Project Motor Racing: The Review Hits the Track!

Project Motor Racing, the driving simulator aiming for excellence

In the ever-growing landscape of driving simulators comes Project Motor Racing, a title developed by the Straight4 Studios team and just released on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 5. It was on the latter platform that I had the opportunity to spend many hours with PMR, which is why I invite you to sit next to me, buckle up, and enjoy the Project Motor Racing review! We are talking about a title that aims directly at the hardcore user, where the mission (as it's cool to say nowadays) is to create the most simulative experience possible, leaving very few openings for those looking for accessibility and, perhaps, to play a game every now and then. PMR is a pure and raw simulator, but that doesn't mean it has forgotten to think about a gaming experience capable of offering 360-degree insights. The offering is based on closed-wheel cars, and the available categories delight all genre lovers: GT3, GT4, Hypercar, GTO (hooray, hooray!) and more, ranging from modern cars to others that have made racing history. 

The game offers both single-player and multiplayer options, but first, I recommend immediately trying the competitive multiplayer because before you can access races against other gamers, you are automatically put through a driving test to see if your preparation is adequate for official races or if you need more experience before hitting the track with other gamers, perhaps risking causing trouble and ruining the experience not only for yourself but also for other players. The choice is understandable, because not only will we get the OK to enter various ranked matches if we manage to complete 8 laps on a specific circuit within a set time, but based on our behavior, we will receive a rating that will allow us to race against other users at our level, it being understood that we can always repeat the “license” to improve our status in ranked multiplayer, while if you want to create a lobby or participate in competitive but private matches, you can play without any problem, even if you haven't earned the license. 

Project Motor Racing, between solo challenges and multiplayer

If in other titles the multiplayer experience represents the core of the game, in Project Motor Racing the development team has committed to not neglecting the single-player component, which is certainly preparatory to challenging the rest of the world, but also offers situations that allow the player to test themselves against themselves and artificial intelligence in what are not simple time trials or aseptic championships. Of course, there are time attacks with online leaderboards, but we can also launch into single races where endurance trials stand out, perfect for teaching us to get to know every single car and its behavior in relation to tires, track, and weather conditions.

We can also dedicate ourselves to the career, where we will have to undertake an entrepreneurial adventure where we will not only drive but also manage expenses and sponsors. We start by creating a profile and deciding whether we will be a top-tier team (with a lot of money available) or an emerging team (with very few funds) and from there, buy cars, enter championships, and try to bring in revenue to be able to afford to race in other competitions without going bankrupt. Let's say that compared to the average careers present in today's racing games, Project Motor Racing's shows an attempt to give the player a few more insights, although we are not talking about anything revolutionary. It should be noted that we can choose whether to play in a more or less hardcore way, giving up the possibility of restarting races and with the opposing artificial intelligence locked.

Naturally, however, whether we are discussing single-player or multiplayer (which, by the way, has well-functioning cross-platform), the real protagonist is the driving model, but the guys at Straight4 have not skimped on content, with 70 cars available and about ten circuits to race on, although the legendary Nurburgring is present in several variants. The drivable cars are all very different from each other, and before we can dominate one of these beasts, we will have to learn to get a feel for them. Initially, we will have a decidedly complicated impact with the driving model, and even wanting to activate all available aids, we will find ourselves in a situation that requires commitment, attention, and enormous respect for the car we will be sitting in.

Put aside any casual ambitions: in Project Motor Racing, there is no way to achieve not only results but even a single lap if you don't get into the mindset that driving must be measured in every aspect. Naturally, if we disable traction control and ABS, the task will be arduous at every corner, but by observing more closely, we will have a myriad of data and settings to choose from that will vary the behavior of the car we are driving: a true paradise for those who love complete simulations and a true hell for those looking for a casual experience, but let's be clear: Project Motor Racing is made for those who want realistic racing. Also noteworthy is the presence of dynamic weather and the possibility of choosing many options in this regard, with rain that could cause havoc on the track, not to mention that temperature and asphalt conditions also have great importance on tire performance.

Project Motor Racing: a convincing driving model!

All of this is felt on the track, and generally, the car behaviors are plausible, although in my life I haven't had the fortune to drive that many racing cars (actually only a couple, but never mind...), the rendition is more than satisfactory, except for a few situations where, even investing a lot of time in the pits, I couldn't get rid of the oversteer that afflicted some of the vehicles in my garage. A lot of sensitivity is really needed both in steering management and in throttle and brakes, but managing to complete a good lap is a satisfaction that repays all the effort made, and although Project Motor Racing is undoubtedly aimed at users with a driving rig with a steering wheel and pedals, it is also enjoyable with the PlayStation 5's DualSense, although, compared to other driving titles, the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback are less utilized.

What perhaps spoils everything a bit is the artificial intelligence of the opponents, which we can manage to make our life more or less complicated in the race, but which presents some problems. Both during practice sessions and in the race, I was hit several times by those coming from behind, perhaps for having slowed down more than necessary at a corner entry, but not for that reason. Added to this is the damage system, both visual and mechanical, which did not fully satisfy me, as in some situations, the car problems seemed greater than they should have been, like a low-speed bump against a wall that turned into my car starting to “pull” to the left, forcing me into a sudden pit stop.

Although there are some factors to review, Project Motor Racing's driving model is satisfying, but the technical department is not, where the graphics would need some substantial corrective patches. Already the visual impact shows several problems, not so much in the realization of the circuits, as in that of the cars. The cockpit view is decent, although a bit lacking in detail, but if you drive looking at the car from the outside, you notice somewhat plastic-like models, especially due to generally poorly done reflections on the bodywork, which on some cars and liveries are truly unsightly. The aforementioned damages, as far as aesthetics are concerned, also leave something to be desired, and some bodywork dents seem to repeat themselves even in different types of accidents (see bumper deformations and damages).

Then there's the frame rate problem: Project Motor Racing aims for the fabled 60 FPS, but the reality is that it sometimes struggles to maintain them, and you'll notice it especially in some corners, where you'll see clear “stutters.” Nothing terrible, but the sense of speed gets a bit lost. The situation worsens when racing in the rain, where the FPS drop further, which is a real shame. As for the sound, everything is in its place, and the roar of the engines is rendered appropriately. 

Project Motor Racing is a very interesting driving simulator that certainly didn't have a huge budget, but it shows enormous attention to offering players deep gameplay that makes no particular concessions to those who don't want to get behind the wheel with the desire and patience to learn, corner after corner, to tame dream cars. Of course, from a technical point of view, there is certainly something to review, and overall, perfection is far off, but the guys at Straight4 team have created a title that, if perfected, could make its mark in the field of competitive driving games, as well as provide satisfaction to those who love to dominate the asphalt from their home sofa.