Project CARS 3: General Discussion Thread - Out August 28th, 2020 on XB1/PS4/PC

  • Thread starter jake2013guy
  • 5,201 comments
  • 384,937 views
Can anyone elaborate this?

I'm looking for a console racing game for PS4. I have an old Driving Force Pro wheel but it is not compatible. Before I got the DFP, I got all golds on GT3 using the controller, so I know how to drive or fly using the analog sticks. Unfortunately the DFP is not compatible with the PS4, and I'm not sure I would want to drag it out all the time anyway.

I was given Project CARS 1 for the PS4, but I find it totally undriveable with the controller. I would pick up PC2 or PC3, but I don't want that same frustration.
You can pick up a controller and play PC3 with no fuss. It is possible to tweak the controller settings for PC2 for a good experience, there is a thread on that subject in that particular forum.
 
You can pick up a controller and play PC3 with no fuss. It is possible to tweak the controller settings for PC2 for a good experience, there is a thread on that subject in that particular forum.
To me it is even easier with the pad than with a wheel. It is good for what it is but I return again and again to PC2 as there are cars and tracks you don't get for a console anywhere else.
 
Can anyone elaborate this?

I'm looking for a console racing game for PS4. I have an old Driving Force Pro wheel but it is not compatible. Before I got the DFP, I got all golds on GT3 using the controller, so I know how to drive or fly using the analog sticks. Unfortunately the DFP is not compatible with the PS4, and I'm not sure I would want to drag it out all the time anyway.

I was given Project CARS 1 for the PS4, but I find it totally undriveable with the controller. I would pick up PC2 or PC3, but I don't want that same frustration.
Totally agree about PC1, definitely avoid PC2 and go for 3 instead, its more accessible no settings changes needed with controller. For me it's very intuitive to drive on controller, totally unlike the twitching mess of its predecessors. If you were unimpressed with the first game I can confirm PC2 will definitely make you swear on controller! (dont fall into the controller settings trap no amount of adjustments gets it truly sweet, literally wasted hours doing this). Ive put 172 hours on pc3 and its still keeping me engaged now, the game is convenient compared to GT. You can access all vehicles and tracks from the get go (hit square on car select in custom race), and the time in menu's is about 90% less compared to GT too.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the input. Sounds like PC3 is the one I should get for a racing fix.

I'm really just looking for a good single-player console-based racing game with some kind of career mode or progression similar to GT3 or GT4. I'd like it to be decently realistic within the bounds of console gaming.

Anything other than PC3 you folks would recommend? Thanks again.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the input. Sounds like PC3 is the one I should get for a racing fix.

I'm really just looking for a good single-player console-based racing game with career mode or progression similar to GT3 or GT4. I'd like it to be decently realistic within the bounds of console gaming.

Anything other than PC3 you folks would recommend? Thanks again.
Wreckfest is definitely worth a mooch such great handling, good career & variety of tracks / vehicles, F1 & Grid legends are okay but get old quite quickly. My guilty pleasure is crew motorfest its relaxing to drive (but requires minor controller adjustments to get it sweet & is firmly at the arcade end of the spectrum). WRC is sweet on controller and very realistic, but ive found it frustrating to play and rarely play it long before rage quitting.
 
Thanks for all the input. Sounds like PC3 is the one I should get for a racing fix.

I'm really just looking for a good single-player console-based racing game with some kind of career mode or progression similar to GT3 or GT4. I'd like it to be decently realistic within the bounds of console gaming.

Anything other than PC3 you folks would recommend? Thanks again.
I am not sure if this information is really helpful but I would not recommend the "Grid" game. There is a story mode some might like and a lot of different cars and races. But... I couldn't play it once I got to the real circuits that aren't displayed properly and felt simply wrong in comparison with PCars, ACC and even GT7. In my opinion the driving physics aren't as consistant as Pcars3.

Something completely different is "world of outlaws" and features dirt oval racing in the USA. As a european it is rather exotic but I had a lot of fun with it. There is a classic singleplayer career with a touch of Team management.

There are some Rally games in sale that deliver a classic career up the classes and are very well playable with a pad (wrc10 or ea WRC).
 
Thanks for all the input. Sounds like PC3 is the one I should get for a racing fix.

