Automobilista 2
" Immersive racing simulation with diverse cars, dynamic weather, but clunky UI and poor controller support "
Automobilista 2 Review
Automobilista 2 is widely regarded as an excellent racing simulator offering a highly realistic driving experience with detailed physics and force feedback. Players praise its extensive variety of cars and tracks, including vintage F1 and modern GTs, alongside dynamic weather and competitive AI. The game is optimized well, running smoothly even on modest hardware and supporting VR effectively. It strikes a fine balance between realism and accessibility, making it appealing for both newcomers and seasoned sim racers. However, the game suffers from a somewhat clunky and unintuitive user interface, especially in VR and for controller users. Multiplayer presence is limited, with most players focusing on single-player modes. While the base content is solid and reasonably priced, the DLC pricing and fragmented player base are points of contention. The absence of a career mode and occasional issues with hardware compatibility and vehicle handling also detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, it remains a strong contender in the sim racing genre, especially when purchased on sale.
Highlights
Players consistently praise Automobilista 2 for its realistic physics and immersive force feedback, delivering a driving experience that feels authentic across a wide range of vehicles. The game boasts impressive graphics and VR support, optimized to run well even on lower-end systems. The extensive selection of cars and tracks, including historic layouts, adds depth and variety. AI opponents provide challenging and engaging races without being overly aggressive. The modding community enhances content variety, and visual and mechanical damage modeling further improve immersion. Overall, the game is celebrated for its balance of realism and accessibility, making it a favorite among sim racing enthusiasts.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on the game's user interface, which many find unintuitive and cumbersome, particularly in VR and when using controllers. Controller support is notably weak, with many players reporting difficulty controlling cars and navigating menus. The multiplayer mode is described as sparse and underdeveloped, limiting online engagement. Some users report inconsistent AI behavior and handling issues such as unrealistic sliding and sticking during collisions. The pricing strategy for DLC content is seen as excessive, fragmenting the player base. Additionally, the lack of a career mode and occasional hardware compatibility problems, especially with pedals, detract from the overall experience.
Pros
- • Realistic and immersive physics with well-tuned force feedback enhances driving experience.
- • Wide variety of cars and tracks including vintage and modern motorsport disciplines.
- • Excellent optimization allowing smooth performance even on modest hardware setups.
- • Strong VR support providing immersive racing with good graphical fidelity.
- • Dynamic weather system adds challenge and realism to races.
- • Competent and competitive AI that races fairly and provides engaging battles.
- • Visual and mechanical damage modeling increases immersion and realism.
Cons
- • User interface is clunky, unintuitive, and frustrating especially in VR and with controllers.
- • Controller support is poor, making cars difficult to handle without a wheel.
- • Sparse and underdeveloped multiplayer limits online racing opportunities.
- • DLC pricing is high and fragmented, splitting the player base.
- • Lack of career mode reduces long-term engagement and progression.
- • Some handling issues like unrealistic sliding and collision physics reported.
- • Hardware compatibility problems, particularly with pedals, cause setup frustration.
Rating Criteria
Automobilista 2 is all the racing simulators you ever wanted - in just one. An incredibly diverse collection of cars and tracks cohesively simulated, featuring incredible graphics and audio quality, dynamic weather and track conditions and the best VR support for a racing experience like no other.