This generation of consoles is shaping up to be almost exactly like generations of consoles in the past - marred somewhat by game launch delays; exclusivity windows; online problems - the list goes on. Also like previous generations young, angst-filled fanboys have taken to their favorite online forum to talk trash and predict the imminent demise of one gaming company or another. Like anonymous, passive-aggressive, Charles Schwab wannabes the fanboy cannot rest until absolutely sure that their console of choice is the clear winner and bask in a brief moment of self-validation.
Enter DriveClub. From the beginning it was clear that a lot of folks were going to hate this game. It is after all a PlayStation exclusive (strike one); the game was originally supposed to be a PS4 launch title and was delayed (strike two); and Evolution Studios, the creators of DriveClub, had the audacity to promote their game (strike three). Lastly, a less than smooth launch of the game - the online portion of DriveClub is disabled temporarily and the free PS+ edition of DC has been delayed until the online issues are resolved - is the last bit of validation for the fanboys to jump up and down feeling smugly validated that DriveClub is a terrible game (and they knew it all along, of course).
One only needs to look at the many one-star reviews of the game (strangely the vast majority lack any type detail or the Amazon verified purchase logo) to see the hatred this game has generated. Or if you date wander into the Amazon Video Game Forum to witness the kind of online bed-wetting this game is generating.
So my review will attempt to balance things out - I'm a longtime gamer and multi-system owner going back to the SNES era. I actually own the game and have played it and I have more than a bit of experience with Evolution Studio's PS3 racing games - the MotorStorm series. I'm also disappointed that Evo wasn't more prepared for the launch of their game. So there's my attempt at fair and balanced. Here's my review.
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DESCRIPTION:
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DriveClub is best described as a hybrid-racing game taking cues from both sim and arcade style racing games. You're presented with a few options at the start of the game - beginning a world tour, joining a DriveClub (online racing), or just free racing. World Tour consists of events spread out over different parts of the world from sweltering India to glacial Norway. In all there are 55 tracks (some consisting of differing configurations) spread over 5 regions. At launch the game features approximately 50 cars. I say that because depending on where you ordered the game (or pre-ordered) you can unlock additional cars. More cars are planned as free and paid DLC.
At launch the game is missing some major elements that Evolution Studios has plans to release as free DLC. For example DC doesn't feature dynamic weather at the moment but will be implemented later as a download from the PSN Store. This has driven some fanboys to label the games as incomplete or a "beta". I take a more neutral stance in looking at the game as a complete racing game that's getting additional stuff over the course of its lifetime. Many games haven't featured dynamic weather or transforming Decepticons yet were still totally enjoyable. Go figure.
The meat of DriveClub is the ability to join other racers to form clubs. In a club you'll race against other racers and clubs. You can create a unique paint scheme to differentiate your club from others. Sadly, because of the server-side problems at launch this mode is (as of this review) disabled. I'll update it later when I'm able to dive deeper into the mode.
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CUSTOMIZATION:
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I'm going to give customization its own category and I have no problem in saying that DriveClub falls a bit short here. You're limited in DC to four preset customization slots and one additional slot for your Club. In each slot you'll choose form a list of available and unlockable (through racing) skins/vinyls that you can then customize by changing the color, finish, etc. Those slots apply to each car universally. Meaning that each car shares those five customizations and that you cannot have unique configurations for each car. Sorry race fans but no lewd phallic-shaped racing schemes are to be found in DriveClub.
The other disappointing limitation is that you cannot further change or modify your car. So if you're into tuning your ride, changing your gear ratios, modifying your camber, etc. you're totally out of luck. You cannot make those kinds of adjustments in DriveClub or even change your wheels/tires for a different look. Taken on its own this is a disappointment, however, remember this game isn't a sim-racer. I can swallow the fact that maybe changing every facet of my car is beyond what Evo wanted for DriveClub but not being able to change my wheels or add performance tires is particularly stinging.
