Assetto Corsa Competizione - PC - Review - The world of automotive simulation has just witnessed the arrival of the new creation by Kunos Simulations: Assetto Corsa Competizione. From 29 May it has become a complete game and available for purchase. Thanks to the early access and the support of our expert Marco, we had the opportunity to try it thoroughly in preview. An exciting experience and with a lot of interesting news.
A video game that a video game is not
Before continuing with the analysis, we must make the necessary distinctions. Assetto Corsa Competizione is not part of the world of videogames for everyone, but, given thetotally simulative meaning, refers to all those players / athletes experienced in driving and simulating the same. As we have already said in this article, products like this can have enormous value not only for a game discourse as an end in itself, but also for a side of real learning of driving techniques in various weather conditions and in particular situations. criticisms.
Assetto Corsa has always represented a point of reference in this world. To avoid an undisputed monopoly of this product there is iRacing, an equally valid simulator supported by a huge community and a really well-structured multiplayer platform.
Vehicles and circuits? Blancpain only
The game makes the reference cars and circuits available for the GT3 championship branded Blancpain. Kunos' supersponsor has in fact practically directed the creation of Assetto Corsa Competizione towards full coverage of their championship.
We will therefore have at our disposal:
- Audi R8 LMS
- Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3
- Bentley Continental GT3
- BMW M6 GT3
- Ferrari 488 GT3
- Lamborghini Huracan GT3
- Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX GT3
- Lexus RC F GT3
- McLaren 650S GT3
- Mercedes-AMG GT3
- Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3
- Porsche 911 GT3 R.
In the following circuits:
Monza National Circuit
Brands Hatch- Silverstone Circuit
Paul Ricard Circuit- Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
Circuit Zandvoort
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Nurburgring
Hungaroring
Circuit of Barcelona-Catalonia
Should it be necessary, let us underline one more fundamental concept: we are talking about a simulator. There is no expansion of the fleet or circuits in the air.
We are also sorry to point out that Assetto Corsa support should end in favor of that of Assetto Corsa Competizione. Therefore, we will hardly ever be able to drive vehicles under 500hp in this simulator. And this, as will be addressed in detail later, is a major problem.
Unreal Engine 4 + scary sounds = wow effect
A few moments from the first start we are struck almost unexpectedly by the Unreal Engine at its version 4. The level of realism that this provides us blows away any other driving simulation from an aesthetic point of view. The visual effect is really at the limit in this product.
It goes without saying that a race followed with good direction is practically indistinguishable from reality. A masterpiece for the eyes that makes you scream almost a miracle. We also all know that, for a simulation purist, the aesthetic factor has its importance but it is not the fundamental element.
As if that weren't enough, perfect sounds accompany us through headphones throughout the driving experience. And, again, the weather conditions add not only physical but also cinematic realism, to the point of giving us a unique wow effect.
Our setup
The analysis of the simulation aspect of the product was carried out with the following configuration (which accompanies our friend Marco in all the official Mazda MX5 competitions on iRacing):
- i7 7700K,
- 16 GB RAM
- GTX 1070TI
- 3 display HD 24″
- Volante Thrustmaster T150
- Fanatec CSL Elite pedal set
- Rig GT Omega PRO
Obviously such a setup does not represent the maximum achievable level, but it remains something not within everyone's reach. Surely to fully enjoy the simulation proposed by Kunos you will have to start from a similar situation.
The game actually allows you to use joypads or simpler control systems, but it is totally useless to fool you. Even with the aids enabled you won't be able to do much with this product without the proper setup and driving experience.
Gameplay
The game modes are fairly standard: pratica, multiplayer and career, events. Most of our attention was focused on the first, as it was available right away thanks to early access.
As you can imagine, such a game requires us a great deal of configuration of our game setup to have a perfect driving experience. In this Assetto Corsa Competizione it lacks nothing.
The game allows us, in fact, to act on all the settings necessary to make our gaming experience as simulative as possible. The only configuration that is a bit awkward to manage is that of the field of view, which forces us to make calculations that other competitors carry out independently. For the rest, nothing to complain. The great experience of Kunos Simulations on the subject is immediately noticeable.
The same feeling is experienced when starting to operate on the vehicle. There are hundreds and hundreds of parameters that can be managed to customize the setup of our vehicle. If we do not want to act so in detail, some preset configurations come to our aid. In short, if you are looking for a physical driving simulation with attention to the smallest detail, you should already know that the Assetto Corsa line will never disappoint you.
Frustration?
The game is well structured and will try in every way to limit the feeling of inadequacy that you may experience. In career mode we will be supported by a tutorial and a series of aids will be enabled once the three introductory driving sessions have been performed in different conditions.
Then we will start trying to carve out a space for ourselves in the most famous teams by ringing excellent performances, but as you can well imagine, this product was not born primarily for a “Gran Turismo” experience so to speak. And this is noticeable quite quickly in the small career mode.
AAC could therefore aim only at the single player mode, but, as anticipated, by not foreseeing the amount of DLC that had been planned for its predecessor, it could lack stimuli for those who, like me for example, love simulation but are unable to dedicate more than a couple of hours a week at the game.
Multiplayer
It therefore becomes natural to think that this product is born and is aimed at the world of online competition. Indeed, this is precisely the focus of the game. It will in fact be possible, as in the past, to rely on two types of servers: public and private.
The management of public competitions (and therefore open to all without particular limits) has always brought with it the big problem of incorrect attitudes and penalties for drivers. However, it would seem that Kunos, in this case, has worked on an objective evaluation method that can guarantee us, on competitive servers, not to end up on the track with wicked madmen.
Private servers, on the other hand, become very convenient for those who want to create real competition systems managed by single people and not by centralized systems as does its competitor iRacing.
Conclusions
Assetto Corsa Competizione has recently come out, and it is for this reason that during the review phase we have deliberately turned a blind eye to some stability problems of the product. We have been very well used by the manufacturer and it would make no sense to think that these will remain. Even on the multiplayer side, an additional effort is appreciated even if it is early to evaluate the public servers given the small amount of online players.
What we have before us, however, can be summarized with a sentence: Assetto Corsa Competizione is a perfect simulation, within the reach of very few champions.
The vehicles that can be used, following the official Blancpain GT Series sponsorship, appear to be all power monsters of at least 500 horsepower totally unsuitable for novice sportsmen or to all those who could use a similar simulator to learn some rudiments of safe driving.
Know that here every mistake in acceleration and braking pays dearly, going off the track is basically lethal due to the effects we will have on the tires and possibly on our aerodynamics. Frustration for the inexperienced would be the only possible outcome.
The decision to concentrate all development forces in the direction of Assetto Corsa Competizione indicates the clear intention of Kunos to specialize in a simulation sector for semi-professionals which, logically, represent a small niche compared to the potential target that a similar game could have. The gradual enabling and disabling of aid is not enough to widen the narrow market it clearly ends up targeting.
Having made this important clarification, we would like to strongly recommend Assetto Corsa Competizione to all the lucky owners of a home setup at the height and with excellent driving qualities who are ready to make the definitive qualitative leap.
Are you virtual pilots ready to dedicate hours to driving? You must have this product. Do you want to enter this world? Not the right product, sorry.
