The latest entry by Slightly Mad Studios, Project CARS 2, in all of its glory, is a resplendent, glistening beast of a racing sim, so packed with variation and unpredictability that it has left me, a seasoned racer (If I may say so), a bit overwhelmed. Notwithstanding all of the obvious marketing points touted by the developer in the lead-up to launch, Slightly Mad Studios have produced a deep, heartful racer that, if unpacked, presents itself as one of the finest and most complex racing sims to date.



I tend to shy away from the truly accurate sims like Assetto Corsa, iRacing and RFactor, simply because my technical knowledge and lack of a racing wheel leave me stranded in the pits 9 times out of 10. Project CARS was the first of this blue-blood breed to welcome me with open arms in its approachability. Not being overly complicated, yet feeling technical enough to make me feel like a veritable grease monkey, it narrowed down certain aspects and made for some challenging and rewarding racing on console. The sequel to the sleeper hit of 2015 is no less welcoming, and an awareness of its own originality is immediately present.

The revisited controller setup is a welcome change to the original; even before you start tweaking, it feels far more stable and planted and can be tailored later to preference using one of the games thousands of sliders. It's nowhere near as perfect as something like Forza Motorsport, and I still felt slightly at odds in multiplayer lobbies especially, but the feedback on the grip is immense and I found myself eking out every inch of the track at times with the improved responsiveness.



The games sliders form a large part of the backbone of the experience; anything and everything in Project CARS 2 can be tweaked and tailored to your petrol heart's desire. Nowhere is this more present than in the game's dynamic weather system. The original game had a commendable time of day and weather effects but the second entry brings the heat... or the cold, or the snow, or whatever you want really. I cannot overstate just how much of a game changer these varying elements are, forcing you to adjust and tweak your setup on the fly as all manner of elements batter your chariots. A seasonal thunderstorm can force the grid to start under black clouds and heavy rain, populating the track with treacherous puddles and a lack of visibility. Minutes later the sun may crack through the clouds causing these puddles to slowly dissipate, completely changing the way you have been approaching that hairpin bend. These moments are thrilling and unforgettable and, in addition to their variability, are seasonal too. Each track has a full weather cycle across a simulated year and this doesn't just affect the grip and texture of tracks but also the overall appearance of the surrounding views. Donington Park, for example, turns from its usual lush green to a winter wonderland depending on the time of year.



This dynamic weather system complements the already healthy selection of tracks that, along with the new additions, sees all previous DLC tracks from the first game joining the roster making for a fresh racing experience each time you boot it up. The roster of cars is commendable too, with over 180 vehicles across nine motorsport disciplines ready to roll out of their boxes. The first game was absolutely lambasted for its lack of cars, but the sequel has seen fit to add Porsche, Ferrari and others to its impressive starting grid, which certainly adds to the variety and this shows in the more focused disciplines. No longer is it a case of varying liveries on the same car, now each class has a number of potential options to choose from.



You can experience each of these disciplines in the updated career mode that streamlines the progression system and adds flair to the stock standard ladder climb with new invitational events. Once again you might choose to start where most real drivers first find their feet, in karting, or you could jump straight into GT5 racing and begin your journey. Each leg now has the option to be played in 'short' or 'full' seasons and the former is quite handy when you consider the game expects you to take part in a standard full race weekend. These consist of at least one practice session, qualifying, and of course the race, all of which can take over an hour depending on the scenario. These first two options aren't compulsory by any means but skipping them will put you at a huge technical deficit as well as placing you at the back of the grid. Fortunately, you can get the most of your car during these sessions with the help of the game's off-track Race Engineer who will help you solve any issues you're having with a simple text-based Q&A. A steep learning curve is certainly present so this may not be everyone's cup of tea. That being said, Slightly Mad Studios have made a considered effort to introduce you to all of its technicalities in a much more welcoming manner than its predecessor.



There are unfortunately a few issues that need to be addressed in Project CARS 2 and most of them raise their ugly heads in the very same career mode I have just praised. Despite its open approach to career choices and paths, the game often feels like it limits itself and the player by being a bit too harsh. Finishing anywhere outside of the top three at the end of a championship will be ruled a failure and you will be forced to restart the whole season again. This is made even worse by the often unruly AI, which despite an improvement in wheel-to-wheel battles, will often shunt or nudge you off the track adding to the frustration of finishing shy of the podium. Races can be won or lost in the first corner and, more often than not, these losses are a result of inconsistent AI drivers. The race director can compound this frustration with equally inconsistent rulings, especially when you see a prime gap during one of these major bunch ups and dive down the inside only to find yourself slapped with a nasty penalty.

Multiplayer negates most of the issues faced in the game's career but the inconsistent rulings on the on-track action tend to filter through as well. I quite enjoy the serious sim communities stance on sportsmanship and this shines through as careful and considerate online opponents tend to breath some life into the otherwise aggressive and sluggish AI.



It's not all bad news though, I still find the career a glorious romp through some of motorsports finest thoroughbreds, which are made even more real with the unmatched audio Project CARS 2 brings to the table. Many games get close to accurately replicating the deep growl of an Aston Martin DB11 but fall just shy. Project CARS 2 nails audio like no other, between the hissing swoosh of an open wastegate between shifts or the tinkle of loose gravel slapping against the underbelly there is simply no competition. Every car looks, feels and most importantly, in this case, sounds alive and unique.

Visually, the game is a bit of a mixed bag. While the car models themselves are drop-dead gorgeous, the surrounding environments are often a little less polished. Some tracks look stunning, and the muted color palette definitely adds to the realism of the experience, but blocky shadows and stiff looking foliage definitely hinder the overall immersion. As with any racing game, these nitpicks are not very important because one should really be focused on the track more than anything else. Given the realism of the dynamic weather, it does feel though, that the surrounding environments were more of an afterthought than anything else. I also noticed a considerable amount of screen tearing on the Xbox One console I reviewed the game on but framerate remained solid.



Project CARS 2 is a worthy successor and equally impressive contender for the 2017 racing title, given its stiff competition, Slightly Mad Studios can raise a glass and give themselves a pat on the back for a job, mostly, well done. The few niggling issues aren't easy to overlook, especially if you plan on spending your time playing through the career, but the exhilaration of racing some of the finest tar creepers in the world is second to none. Responsive and expansive, Project CARS 2 is a fine step up for the fledgling series and one that, if explored deep enough, will reward players with endless options for coming years.