I'm really just looking for a good single-player console-based racing game with some kind of career mode or progression similar to GT3 or GT4. I'd like it to be decently realistic within the bounds of console gaming.

Anything other than PC3 you folks would recommend? Thanks again.
Grid Legends.
 
Thanks for info guys, and @IfAndOr for the link, i had checked that nice write up by gtplanet, yes , just hoped i had missed something, as I love the historic old tracks, would love more, historic nordschleiffe would been cool, i think it was in gp legends old game.

It seems pretty damn close in content otherwise, to pc2, which is good and bad i guess. Its missing the rallycross tracks too it seems.

But it has those trophy/baja style trucks i find cool hehe.
Sounds seem a little improved, and on replays too, depends on cars i guess.

Ill see i guess, i just re-installed gtsport and pretty amazed by it's qualities, gives me another choice from my usual.
 
But it has those trophy/baja style trucks i find cool
Plus there's a new stadium track to go with them. Or any other vehicle really.

The sounds aren't too bad. I'm not sure if they are an improvement over PC2 though, some cars are a bit muted, especially using interior views. I think they designed it with external views in mind since they have the better sound and graphics. The internal view graphics are a bit washed out in comparison, it's a bit like they need the windscreen cleaning.🙂
 
The internal view graphics are a bit washed out in comparison, it's a bit like they need the windscreen cleaning.🙂
Ruh roh, is that a real problem? I always drive from the interior view.
 
Ruh roh, is that a real problem? I always drive from the interior view.
No, it's not really a problem. I tend to use interior view as well*. There is definitely a difference, and I'm not sure why, but I've probably exaggerated it a little. 😉

*The helmet cam with it's movement - judders, leaning and looking to apex - is really well done in PC3. Certainly adds to the immersion.
 
No, it's not really a problem. I tend to use interior view as well*. There is definitely a difference, and I'm not sure why, but I've probably exaggerated it a little. 😉

*The helmet cam with it's movement - judders, leaning and looking to apex - is really well done in PC3. Certainly adds to the immersion.
That reminds me of the old shift game, it was immersive, and intense how the feel was conveyed in driver pov, especially crashes.😳

I think even in 3rd person it gave a camera movement to make you feel the crashes etc.

Even going over curbs was exaggerated but it made you feel it, i liked it, at least it was kind of challenging if i remember, and thrilling.
 
Last edited:
I can confirm PC2 will definitely make you swear on controller! (dont fall into the controller settings trap no amount of adjustments gets it truly sweet, literally wasted hours doing this).
Apart from some of the driving aids being more of a hindrance than helpful, the controller settings aren't the issue, it's the way some of the cars are set up. Tweak those settings instead and the game can actually play like a GT or Forza. However, if you want to use the chase cam, you really need a keyboard to pull the camera back and up to get the best experience.

So PC2 might not have the pick up and play appeal of PC3, but I think it's worth putting in the work as in the long run it's a better experience than PC3. The AI is horrible in PC3 and on the SX at least, it has some slow down which PC 2 doesn't.

I think it's a shame PC3 was such a short-sighted cash grab, because with all that content, it could have gone on to be a really special series.
 
I do agree it is easier to pick up and play PC3 but I do enjoy PC2 on the controller. The other I really like about PC3 is the livery editor is really good not GT7 good but just a notch below. That is the one thing I wish they had in PC2.
 
Apart from some of the driving aids being more of a hindrance than helpful, the controller settings aren't the issue, it's the way some of the cars are set up. Tweak those settings instead and the game can actually play like a GT or Forza.
We will agree to disagree on this lol... Ive spent a long time trying to fettle this game and it is simply not true what you assert. Thankfully PC3 addressed the painfully apparent controller issues. I still play PC3 most days, and really wish codies would bring this game out of retirement... it's so much better than it's own grid franchise.
 
We will agree to disagree on this lol... Ive spent a long time trying to fettle this game and it is simply not true what you assert. Thankfully PC3 addressed the painfully apparent controller issues. I still play PC3 most days, and really wish codies would bring this game out of retirement... it's so much better than it's own grid franchise.
I just wish the career wasn't over so quickly.

The soapie quotient of the GRiD career was much more entertaining though.
 
