PCARS first impressions!

  • Thread starter mister dog
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PC version:

This could technically be my second impression, but it is still new to most of us, so here goes:

If you drive a Ginetta G40 around and don't have a huge grin on your face the entire time, this isn't your game.
I can say it is even better than I had thought it would be. And I had very high expectations. Using the DashMeter Pro App with cockpit view...sublime.

Save you Career Data, folks. I won a Clio Race, assumed it saved and exited out. I was right back to the Qualifying round the next time I entered. It was my first win too. I even saved the Replay. But it didn't save in the Career Mode.

Interesting that I was able to qualify 1st and Win the first Clio race. But was only able to Qualify 14th in the first Ginetta Race...with the same settings. Max everything.

I do wish you could upload every single custom livery you had instead of only having one slot available. Seems there would be a way to make that possible.
 
Speedster911
I saw a vid of someone playing PCARS on Twitch last night, an Audi R8 race car at Monza, and it did not look or sound impressive at all.
Click to expand...
Most twitch feeds are 30fps and 480p and compressed.

CowboyAce57
No Suzuka?!?!?! :eek:
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Nope, but the semi-Suzuka, Sakitto, is an excellent track. Very high speed and lots of fun.

CLowndes888
Let's just go through all the car brands that aren't featured in any shape or form:
Honda
Toyota
Ferrari
Chevrolet
Holden
Mazda
Dodge
Bugatti
Fiat
Alfa Romeo
Citroen
Peugeot
Cadillac
Buick
Click to expand...
Wrong thread.
 
hotak
I think the problem is you didn't calibrate it ingame too, try to do so in controller options
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I've done the calibration in game, both wheels and pedals, and it is correctly calibrated in system. As I said, it works perfectly with DiRT Rally...
 
I was worried that it was going to be Shift 3. When I left the Monaco pits and turned through Turn 1 my heart sank and I thought I had just wasted €65. I went and changed all controller input settings such as sensitivity and deadzone and it transformed it for me.

I'm still crashing out but I'm enjoying it and I'm trying to drive like it's DriveClub but once I'm over that it's full steam ahead. Driving with such an in-depth damage model is a change of pace after years of GT and months of DriveClub.
 
crowhop
PC version:

This could technically be my second impression, but it is still new to most of us, so here goes:

If you drive a Ginetta G40 around and don't have a huge grin on your face the entire time, this isn't your game.
I can say it is even better than I had thought it would be. And I had very high expectations. Using the DashMeter Pro App with cockpit view...sublime.

Save you Career Data, folks. I won a Clio Race, assumed it saved and exited out. I was right back to the Qualifying round the next time I entered. It was my first win too. I even saved the Replay. But it didn't save in the Career Mode.

Interesting that I was able to qualify 1st and Win the first Clio race. But was only able to Qualify 14th in the first Ginetta Race...with the same settings. Max everything.

I do wish you could upload every single custom livery you had instead of only having one slot available. Seems there would be a way to make that possible.
Click to expand...
that happened to me too. finally finished my 14 lap Clio race at Silverstone, watched the replay, got a MP invite and stupidly accepted it while the replay was playing but the game didn't save my race progress...:banghead:
 
After a few tests With BMW E30, SLS GT3 and FA, I feel more comfortable without any aids, with the 'real' setting I can't understand enough the braking physics and some weight transfer. Innitialy I was a little contraried about the FA sensations, but without aids it feel more similar to others sims to me.

After this I got a question: are those aids in real mode a individual recreation of those aids, or they are a generic assistance?
 
my first impression is that i found difficult to brake, AI outbrakes me every time.

However with clio cup and 80% AI i scored pole position in 3 races on 3 i did, i win just race 1 of every round cause once i pit in round 2 and get in front of me i'm not able to overtake, i'm forced to brake way before.
 
I already posted and said an 8-8.5 because I have had some issues as many have. Was somewhat uninspired. A little disappointed maybe, but hopeful for quick fixes. I then drove the low level Atom on Imola with the sun in mid afternoon. I finally saw what the whole game is supposed to be like. I hope they can fix all of the little things quickly. The Atom on that track was the most enjoyable driving I have had on any racing game. If the entire game experience were on par with those laps in that car, I would give this game a 9.8.
 
I've always had issues with braking when I try pc sims, the problem is we're used to Granturismo brakes with ABS 1.
 
Not one for waffling on too much I'll just say that my first impressions are that this title is easily the best console driving experience that I've ever had. Yes there are some bugs/issues but they were expected and I'm optimistic that they will be sorted out promptly. My second impression is that other games have taught me some pretty bad habits & I've realised that I have a lot to re-learn :dunce:
 
After settling my FFB issues (stupid me didn't have Logitech profiler running), i have finally been able to enjoy the game as it was meant to be played.

