While graphics are by no means the most important aspect in a racing game, these cutbacks are impossible to ignore because many of the features that set DriveClub apart are now missing. Races seem comparatively sparse, too, because the number of AI opponents has been reduced from 11 to seven, and even the audio effects have suffered presumably to accommodate the PSVR’s 3D audio – DriveClub’s deafening, roaring engines sound comparatively muted in VR. You can still set a time of day before you start, but it remains static throughout the race, which also means the volumetric clouds have been removed as well.
DriveClub’s remarkably realistic weather effects have been removed entirely – that means no dynamic rain or time of day changes. Sadly, the list of compromises doesn’t end there. DriveClub wasn’t natively designed for VR, and DriveClub VR ultimately suffers for it. The number of trackside objects such as trees and fences has also been significantly reduced, and there are no crowds cheering you on which makes the environments even more barren and sterile. It’s the environments that have suffered the most, though: DriveClub’s exquisitely detailed locations have been reduced to a blurry mess of low-resolution textures, flat lighting, and trees that look like they were drawn in Microsoft Paint. At times, the image is so blurry you imagine it’s how people who wear glasses see the world without them. Overall clarity has suffered severely, giving the image a soft, unfocused look – don’t let the deceptively high-resolution screenshots fool you. While it would be unreasonable to expect the same level of visual prowess as the original game, the drastically reduced fidelity in DriveClub VR is startling. It’s clear that the developers had to make some serious compromises in DriveClub’s transition to VR to keep the game optimised at a higher frame rate – don’t forget that DriveClub was locked at 30fps, but PSVR requires games to run at 60fps. Unfortunately, such splendor is sorely missing in DriveClub VR. Over two years after its original release, DriveClub is still one of the best-looking games on the system, with remarkably realistic lighting, impeccably detailed environments, and astonishing weather effects, even if its disastrous launch meant that it took a while before its merits became appreciated. If you’ve already completed DriveClub, there’s little here to keep you invested – even the new urban locations have since been added to the main game for free. Earn enough stars by winning races and achieving specific objectives, and you’ll unlock more events. The career structure is identical, however, featuring the same mix of single races, tournaments, time trials and drift events.
Perhaps mindful that previous players will get a strong sense of déjà vu, DriveClub VR’s career is shorter, and progression has been sped up so it doesn’t take as long to unlock some of the more desirable cars.
DRIVECLUB GAMEPLAY TRAILER UPGRADE
It’s a generous gesture that makes DriveClub VR seem more like an upgrade for existing players, but an option to transfer progress would have been welcome. DriveClub season pass owners will also receive a discount cutting the cost by half. Even so, at £30 DriveClub VR still offers far better value than most first party PSVR games like RIGS. Available only as a standalone game, players who poured hundreds of hours into DriveClub’s lengthy campaign may be disgruntled to find they have to start again from scratch in an underpowered Volkswagen Beetle. It’s a shame, then, that DriveClub VR is completely detached from the main game. This will also be many people’s introduction to VR racing, so if the experience is subpar at best or vomit-inducing at worst, it could leave a negative lasting impression of VR racing games when the technology has the potential to transform the genre.įor PSVR headset owners, DriveClub VR is also an enticing proposition because, unlike most PSVR launch titles, it isn’t a short-lasting “experience” or a throwaway tech demo – this is a full-fat game, with over 80 cars, dozens of tracks and the same online club component that made the original DriveClub so compulsive.
As the first standalone racing game available for early adopters of the PlayStation VR headset, DriveClub VR has a lot to live up to – especially with Gran Turismo Sport still out of the race on PlayStation 4.
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