Project Cars 2 Vs Forza Motorsport 7: First Impressions

Having now put in some time on both Project Cars 2 and Forza 7, we're seeing how the two titles compare
Project Cars 2 Vs Forza Motorsport 7: First Impressions

If you want to buy a racing game right now, you have two major, very new titles to choose from: Project Cars 2, and Forza Motorsport 7. Both let you get behind the virtual wheel of a vast array of road and race cars, compete in diverse racing disciplines, and drive on tracks around the world in different conditions.

But, they go about all that in slightly different ways, and with very different outcomes. Here’s how they compare after the first few hours of gameplay on the Xbox One.

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I was expecting to be impressed by Project Cars 2’s graphics, but came away a little disappointed. In certain light and weather conditions it can be very pretty, but on a dry, bright track everything looks a little washed out, and a little low rent.

Forza 7 verges on hyper-realism with its vibrant, contrast-heavy visuals, but overall it’s stunning, even away from the 4K resolution it’s capable of on the Xbox One X. The impression of speed is also much more successfully related than on Project Cars 2.

Winner: Forza Motorsport 7

Customisation

Project Cars 2 Vs Forza Motorsport 7: First Impressions

Forza Motorsport games have always been good at giving you some control over your car’s setup, and 7 is no different. You can adjust things like ride height, damping stiffness, and even how your upgraded differential operates.

But compared to Project Cars 2, FM7 barely scratches the surface. In fact there are probably more options available for adjusting the dampers alone than Forza has for the entire car. The detail here is mind blowing, and if you don’t have a clue what toe-in angle is and how it will effect your car, it’s explained in detail.

You can also pick from a variety of questions to ask like “I keep sliding when I am braking,” with answers given by your ‘race engineer’ to help you set the car up.

Winner: Project Cars 2

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Having grown up with the disappointing, hoover-like engine noises found in Gran Turismo titles, this is a big deal for me now. If a game can’t nail the mechanical melodies correctly, I get irked. Unfortunately, both of these games are hit and miss - it depends entirely upon the car.

The McLaren 720S in PC2 sounds weak, but then the BMW M1 Procar belts out an incredible noise, while the Audi R8 is there or thereabouts, even though each gear change sounds like a moody teenager slamming a heavy door.

Over on Forza, a lot of the Porsches are disappointingly ‘meh’, and the GT3-spec Nissan GT-R you try in the game’s prelude doesn’t sound quite right. All of which I forgot when stepping into an Aston Martin Vantage GT12 - the virtual V12 in that thing stirred my soul almost as much as the real-life N/A 5.9-litre legend.

Winner: Shall we call this one a draw?

Handling

The Mercedes-AMG GT R is a tough beast to tame in Project Cars 2
The Mercedes-AMG GT R is a tough beast to tame in Project Cars 2

This is going to be the most contentious point here. With the assists turned off, cars in PC2 are considerably harder to control than they are in Forza. I’m not at all ashamed to say it took me almost an hour of trying to get a completely clean lap in when first loading up the game.

“But it’s a sim!!” is the usual shouty counter argument, but here’s the thing: I’m not sure I’d call the way the cars handle in the game realistic. Cars simply aren’t as lethal as the game suggests - I’ve certainly never had snap oversteer from a Mercedes-AMG A45, on track or off IRL, for example. Then there are the few front-wheel drive cars in the game (so far I’ve only found two - the Renault Clio Cup and Megane Trophy R), which still seem weirdly determined to spin out.

Project Cars 2 Vs Forza Motorsport 7: First Impressions

What it seems like the game’s developers have done is exaggerate elements of car handling like weight transfer, making PC2 incredibly challenging, but not always faithful to the real deal. What probably doesn’t help is the steering is very tricky to get right on a controller - I’ve fiddled with the settings endlessly and it’s still not quite right. This makes the kind of gentle inputs that are necessary to avoid upsetting the sensitive balance of the cars rather difficult. Not to mention making catching a slide almost impossible.

Having said all that, there’s a perverse joy to be had in striving to get in a clean lap, given how demanding it is to do so on PC2. But make no mistake: ultra difficult is not necessarily ultra realistic.

Handling on Forza 7 on the other hand makes a lot more sense. Yes, the cars are more forgiving than they probably should be, but they operate in a way that actually makes sense when you push to the limits of grip and beyond. What’s more, FM7 works perfectly with a controller straight out of the box - no boring fiddling required.

Winner: Sim racing aficionados will be furious at me for this, but we’re calling Forza 7 the victor here

Career mode

An Audi R18 sitting pretty in PC2
An Audi R18 sitting pretty in PC2

While there are a few different disciplines and career paths to choose from, Forza’s career mode still looks to be built around the tried and tested formula of winning races to earn money, and spending that money on upgrades and new cars.

What Project Cars 2 has in store is much more immersive, intending to replicate a real-life racing career - contracts, qualifying sessions and all. I’ve only just dipped my toe into the water with the career mode, but from what I’ve seen so far, it does all this very well. You can even start right at the beginning in karts, if you want.

Winner: Project Cars 2

Conclusion

Project Cars 2 Vs Forza Motorsport 7: First Impressions

So far it’s two ‘wins’ each for Forza Motorsport 7 and Project Cars 2, plus a draw. Equal pegging, but in the championship decider, PC2 comes apart.