I think it is fantastic. The cars behave as I expect they should. The BAC Mono is responsive with turn in and has tons of grip. The Evo fq400 on the other hand, you can feel the weight with longer brake distances and understeer, a little lift brings the front back in as it should (I used to own an Evo). I can feel the rumble in the steering wheel as the tires are trying to give me grip going around a turn. The graphics are awesome. The sounds are waaay better than Gran Turismo

And dat helmet view. Awesome
 
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crowhop
If you drive a Ginetta G40 around and don't have a huge grin on your face the entire time, this isn't your game.
Click to expand...

This. The G40 is such a funny little car and it's just hugely enjoyable thrashing it around Oulton Park or Donington.

Overall I'm pretty impressed, however I expected a little more from the physics. A lot of people have praised pCARS for it's great combination of physics, car/track selection and overall great looking graphics, however I think after some time, they've lost the focus on the physics and focused more on polishing up the game. I completely dislike the approach of the tracks with all of the gatherings and flying helicopters etc. as it's pretty to look at, but overall I find it a little distracting and that was the issue I had with NFS: Shift and Shift 2 Unleased. And it really shows that SlightyMad has worked on this game, because overall the physics are improved and more polished compared to afformentioned titles, but I still find it really lacking in physics or rather the accuracy of said physics.

The biggest problem I have is that it's (in it's current state at least) virtually impossible to recover from unwanted oversteer, and often I have the problem (especially with road cars) that if I want the car's rear to rotate it doesn't. So I think they should be going to back to the drawing board with this.

Then something I'm pretty disappointed about are the sounds. A lot of the sounds sound very generic and artificial. The only cars, where I find the sound to be somewhat accurate are the Caterham, the Ariel Atom (minus the incredibly artificial S/C whine), the R8 (probably the best sound in the game) and the RGT-8. Especially with the Megané or the Boss Mustang, I just find the whole sound to be very flat, there needs to be a little more bass, a little more punch to the sounds. Heck, even Assetto Corsa's sounds are better than pCARS' sounds.

The overall track and car selection however is amazing, I can't think of many games where I have Snetterton, Oulton Park, Oschersleben and two massive "highways" in a game. Same goes for the cars, just a great selection that covers all of the important and great racing classes/series of today and yesteryear (those Gr.5 cars :eek: )

tl;dr - Enjoyable game, great basis, but needs some or a lot of polishing in some areas. 👍
 
20832
This. The G40 is such a funny little car and it's just hugely enjoyable thrashing it around Oulton Park or Donington.

Overall I'm pretty impressed, however I expected a little more from the physics. A lot of people have praised pCARS for it's great combination of physics, car/track selection and overall great looking graphics, however I think after some time, they've lost the focus on the physics and focused more on polishing up the game. I completely dislike the approach of the tracks with all of the gatherings and flying helicopters etc. as it's pretty to look at, but overall I find it a little distracting and that was the issue I had with NFS: Shift and Shift 2 Unleased. And it really shows that SlightyMad has worked on this game, because overall the physics are improved and more polished compared to afformentioned titles, but I still find it really lacking in physics or rather the accuracy of said physics.

The biggest problem I have is that it's (in it's current state at least) virtually impossible to recover from unwanted oversteer, and often I have the problem (especially with road cars) that if I want the car's rear to rotate it doesn't. So I think they should be going to back to the drawing board with this.

Then something I'm pretty disappointed about are the sounds. A lot of the sounds sound very generic and artificial. The only cars, where I find the sound to be somewhat accurate are the Caterham, the Ariel Atom (minus the incredibly artificial S/C whine), the R8 (probably the best sound in the game) and the RGT-8. Especially with the Megané or the Boss Mustang, I just find the whole sound to be very flat, there needs to be a little more bass, a little more punch to the sounds. Heck, even Assetto Corsa's sounds are better than pCARS' sounds.

The overall track and car selection however is amazing, I can't think of many games where I have Snetterton, Oulton Park, Oschersleben and two massive "highways" in a game. Same goes for the cars, just a great selection that covers all of the important and great racing classes/series of today and yesteryear (those Gr.5 cars :eek: )

tl;dr - Enjoyable game, great basis, but needs some or a lot of polishing in some areas. 👍
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As far as physics, it's mainly down to the setup. You can make cars oversteer if you want to. Default setups are for people who play with consoles/pads, where understeer is preferred, since it's easier to deal with.

As far as sounds, I tried AC and those sounds like something recorded from a YouTube video. If that's your point of reference, then yes AC has better sounds. I think pCars has mostly great sounding cars with a few exceptions.
 
FuriousDemon
As far as physics, it's mainly down to the setup. You can make cars oversteer if you want to. Default setups are for people who play with consoles/pads, where understeer is preferred, since it's easier to deal with.

