For the most fans of racing games, Assetto Corsa has been in the family for a long time since the game has been available in Early Access on Steam for a little over a year, and version 1.0 was released in December 2014. Assetto Corsa is therefore presents as a pilot simulator intended for real pilots, purists of the genre, those who swear by simulation and nothing else. And we are not going to maintain a false suspense any longer, because the title of Kunos SImulazioni is certainly the most realistic game we have ever played. The physics of the vehicles is simply perfect, identical to reality, whether it's mass transfers or tire grip management which is mind-blowing. You immediately feel your car, whether the tires are hot or worn, thanks to the unequaled behavior of the chassis and suspensions. Similarly, the aerodynamic load and the ballast represented by the fuel are also hyper faithfully transcribed. Thus, to do the best lap, you will have to think about combining all the mechanical factors, but also the weather to go faster. Tested with the T300RS steering wheel and the shifter from Trustmasters, Assetto Corsa reveals all its quintessence and allows us to feel all the reactions of the car. We manage to feel the vehicle fully, which allows us to exploit it to the maximum, giving beastly laps where we are at the limit on every centimeter of the route.
THE NEW GRAPHIC REFERENCE TOO!
Moreover, this driving physics is admirably supported by an impeccable technique, since Assetto Corsa is simply the most beautiful car game we have been able to play to date. The game takes advantage of the large graphics cards available on PC in order to display 1080p in 80fps without worry, or even more if your hardware allows it, up to the famous 120fps required for virtual reality headsets. Moreover, speaking of VR, note in passing that Assetto Corsa is fully compatible with devices of this type such as the Oculus Rift. This religious respect for technique can also be found in the modeling of the cars, impeccable down to the smallest textures, interior and exterior, soundtrack included. Here, we are not at Polyphony Digital, there is no question of sticking the same lawn mower noise to all vehicles. Each body has its own sounds, meticulously recorded by the studio, which dyno-tested the modeled vehicles. And this sound/physics couple is quite simply incredibly effective in immersing you in the particular atmosphere of each racing car. Moreover, to take advantage of these models, the game offers several views: from the traditional cockpit view to the exterior view via the bonnet or the front bumper; all players should find their way there even if we imagine that it is the cockpit view that should win all the votes.
Moreover, this driving physics is admirably supported by an impeccable technique, since Assetto Corsa is simply the most beautiful car game we have been able to play to date.
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In terms of gameplay, we're not going to lie to each other, Assetto Corsa is demanding, but not that much. Indeed, you can very easily adjust dozens of parameters that will make your life easier, or immerse yourself in the most advanced simulation. Basically, if you have to play your little brother, no problem, he will have fun. Activate traction control, ABS, stability control, put the box in automatic and Need For Speed will have better watch out. Conversely, by disconnecting everything, you will be able to see if you have the makings of an Ayrton Senna since only your tires and your talent will be able to keep you on track. Moreover, just to optimize your chances, Assetto Corsa also offers a very impressive section of mechanical settings, where absolutely everything can be modified. Caster, camber, tire pressure, shock rebound/compression, gear ratios, etc. Nothing is missing, even to the point that fans are already sharing their best settings on the game's Steam community hub. an Xbox 360 type controller. For keyboard control, things really go wrong, since it becomes impossible to really feel the car via the keys. At the HUD level, the game also offers a varied offer since you can deactivate everything and use the dashboard, or activate apps that will show you lap times, circuit layout, telemetry, car info, I pass and of the best. Very practical especially since you can position these apps where you want on the screen.
CONTENT AND COMMUNITY AT THE RENDEZVOUS
In terms of content, Assetto Corsa currently offers 43 cars (10 more with the first DLC) which are chosen from among the most legendary vehicles. We thus find the Ferrari 312T of Niki Lauda or the Lotus 98T of Ayrton Senna. At the circuit level, 16 tracks are available (three more with the DLC) knowing that all the tracks are laser-scans of the most famous tracks. We thus find SPA, the Nurburgring GP, Imola, Vallelunga, Monza, Mugello or Silverstone. The DLC has added the Nürburgring Nordschleife in its three versions (Track Day, Nordschleife and Gesamstrecke) and in a quality rarely achieved. Every roughness is transcribed and all the tags present on the track have even been updated! In terms of game modes, Assetto offers 9 different ones: "Free practice", "Races against the AI", "Career", Online multiplayer", "Hotlap", "Time attack", "Special Events", " Drift" and "Drag". Basically, you'll spend your time between testing and racing online mainly, since as often the game's AI is not great. Although improved with version 1.1 of the game , the bots continue to follow each other in single file without really being aggressive. A problem that makes the campaign rather uninteresting. The latter actually offers you to review the different cars, to the least powerful to the biggest monster, all via tests to pass. No interest, mainly because of the absence of total immersion which prevails on this career. The cars being all available from entry, there is no therefore no motivation to go face the bots, if not to get used to racing in a peloton. Assetto Corsa's csr lies in the multiplayer which takes the form of race weekends, with its tests, its qualifying and its race, knowing that it is necessary to manage the quantities of fuel, but also its sets of tyres. In short, just like in real life.
In terms of gameplay, we're not going to lie to each other, Assetto Corsa is demanding, but not that much. Indeed, you can very easily adjust dozens of parameters that will make your life easier, or immerse yourself in the most advanced simulation.
A penalty system is there to calm the ardor of those who want to cut the track, but the community is exemplary, and the races never turn into a Demolition Derby as often happens with other titles. Moreover, the community also makes it possible to compensate for the relative lack of content in the game since Kunos Simulazioni having provided the modding tools in the game, there are hundreds of circuits, cars, noises that can be found on the Steam Workshop. The quality of the mods is also very good since some, like the Shelby Cobra 42,7, have even been integrated into the base game. No, finally, the only complaint concerns the weather and the night, which are totally absent from the game. Impossible to run under the natural light of the full moon or in pouring rain. At least for now, since the developers have already announced that the teams are already working on it. The game is therefore supported by its developers who continue to improve it, and has a huge and very creative community, made up of crazy mechanics, which guarantees content for a long time to come. With in addition a very reasonable entry price (50€ for the game + the DLC) knowing that many promotions affect it (20€ during the last Winter Sales), there is really no reason to deprive yourself of the new benchmark in automotive simulation.