With fewer than 200 cars, it has less than a third of the vehicles made available in FM7. That would be liveable, if it wasn’t for the fact the tricky, counter-intuitive handling is going to be a deal-breaker for a lot of people.

It’s also nowhere near as polished - compared to Forza with its slick menus, cinematic interstitial videos and (admittedly slightly annoying) prancing racing driver avatar thing - the budget difference is clear to see. PC2 in comparison just feels a bit cheap and in places not quite finished - for instance the third-person view seems to be jerky with certain cars on certain tracks. Oh, and that thumbnail image you might have seen for this article with the two Astons - the Project Cars half needed some hardcore Photoshop content aware editing to remove some glitchy white spots from the grille.

Project Cars 2 Vs Forza Motorsport 7: First Impressions

If you want a challenge, and if you’re going to do it properly with a decent wheel, then by all means give Project Cars 2 a try, albeit not before sampling Assetto Corsa. But if you’re not an ultra-hardcore gamer with the right equipment and the willingness to sink a good chunk of your life into a game, Forza is the one for you.

It’s hugely enjoyable from the off, looks fantastic and is more than realistic enough for most. Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s a virtual Aston Martin I need to go and thrash…

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Comments

Anonymous

How can forza possibly win in physics?? It’s an arcade game! Project car’s physics are way more realistic

09/30/2017 - 20:18 |
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Dave 12

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I think the author conveyed the point quite well. If we avoid hard and fast labels like arcade and sim for a second then forza has a slightly less realistic handling model but it conveys the feeling of driving pretty decently through a controller. PC2 has attempt a realistic model but people who actually drive on track in real life find it has flaws which prevent it from really conveying the feeling of driving a car in real life.

10/01/2017 - 08:37 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

Forzas handling model is absolutely terrible, at least pcars is semi realistic

09/30/2017 - 20:35 |
0 | 0
Dave 12

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Not exactly the height of realism but terrible? I really don’t think so.

10/01/2017 - 08:39 |
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Drift Buddy

I finally downloaded Forza 7, put the settings to realistic and tweaked the Force Fees Back on the game for my Thrustmaster T500RS wheel. I can say that if you take a racing car like the GTR Nismo and push it you are going to have a workout. Assetto has set the standard on what realism is on Console/PC and I am on the PC, but Forza has the right car control. The race cars are twitchy and the muscle cars are soft and rolly polly easy catchable mashines and the hot hatches grip up to a point and than starts gradually going into understeer, but release the throttle midway through a corner or break halfway into the corner and suddenly you have to deal with lift of oversteer. I didn’t play PC2 yet but from Assetto’s point of view, Forza is not too shabby.

09/30/2017 - 23:40 |
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*force feed back

09/30/2017 - 23:40 |
0 | 0

I feel like they aren’t quite getting the systems in modern cars right though. Everything has that generic feel because it’s based on drive configuration, BHP, weight and little else. Seriously needs a more refined assist system as well e.g if I’m in a hypercar give me flappy paddles, traction and all the rest. If I’m in a clio give me a clutch.

10/01/2017 - 08:23 |
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Anonymous

Good to see someone else stating that the cars in Project cars don’t act how they do IRL.

10/01/2017 - 00:32 |
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Lucas Tekkan

Dat gtr wang tho

10/01/2017 - 01:19 |
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pez2k

The interesting thing about the physics point is that one of the main handling consultants / testers for pCARS 2 is a Clio Cup racer, it’s been set up from his experience.

The point about it being hard to steer with a controller is exactly right - without using any assists it will be harder than real life, as in real life you have a steering wheel, G-forces, and assists.

10/01/2017 - 05:06 |
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Dave 12

In reply to by pez2k

That’s why the clios feel good and everything else is sub par lol! Answers questions actually. I still think in comparison to my real life experience it’s hard (even with wheel) but I put it down to lack of physical feedback.

10/01/2017 - 08:17 |
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Dave 12

In reply to by pez2k

It’s a real pity they didn’t take that fwd expertise and roll it out more to, oh I don’t know, BTCC. Infuriating! Almost all the tracks and no cars to play with.

10/01/2017 - 08:20 |
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Alec Winkelmann

Project cars has a very realistic rally driving feel, ive played dirt 4 and dirt rally and PC2 feels the best out of all three. Also, project cars has some of the best engine/transmissions sounds with road noise ive ever heard. When i’m driving the Bently speed 8 it feels like and sounds like its the real thing.

10/01/2017 - 13:29 |
2 | 0

Haven’t played Project cars 2 but I can say that using dirt rally or dirt 4 for comparing how good a rally game is, isn’t a good strategy. They are terrible rally “simulators”.

10/02/2017 - 09:35 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Assetto Corsa Master Race!

10/02/2017 - 08:57 |
2 | 0
Martins Skulte

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

iRacing master race you peasant!

10/02/2017 - 17:16 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

None of those 2 are simulation, they still arcade.

10/03/2017 - 11:37 |
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Caro

tbh PCars2 doesn’t win on actual customisation, but tuning, which should be two separate categories

10/05/2017 - 01:43 |
0 | 0