Driveclub Channels PGR's Racing Spirit

I think Driveclub is going to be worth the wait.

I finally got a chance to play Sony's first-party PS4 racer for myself after a year of interviews, presentations, and delays, and I've been eager to do so because it reminds me of the Xbox's dormant Project Gotham Racing series. What do I mean by that? Basically, Driveclub gives off a similar gameplay vibe in that it seems like it straddles the line between an arcade racing game like Burnout (R.I.P.) and a serious sim like Gran Turismo.

I'm very happy to be right about my initial assessment. Playing on the India track (other courses are set in Scotland, Canada, Chile, and Norway, among others), I found that while you don't have to worry about tire pressures, suspension settings, or traction control, you do have to respect each car's unique capabilities, lest you be punished. Not only is it rather easy to slam into guard rails or veer off the track if you drive recklessly, but I quite like how Driveclub punishes you for doing so by subtracting the very DC points (aka Kudos if we stick with the PGR comparison) that you're rewarded with for good maneuvers, such as drifting or clean overtakes.

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