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GRAPHICS:
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The graphics of DriveClub are in a word: beautiful. I'm dismayed to read some of the so-called professional reviewers pick out a jagged edge here or there and nitpick such trivial things as plant-life along the side of a track. The graphics are astounding. Are they the best ever? Who the hell cares? Enjoy the game, look at the pretty scenes in the pre-race fly-through and then play the game. If you're going into this game with the attitude of "this better be the best looking game ever" you're not playing for the right reasons.
Some of my favorite moments in DriveClub so far:
I was playing a Tour event and trying to beat one of the challenges - I should mention that challenges are "extra" things aside from simply winning the race that earn you stars (3 per race event), and contribute to your fame and other in-game items and unlockables. This particular challenge was in Scotland and I was using one of the hot-hatch cars, a Mini Cooper John Cooper Works edition, to try and beat the lap challenge. A thick layer of fog was on the horizon and the day was overcast. As I played the event over and over again trying to best the challenge time the sun suddenly broke out from behind the cloud-layer and shone brightly on the track. That was a "wow" moment.
Another was playing in India and racing against 11 other cars in a stage event (point A to B) down the side of a steep hill and through farmland at the bottom. Flowering trees lined sections of the track and petals were coming off the trees blowing across the track and disturbed by the passing race cars.
Those types of graphical moments are really cool and standout events in my eyes.
Each car features a totally rendered interior with working instruments. The interiors look fantastic and as you race shadows from the A-pillar will move across your dash or your instrument panel will light up as day transitions to dusk. Everything looks very nice and very polished.
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GAMEPLAY:
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My first attempt at getting a car to drift was a few races in. I was already frustrated that my car simply didn't enter a pristine power-drift when I released the gas and tapped the brake like the cars in Need for Speed. Then I remembered that I wasn't playing NFS. The best simple advice that I can give is this - get familiar with the game and particularly the parking brake. Each car has different stats including `drift' which affects how easy it is to enter and control a power-drift. Second, this is its own unique game; expecting DriveClub to be just like another racing game you played is idiotic.
DriveClub also features a penalty system. I haven't made up my mind about whether I like or hate it. In essence racing sloppily - crashing or bumping other cars, cutting corners, slamming into guard rails or going off track can cost you a penalty. Sometime the penalty is leveraged against your earned points (points unlock cars and other events) and sometimes the penalty comes as reduced engine power for a few seconds.
I'm particularly interested in seeing how this system will play out online. Like any racing game the online segment will feature the typical allotment of bumper car racers and a healthy smattering of trolls. If Evo's penalty system can systematically take these racers out of the race then I think it's a good thing.
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WHAT EVO STUDIOS GOT RIGHT:
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(+) Gameplay. The cars handle well and strike a nice balance between arcade and sim-style racing games. Take some time to get used to the controls and the game is rewarding.
(+) Graphics. The game is gorgeous and the track locations are incredibly varied. The addition of weather effects down the road will only add to the goodness.
(+) Cars. Yep, the car selection is limited and there's not much going for American manufacturers at. Shockingly the 1998 Dodge Stratus is missing, yet the selection of cars varies from hot-hatch Mini Coopers to extreme performance cars like the McLaren P1.
(+) Tracks. Such an incredible selection of tracks and locations. Racing on a hilltop next to an observatory as dusk turns to night and lights along the track light up (think like airport guide lights) has to be seen.
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WHAT COULD BE BETTER:
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(-) Online. Evolution really should have been better prepared for the launch of DriveClub. Particularly since this isn't something new; the launch of MotorStorm Pacific Rift was also marred by online problems though those were eventually fixed.
(-) Sounds. The music selection is really poor - this coming from the same studio who put together an incredible playlist in the original MotorStorm. Engine sounds are similarly disappointing especially if you're using the in-cabin view.
(-) Customization. The lack of customization isn't such a huge deal to me but I understand that there are creative folks out there who want to make incredibly detailed phallic vinyls for their cars. Give them the ability Evo!
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CONCLUSION:
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Haters gonna hate. Stop being a fanboy and enjoy the game on its own merits. This is a very solid title that can only improve as the developer lands new DLC and features. Recommended!
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