I've now spent about sixty hours on Gran Turismo 7's circuits, through its gameplay loop, including through online racing. Now, I've dragged my steering wheel into the study, out of the Lounge room, to try out a (fairly) recent Humble Bundle acquisition... Assetto Corsa Competizione.
While not only being fun to say, Assetto Corsa Competizione features a variety of GT3 level cars, which are challenging, yet easy enough to drive in a simulation that feels realistic and unforgiving.
If that sounds like a contradiction, that is because it is. It is easy to feel like you're going very fast, when in fact you're going very slow. It is also very easy to feel like you're going very slow if you're going very fast.
Another contradiction. I set the fastest lap around the track while I was in last place. It wasn't beaten for another 10-15 laps by the AI. The AI is tuned to my difficulty in the career mode by a number of trials that take place on a simple track (Monza) before you get into your first race.
Me, being the masochist I am, decided to go "Full length". That means 30 minutes of practice, two 15 minute qualifying, then 2 one hour races. I completed it all (except the 2nd one hour race, I might do that the next time I play) - but I already know that this is a game that is going to captivate me for days and days.
It's accessible, unforgiving, and fun.
My only critique is that I probably don't have the force feedback on the wheel set up to my liking - I really enjoy the stiff feel cars have in GT7, but Assetto Corsa Competizione definitely feels more realistic in terms of "road feel", but its lacking in a constant rumble of the surface and the clanks and bangs of the transmission as you tear around the various tracks.
So far, I've only raced at two tracks in the game, and I am sure that I will race around others. I'm going through the Humble Racing bundle I got game by game, until I find a new, comfortable home where I can play with my G29 until it works no more, or I become some sort of talented, outrageous driver.
In any case, I feel like I'm about to have a fun weekend...
Want more content from me?
Witness my futile efforts to play my Steam Game collection in alphabetical order.
Are you aware that I love photography? Check out my work in a collection.
If you want to see my Splinterlands antics and rants live, Find me on Twitch
If you prefer sleeping in your designated time zone, go watch replays on YouTube.