which may be brilliant on these two.
@dualshock
It certainly makes a difference, so you’re right to make the distinction between the two. I bought my first ever wheel (Thrustmaster T150) last week, and I figure I’d start with DriveClub, then PCars, and then AC. What I have found with DriveClub is that (at this point) I am much faster with a controller, but I enjoy the wheel more. If I had to make a choice of which to play DC with from now on, I’d pick the controller, because some of the tour events are beyond me if I’m using a wheel, but not with a controller.
These awesome tracks made me even more sad that the game isn’t open-world.
Not every racing needs to be.
Edit (Missed a word)
Not every racing game needs to be.
@Chikane exactly. But DC wastes so much potential with all those tight and closed tracks. They didn’t even add some sort of a highway, oh wait a minute they did, but all those straight roads are blocked with some nonsense barriers, that make you go around. And it pisses me off a little bit, because the game has a lot of hypercars so.. you know. If done right, open world would really improve the game.
I personally love the fact Driveclub is closed circuit racing. It doesn’t feel like Horizon 3 for example, where although the racing is good, there’s no real stand-out track. I’d say the majority of DC’s tracks are fantastic and I love it for the pick up and play feel.
So many racing game shave fiddly bits attached to them now that get in the way of actual racing.
*Have
bloody auto correct!
just picked up this game yesterday and i love it!
Ashii track is good
These urban tracks are right up there as some of my favourite DRIVECLUB tracks. Come brilliant stuff there.