As far as sounds, I tried AC and those sounds like something recorded from a YouTube video. If that's your point of reference, then yes AC has better sounds. I think pCars has mostly great sounding cars with a few exceptions.
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Maybe that was just a bad explaination on my part, but I'm obviously reffering to drifting. I often have the problem (even with cold tyres) than the car simply does not want to initiate drifting, even if I'm clutchkicking it, that just bothers me.

In terms of sound I have to disagree though. For some mods, that's definitely the case, however for the in-game sounds of most (!) cars, the sounds are much more pleasing and much more natural than in pCARS. Just compare the Huayra in pCARS and it AC. The turbo noise itself is just a lot better and the whole car sounds a lot better in AC than in pCARS. Then there is the mentioned increadibly artificial sounding supercharger whine of the Atom 300, the S/C whine of the Lotus engines in AC is much more realistic and again more natural sounding. (Yes, I know the Atom has a Honda engine). Of course, there are some cars that sound better in pCARS than in AC, the 1M is a prime example.

Now, before you repeat yourself, I have never said that the sounds are bad, however they just sound artificial and lack soul (most of the time), which is kind of sad, because the sound is one of the key features I look for to have a great feeling of immersion, and as of right now I only get that from the Escort, the RGT-8 and (especially) the R8.
 
20832
Maybe that was just a bad explaination on my part, but I'm obviously reffering to drifting. I often have the problem (even with cold tyres) than the car simply does not want to initiate drifting, even if I'm clutchkicking it, that just bothers me.

In terms of sound I have to disagree though. For some mods, that's definitely the case, however for the in-game sounds of most (!) cars, the sounds are much more pleasing and much more natural than in pCARS. Just compare the Huayra in pCARS and it AC. The turbo noise itself is just a lot better and the whole car sounds a lot better in AC than in pCARS. Then there is the mentioned increadibly artificial sounding supercharger whine of the Atom 300, the S/C whine of the Lotus engines in AC is much more realistic and again more natural sounding. (Yes, I know the Atom has a Honda engine). Of course, there are some cars that sound better in pCARS than in AC, the 1M is a prime example.

Now, before you repeat yourself, I have never said that the sounds are bad, however they just sound artificial and lack soul (most of the time), which is kind of sad, because the sound is one of the key features I look for to have a great feeling of immersion, and as of right now I only get that from the Escort, the RGT-8 and (especially) the R8.
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Have you tried Ford Capri and Z4 GT3?
I think those sound quite awesome.

Anyway, you have your opinion and I won't be able to change that, so we'll just agree to disagree :)

Cheers!
 
FuriousDemon
Have you tried Ford Capri and Z4 GT3?
I think those sound quite awesome.

Anyway, you have your opinion and I won't be able to change that, so we'll just agree to disagree :)

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've tried the Capri (and all of the Gr.5 cars for that matter), however I do not really have a reference for that in AC, do I? Another car that definitely sounds better in pCARS than in AC is the E30 DTM.

I'm not trying to convince you that I'm right and you're wrong, it's just my personal opinion and I think I'm entitled to one as much as you are, so yeah let's agree on disagreeing :lol:
 
20832
Yeah, I've tried the Capri (and all of the Gr.5 cars for that matter), however I do not really have a reference for that in AC, do I? Another car that definitely sounds better in pCARS than in AC is the E30 DTM.

I'm not trying to convince you that I'm right and you're wrong, it's just my personal opinion and I think I'm entitled to one as much as you are, so yeah let's agree on disagreeing :lol:
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No, I wasn't trying to compare those to AC. I just thought you were not very impressed with sounds overall (other than some exceptions), so that's why I mentioned it. :)
 
Roostaboosta
If it's PC then use USB 2 input, glitchy with 3
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No, PS4. I've read a few people have this issue. kinda spacs out til you power it off/on again. even when you close the game application the wheel continues to stay at an angle while vibrating. kinda like....

it's alive!!!
 
Roostaboosta
Go back to Shift then, sorted.
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Roostaboosta
Yep, you answered your own question!
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What are you, like 12 years old? What kind of an immature and rude way to reply to a comment. You sound like a class-A fanboy to be perfectly honest, that is incapable of accepting other people's opinions. @FuriousDemon & I were able to keep our discussion clean and proper without insulting each other, why can't you?

How about replying in a proper manner or better yet not replying at all if you disagree with this person's opinion instead of replying in a childish and insulting manner which is literally not adding anything to the discussion whatsoever.
 
After circumventing the issue of my PS4 switching off right when the game starts, I realised just how unforgiving driving with a pad really is. Attacking that stupid rigid kerb on the uphill crest of Watkins Glen in a McLaren GT3 car really humbled me, and it has motivated me to try it over and over again until I nail it.
The solo race preparation screen, to be quite blunt, is horribly implemented, and is worlds apart from the simplicity of Driveclub's. Overall, I was actually quite surprised at how far withdrawn I am from being able to play this type of game with a pad, but the ambition is always there to do better, and there's nothing that another few patches won't improve (hopefully).
 

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