Recent reviews by James Bondage

There is no security benefit to needing a PSN account on top of Steam, history has shown PSN is not secure, there should be no reason to link a PSN account unless you want access to crossplay.

-UPDATE 6/5/24-

In light of Sony reversing their course of action, I am changing my review to positive. MY LIFE FOR SUPER EARTH

https://x.com/PlayStation/status/1787331667616829929

One word. Bad.

I don't have the performance issues some have been having, that said on two GTX980's I expected more than 80fps (I am trying to play at 144, excuse my first world problem) for a game engine that looks exactly the same as each previous installment (with a layer of vaseline over the top). I also challenge the claim they've overhauled the physics engine, it doesn't feel any different than even F1 2012. I had high hopes for the handling model given how well they're doing with Dirt Rally. Boy was my hope misplaced.

However there are a couple of glaring issues besides the general "meh" ness of the above. The quality of the tracks has decreased dramatically. They just feel subpar, like they spent all their budget on marketing and FOM licenses instead of getting a team out to the tracks to actually make them accurate. As an example the first bend at Suzuka is flat. FLAT. I'm all for non-laser scanned tracks, but only as long as they actually put in some effort.

The other is the utter madness that is controller support. The wheel works fine, at least as far as it recognises basic inputs, but the game will not under any circumstance recognise my Fanatec Clubsport pedals connected to my GT2 wheel or to the PC via usb. Absolute garbage. I mean this is real basic race sim stuff right here, and they got it right for ALL their games in the last 3-4 years, and now somehow they stuff it up? I mean really?

Refund and avoid.

Ever wondered what a game would look like if Matthew Reilly wrote it? This is the game. Massively silly and over the top but so incredibly exciting at the same time.

Best CoD since CoD4.

I award this game the "Worse than CoD" award for recycling not only 2013 in general, but for uses the exact same steering wheel on ALL cars except the RB10 and STR9, along with using LAST YEARS STEERING WHEEL on the Williams.

This game is a pathetic cash grab and I feel stupid for trusting that it wouldn't be terrible.

Wait for 2015, then wait a week to put down your money on the game.

edit: In response to comments.

Cars handle practically the same as 2013, not a huge night and day difference like it was between '12 and '13. Not enough there to make it a standout point.

No the steering wheels are NOT exactly the same in real life. The electronics behind the systems ARE (provided by Mclaren) but the actual physical designs are NOT.

Yes i WILL knock Codemasters for not doing their ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ job properly. Yes i WILL knock them for not even ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ bothering to remain faithful to the sport in a game where 90% of ALL of 2013 is literally copy/pasted. And no i can't recommend this game on that basis because you're giving Codemasters 50 bucks for a ctrl+C/V.

Found: V8 Supercars 3/TOCA RaceDriver 3's true successor. Its actually a lot of fun, despite not being entirely groundbreaking.

AI dog becomes your bro

11/10, would cut again

Assetto Corsa. I wasn't one of those guys who hyped it before I played it. Hell I was absolutely skeptical when one of my better friends went absolutely nuts about it on Facebook based on Kunos' reputation alone.

Unlike him, i've actually got the PC hardware to actually play the game. When I first loaded the game I was incredibly underwhelmed. Bearing in mind I just spend 33 bucks on an impulse buy, and that I play on a 360 gamepad due to the logistical nightmare of setting up my wheel, I was rather underwhelmed. The framerate was choppy, aliasing was absolutely everywhere, the textures didn't look nice at all, but the worst was that it felt a bit arcady. Cars felt like they were far too reactive and the BMW M3 GT2 felt like it had too much grip.

Well, one visit to RaceDepartment.com forums fixed absolutely EVERYTHING wrong with my initial set up. You do have to fiddle around with the Nvidia control panel (if you're team green) and the in game set up to get the best visual quality, but one of the biggest oddities in the game is the way Kunos handles assists and tyre compounds. Its not something that is intuitive, and i had to put some research in to actually understand the UI. I eventually found out that i was running on the SuperSoft compound, which to my knowledge isn't actually used in GT racing.

Once I flicked it down to the harder compounds, absolutely everything fit into place. The car felt absolutely divine, playing on a controller was not a problem at all. Never going to be as good as a wheel but those without that option need not worry. One thing this game has changed the way I play race sims is the racing line. In Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsports, F1 2012/13, anything that actually offers a racing line really, I've taken that option. Assetto Corsa has weaned my off that reliance, at least in the game, and has given me the confidence to give it a go in others as well. Playing this game with only the rev counter and gear indicator on the bottom right is truely an experience unlike any other. I booted up the game as of writing, intending to see how the M3 GT2 goes on the harder tyre (I tried out the Zonda R earlier today, it was brilliant). I recorded 10 minutes of it and spent the remaining hour just lapping and learning the track and car.

Assetto Corsa is truely astonishing. I had not heard of Kunos' reputation before hand with netKar-Pro, I knew absolutely NOTHING about the title before I plonked down 33 bucks on the recommendation of a friend. I am now absolutely in love with this sim and can't WAIT to see whats Kunos has in store for the future.