DriveClub

Editor's Notes

Disc version reviewed.

Introduction

'Driveclub' is of course the PS4 game that Sony pitched as a hip (and faster to market than a 'Gran Turismo' installment) first-party racing game long before the PS4 launched. Back in September 2013, two months prior to the PlayStation 4's release, a small batch of Belgian journalists was cordially invited by Sony and its representatives to test the shiny new console in a fancy hotel in Brussels. That was the my first hands-on encounter with 'Driveclub,' when it was still set to be a launch title. With racing clubs being one of the game biggest features, it isn't an easy thing to demonstrate. Just a few weeks later, Sony formally delayed the game. Now, it's time to see if the extra year of development been kind to 'Driveclub.'

The Game Itself: Our Reviewer's Take

'Driveclub' Circa 2013

Playtesting the 2013 demo was a thoroughly unwelcome, even unpleasant experience. Handling the cars was horrendous. One slight tilt to the left or right on your analogue stick veered the car in the opposite direction, and sent it bouncing across the plains like a pinball in the hands of a true wizard not unlike Tommy. No matter how careful I handled the car, it wound up in the bushes time and time again.

Launch Era

With a distinct amount of pleasure and relief, I can confirm this massive, game-breaking flaw has been greatly improved in the eventual retail edition of 'Driveclub.' In fact, taking control of the car is now very intuitive and requires no more than a solid grasp of the controller. Taking too sharp a corner can be rectified by gently pushing the L2 button. Handling, driving, slipping and sliding all work quite lovely. What a difference a year of game development makes.

Speed

First impressions first: 'Driveclub' is fast. Very fast. The actual races will more than satisfy your need for speed, with an ever so slight force feedback sensation. But that's not all. Starting and restarting the race takes one second (even the countdown, a staple of racing games, is removed) and the level select passes without any loading worth mentioning. This is in stark contrast with the sloth-esque speeds of 'Gran Turismo 5.' Even 'Gran Turismo 6,' while a lot swifter, could tax your patience with 15+ seconds of loading screens. Another pro is the permanent damage dealt to the car that's still visible during the closing cut scenes of a race, and the stern aggression of the NPCs (non-playing cars).

Strict

Less interesting is the game's lack of proper understanding of what makes a gamer tick. We, gamers, love to cross virtual boundaries and go off-limits. Offering us a chance of doing what we can't do in real life is one of the defining selling points of the medium as a whole. In 'Driveclub,' going off road is allowed for a mere three seconds. Finding an alternative route towards your destination or even getting ahead of the competition by taking a shortcut is completely prohibited. That's just pitiful, Sony.

Even though the name of game in 'Driveclub' is to garner Fame for the club, there's something lacking. Unlike a 'Forza 5' or 'Gran Turismo 6,' there's no tuning, no picking which assists (aside from shifting) make the racing more challenging but mroe fun, and there's no adjusting the AI. That means that going online is straightforward, but could be considered shallow.

After playing through all levels and play modes, one 'but' remains - and it's a pretty big 'but'. 'Driveclub' is still just a flashy, good-looking racing game. It's never particularly exciting or engaging. The realistic racing genre has been stale ever since 'Gran Turismo 2' upped the ante and moved the goalposts. No matter how many times you take out the wax to lyrically fawn over the gorgeous graphics, gameplay-wise this game is no different from 'Sega GT' or 'Grid 2'. These titles each have their own individual strengths and merits for the dedicated follower of fashion racers, but at the end of the day, they bring next to nothing new to the table. It's still going from A to B, while ticking off checkpoints and achievements.

For as much as I admire the sheer amount of transpiration and man hours that went into the creation of a killer app like 'Driveclub,' I can't shake the feeling that the time spent racing could be filled with the much more satisfying 'Mario Kart 8'. A non-realistic, outrageous, over-the-top, even childish game. But also a fun one. Isn't that what all games should strive to be? 'Driveclub,' however, is never fun.