Is Rally Cross a Good Racing Game Simulator?
Unlike mainstream racing games, simulators require a greater level of skill and focus. Many have extensive customization options including car setups, difficulty settings and even the gaming environment.
Sim racing also has a high transferability of skills to real world driving. It’s not uncommon for champion sim racers to reach the front of the grid in their new discipline.
rFactor 2
rFactor 2 has been held up as one of the premier sim racing experiences for nine years, with a huge fanbase and a deep physics engine with stellar force feedback. But is it a good game, or just a very good simulator? ChampionJoe finds out.
Developed by Image Space Incorporated (now Studio 397), rFactor 2 is a realistic, easily extendable racing simulation that features the latest in vehicle and race customization with great graphics, outstanding multiplayer and the height of racing realism. It supports multiple input devices including racing wheels and pedals, with an advanced driving physics engine that takes into account the tires, track surface, grip levels and weather to create a dynamic racing environment.
The rFactor 2 racing experience is further enhanced by a strong modding community that has filled the Steam workshop with a ton of tracks, cars and tournaments to get players started. It also benefits from regular updates to the game that expands the available content, improves the visuals and more.
rFactor 2 is an excellent choice for any sim racer with the desire for high-resolution, laser scanned tracks and the most authentic racing physics. The main drawback is the steep learning curve that can be intimidating to newcomers to the genre, but the rewards are worth it for fans of realism in a racing game.
Project Cars 2
Project Cars 2 is a serious contender for the best simulator on claw crane machine supplier consoles. It’s the most uncompromising racing game on offer, and if you’re willing to lean into it, go assist-free and use a wheel, it will challenge even the most hardened sim racer. At its best, it can hold its own with iRacing, rFactor 2, Automobilista and Assetto Corsa.
The biggest strength of the game is how realistic it feels. The whines and squeals of the cars are beautifully replicated, as is the way the sound changes when you enter and exit a tunnel. The clunks and hums of the track surface are also faithfully reproduced, and there are so many little details like the squeak of a wiper blade as it sweeps a dry windscreen and the crinkle of rain-soaked glass.
The only real weakness of the game is how demanding it can be, even if you’re playing with all assists off and using a wheel. It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to slam on the brakes at every turn, and it can expose poor driving habits that might not show up in more arcade-style games. It’s also a bit finicky in terms of positioning the car in a corner, with it requiring much more steering lock than you might expect to be comfortable with on controllers.
Gran Turismo 6
Once upon a time you could pop a Gran Turismo disc in your PS3 and enjoy a proper race. You’d start in a basic vehicle, Dance Game Machine work your way up the licensing qualifiers and eventually get to race against cars with pace. You’d also be able to experience credible driving challenges, albeit often with some slack in the AI. Then came GT6, a game that’s all about the car, but not in the way you might expect.
The new GT6 boasts a massive range of vehicles – more than 1200 cars before downloadable content is factored in. It’s the biggest collection in the series to date, and it’s full of some of the sexiest cars around, including the DeltaWing, C7 Corvette Stingray and Pagani Huayra.
It has a lot of other things going for it too, such as a retooled physics engine that pushes the PlayStation 3 to its limit. That brings with it impressive car damage models (albeit not to the level of Forza Motorsport 5) and a better sense of what it’s actually like to drive each vehicle.
But a big part of the game is still frustratingly railroading – the game chooses your first car for you, there’s no real progression through career mode and multiplayer is locked until you’ve qualified at least to the third tier of races. Unless you’re a huge fan of the series and can see past these issues, GT6 is not for you.
Rally Cross
Rally Cross is one of the most unique racing games to hit consoles in some time. While it is not without its flaws, the game adds a lot of fun and excitement to an already great genre.
Rallycross is a high-speed, high-contact form of motor racing that has become popular around the world since the formation of the FIA world championship in 2014. The sport features modified 600 horsepower cars that battle it out on a tight course of dirt and pavement. It is a pure concentrate of adrenalin, offering thrill-seeking spectators a breathtaking spectacle.
The game’s physics and handling model are superb. The car models are incredibly detailed, and the damage modeling is among the best in a racing game. The game also runs at a smooth frame rate on both PS4 and Xbox One, and the environments are beautifully rendered.
Unlike the more traditional rally games that straddle a more arcade line with racing, this game is all about realism and simulation. Those expecting to powerlide around every turn will be in for a rude awakening, as the game punishes mistakes with penalties that are added to your final score.
The game has a number of modes, including career, championship, and custom races. There is a good amount of variety in the tracks, with courses featuring snow, sand, streams, and mud testing drivers’ driving skills. The game also offers a decent selection of cars and trucks, with each class of vehicle having its own characteristics.