This review of Asseto Corsa Competizione was conducted on a base Xbox One by Kurt Perry. The racing simulation sub-genre has grown tremendously over the last five years or so. Racing games that were once considered sims like Forza and Gran Turismo have transitioned to simcade status whilst core racers like Project CARS and DiRT […]
This review of Asseto Corsa Competizione was conducted on a base Xbox One by Kurt Perry.
The racing simulation sub-genre has grown tremendously over the last five years or so. Racing games that were once considered sims like Forza and Gran Turismo have transitioned to simcade status whilst core racers like Project CARS and DiRT Rally stand front and center stage. Needless to say, a modern sim racer fan has plenty of options to choose from.
Taking this into consideration, launching a new racing sim into the market is no easy feat. You need a unique selling point, seamless gameplay, satisfying handling model, a plethora of diverse content, and detailed customization options. The question is, how well does Kunos Simulazioni’s Asseto Corsa Competizione manage to achieve all of these goals?
If you’re looking to pick up Competizione as a single-player title, you’ll probably be spending most of your time in the career mode. Let me preface this by making something very clear. As with many other racing sims, the career mode here is somewhat lackluster. Effectively, you work your way through the real-life GT calendar which includes various iconic circuits like Spa, Monza, and Brands Hatch.
Between the races themselves, you are required to qualify for a starting grid position and conduct a variety of tests for your team. These tests are simple enough and usually involve something like making sure your car’s brakes feel right or that your tires are in good condition. Truth be told, these aren’t overly interesting and generally just have you completing meaningless hot laps.
Perhaps the most strange oversight with career mode is that it doesn’t feature championship points of any kind. There isn’t either a driver’s or constructor’s championship to fight for. You are basically just racing because you enjoy racing. I’m not saying that’s not a good enough reason but I can’t see more casual fans staying interested for too long.
Outside of career mode, you have the choice to pick from Championship, Special Events, and Multiplayer. The Championship mode is similar to Career but also gives players options to modify and customize their experience. You can pick between two different GT classes as well as specify season length, weather variety, and much more. There is a third GT series available but it’s locked behind the Intercontinental GT Pack which can only be purchased through Competizione’s season pass.
As for the Special Events, they ironically aren’t all that special at all. In fact, they’re basically just glorified leaderboard time trials where you’re tasked to set the best lap possible in a specific car. This can provide a useful challenge for skilled players but otherwise fails to offer much in terms of rewards.
Those looking to play Asseto Corsa Competizione long-term are probably most interested in its multiplayer.