PC2 is maybe my favourite racing game ever, possibly behind TOCA2. And I’ve ALWAYS played on controller. I have a wheel now but barely use it, I always think the ‘PC2 is unplayable on a pad’ thing is overblown because I find it ok. It clearly takes a bit of getting used to, and there are certain cars that desperately need tuning because the default setups are undriveable (the GP3 car comes to mind) but most of the cars I want to drive have been perfectly raceable. And because you can set the AI levels etc, if you’re struggling you can just tweak things up and down. Personally, of the three Project CARS games I think 2 is head and shoulders the best of them, so I wouldn’t discount it completely.
 
We will agree to disagree on this lol... Ive spent a long time trying to fettle this game and it is simply not true what you assert. Thankfully PC3 addressed the painfully apparent controller issues. I still play PC3 most days, and really wish codies would bring this game out of retirement... it's so much better than it's own grid franchise.
Why would I lie? I own both games and have revisted them in the last week. And while I totally agree PC2 can be frustrating it's not impossible if you take the time to tune cars and I'm not even a car guy. Whether it's due to playing on the pad or just the cars being set up badly, a lot of cars oversteer through corners. (even when the tires are heated up) There's an Aston M GTE car, which is easy to fix via the engineer, and after that, I was throwing it around the Red Bull Ring in chase cam. In some cases the engineer has a limit, like with the Nissan GTR, I still had to go into the settings myself for that and found that bumping up the preload helped massively. (After learning what that was lol) The best advice I've come across was just a single comment that said simply turn down the TC or switch it off, because the curbs can make you spin out. I don't have XB gold or GP but I'll see if I can share a replay or something.
 
I wish the story in Grid lined up with what you do on the track. But other than that I enjoyed it. I do have a question about PC3 though. I have found for me manual trannies seem to be slower than auto. Do I need adjust my gears or maybe upgrade the gearbox?
 
We will agree to disagree on this lol...
Not amazing driving or anything, but just some quick clips to show that it is possible to play PC2 on a pad. I didn't tune the first 3 cars and TC and Stability is off for all:

Project CARS 2-2024_07_25-21-43-03.mp4

Project CARS 2-2024_07_25-21_31_07.mp4

Project CARS 2-2024_07_25-21_26_16.mp4

Project CARS 2-2024_07_25-20_53_52.mp4

Unknown-2024_07_25-21_12_06.mp4

Project CARS 2-2024_07_25-19_11_23.mp4


If you can't be bothered to watch them I understand, but I did say I would share some lol
 
Last edited:
On the topic of controller playing PC2, what system are you all using ? A friend of mine played the game on his PS4 and had no real issues whereas playing on my Xbox One was unbearable especially when full grid and tire degradation on. I felt like I was able to "tame" the controls only when tire degradation was off and half grid but maybe it was just in my head !
 
On the topic of controller playing PC2, what system are you all using ? A friend of mine played the game on his PS4 and had no real issues whereas playing on my Xbox One was unbearable especially when full grid and tire degradation on. I felt like I was able to "tame" the controls only when tire degradation was off and half grid but maybe it was just in my head !
Yeah, the original X1 just wasn't up to the task. The X1X was bearable but still had some occasional issues. When the Series X was released, we finally had enough horsepower to run the game properly.
 
PC2 easily runs best on current gen hardware but the PS5 version has weird shading/lighting glitches but probably the more suited controller, so you've kinda got to balance it up.
 
On the topic of controller playing PC2, what system are you all using ? A friend of mine played the game on his PS4 and had no real issues whereas playing on my Xbox One was unbearable especially when full grid and tire degradation on. I felt like I was able to "tame" the controls only when tire degradation was off and half grid but maybe it was just in my head !
I use a PS5
 
Forza's Dan Greenawalt once said in an Edge magazine interview that in his experience the thing which seems to have affected most players' reaction to racing games is the feeling you get when you turn the first corner.

In Project CARS 2 the first time I turned a corner I smacked into a wall head on. After a couple more tries I uninstalled the game and added it to the waste pile with Crew: Motorfest. Bye-bye.

I'm a Series X user.
 
Last edited:
😂
I still use PC2 to this day. Although a lot of the content is getting transferred over to AMS2 which is wonderful.
One thing that keeps PC2 alive on PC for me is the Custom FFB files though. That's transformed some of the minor issues and makes it still fun to this day. I've raced people on controllers bumper to bumper. I wouldn't say they have any disadvantage after some of those races. Quite capable.
 
Back