Driveclub is a Playstation 4 exclusive racing game developed by Evolution Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. This is a title that focuses primarily on arcade-style racing and accommodates both beginners and experienced players alike. With this being said, there are sacrifices such as overly simplistic gameplay and menus and lack of customization. Is this racer worth your time and dime?
Driveclub is simple and to the point. It tries to hone in on strictly the racing experience. The gameplay itself is solid. The controls are tight and responsive and the car handling is respectable. I will say the racing is quite fun, but there are several issues that hamper it. As far as gameplay, sometimes the cars grip TOO well. Often times you won’t be able to drift correctly and it’s easy to misjudge braking in some corners. Keep in mind, Driveclub is not trying to be like Gran Turismo or Forza. It kind of reminded me of Burnout (Gamecube, PS2, Xbox) in the way that it’s simplistic and fun. Albeit, I think Burnout was a better game. Aside from the hit or miss gameplay quirks, the A.I. can be a major issue. Unfortunately, most of the time it feels as if they are on a ‘rail’, meaning they dedicate themselves to the racing line, which often puts a damper on the experience. Another flaw is that the other drivers will run you off the road, acting as if you aren’t even there! Worse yet, you’ll lose ‘points’, which is a big deal, but we’ll get to that in a minute. Other times however, they get competitive and act like genuine racers, mildly enhancing the excitement. Of course, if you’re racing online these A.I. issues go away. One thing Driveclub gets right though, is sense of speed. It always feels like you’re going fast. In a racing game, that’s kind of important.
The points system in Drive Club is a neat idea. It rewards you during the race as you make passes, draft behind another car, take corners perfectly, or win an ‘average speed’ battle with a foe. It does a good job at recognizing what you do in each race and rewarding you accordingly. I really think this is a big plus for Driveclub and I commend them for the system. As far as game modes, it’s pretty barebones and basic. You can play through a career, which is basically an offering of several single-player races, tournaments and time trials. It’s generally fun and rewards you with lots of cars along the way. Of course, the things you do in career mode can be done outside of it as well. So, as a whole, the game offers single-player races, 2 and 3-race series, time trials, a few challenges and an online component. There just aren’t many game modes here.
There are a total of about 50 cars in the game, which isn’t much compared to other modern racing games. A huge downfall of the game is that it only features one American car. Yes, I said ONE. Oh, and zero Japanese cars. So, the selection could be better. As far as tracks go, there is a small selection of countries and cities that are then broken down into a larger amount of tracks. This is a great design choice as it lets players clearly choose where they want to race. The selection is wonderful and diverse. You can race in the snowy mountains, in the sunny countryside or the stormy city. You choose the location, weather conditions and even ‘crowd size’ which is a weird, but welcome option.
The sound effects in Driveclub are solid, with throaty exhaust notes, burning rubber and big crashes. Each car sounds distinctive (enough) and accelerating and the rubber on the pavement are satisfying. What isn’t satisfying however, is the bland and forgettable music. Apparently, it was done by a legitimate group named Hybrid, but I’m telling you right now, it shouldn’t be in this game. The menu music will either put you to sleep or annoy you. I noticed while I was racing there was no music playing whatsoever, which made the racing less intriguing. It’s a known fact that the developers actually did this on purpose because they want players to focus on the sound design, which is understandable, but will surely turn off some.
Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about the graphics. Yes, they are beautiful. VERY beautiful. The car models are breathtaking and true to their real-life counterparts. Shiny paint jobs, dirt and grime on the car, dents and smashes after collisions and pretty roadways all encompass a gorgeous visual presentation. Of course, the cars are the stars, with great attention to detail, whether inside the cabin our the exterior. The weather effects are just as pretty. The environments are lacking, however. Sure, there are sweeping countrysides with barns, gigantic mountains with snowy tops and lush forests, but up close, the textures are lacking. Luckily, you’ll probably only notice before the race starts when the screen focuses on the environment. The locales also seem empty and barren, which is big con.
Overall, Driveclub is a generally fun, above average racing game. There’s nothing groundbreaking or fresh, but it sticks to its guns and the classic racing formula. But, may flaws take away from the experience, such as shoddy A.I., lifeless locations, lack of game modes and bland music. However, I think this is a good start for what could eventually be a great racing franchise. Give it a rent before buying.