Rennsport PS5 Review. Admittedly, Rennsport flew out of nowhere and onto the review desk and it peaked interest because it’s a sim-style racing game with an emphasis on immersion and contains a finesse-based handling model. With so many alternatives out there, Rennsport looks to make an impact by serving up some serious racing bustle and tussle, but how much horsepower can it rev up in order to stave off its competition?
You cannot comprehend Rennsport without thinking of the competition it faces. When you see it in action you’ll know it’s attempting to trade paint with the likes of Assetto Corsa, Gran Turismo and FORZA Motorsport, but in reality it is hollower than you may think and it won’t take you much time to figure out that this one can’t compete with the exemplars of the genre.
Rennsport Review (PS5) – A Poor Sport
It’s not all doom and gloom though, Rennsport definitely has some really nice rides from manufacturers such as Porsche, Audi, Praga, Aston Martin, Hyundai and Mercedes, and each of them are satisfying to drive due to a taut handling model that may take a little bit of time to acclimate to, but once you’ve nailed the A-pex of corners and know the right time to initiate the brakes, you’ll start slinging your chosen whip through corners with confidence and you might start to become competitive against both real-life players and the A.I. The sim-like handling is definitely the most satisfying aspect of Rennsport and if you’re a sucker for a racing game with a precision-based handling model, you might be reasonably impressed with how Rennsport controls.
Cars look and sound hulking too, which shouldn’t be a surprise considering they’re big GT goliaths, but it is good to know they sound as good as they look, so that’s definitely a complement Rennsport is worthy of.
All Show And No Go
In many ways, Rennsport feels too lightweight to compete with the juggernauts of the genre. The rides mentioned in line two of the previous paragraph are all the manufacturers the game has to offer, and variations of each type are slim. The cars may feel beefy in terms of how they drive, but the amount available is disappointingly sparse, but sadly that sums up most of the package.
Tracks are varied, but once again you are subject to slim pickings. There are 14 tracks in total including F1-caliber circuits such as the iconic Italian GP at Monza, the Belgium GP at Spa, the former German GP at Hockenheim, the tricky and technical Jeddah Corniche circuit, and there are a few welcomingly different inclusions such as Crest Da Caurus, Fuji International Speedway, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and Founder’s Track.
The variety of circuits on display in Rennsport are appreciable, and F1 petrolheads would certainly be pleased that Hockenheim is featured. There’s some pleasant scenery to ogle at as you race as well, especially when you coast along the Founder’s Track and gaze out at its tranquil waterside blotted with several sandy islands and rocky mountain landscapes. The other tracks are rendered well enough despite aliasing woes where the screen pixelates, but are nowhere near as interesting as the Founder’s Circuit design wise. This is because the Founder’s Circuit is an in-house built track, and therefore some creative ingenuity went into making it, as well as developer credits stenciled on the track itself.
A Lowly Backmarker
Modes and options are weak in Rennsport, with single player offerings consisting of Single Player, Quick Play and Multiplayer.
In Single Player you can choose to have a Quick Session, where you can play on any track and choose any car, as well as modifiers such as the number of laps, the number of stages you’d like to race, and you can choose to reverse the start order if you’d like. Not only can you compete in straight-up races, but there are time trials and championships to prove yourself in too.
Don’t get too excited, as Championships are just a list of three races apiece over three core championships-BMW M2 Series Europe, GT4 Series Asia and Touring Trophy, and that’s only the Rookie set. Amateur and Pro championships will be unlocked later, but their formula remains the same-just race and try to obtain medals to unlock more championships.
Quick Play sorts you out with short-burst online racing sessions where you can match make and then race against competitors over an internet connection. It’s a casual experience that can start you in the pit lane, and thus forces you to adhere to a strict speed limit. Usually you’ll complete Practice, Qualifying and then the race, and each of them have time limits for some reason, so it’s as if you’re playing a demo of each session.
Multiplayer is more organized and in-depth than Quick Play, and involves scheduled race events. These can feel more competitive and can help you gain rankings and boost your Account Level, which is your overall means of progression in Rennsport.
The more time you put into Rennsport, the greater your Account Level will be naturally, and although this is a way to entice you to keep playing, there really isn’t much incentive to do so, and this is made even worse by factors that don’t even contribute to the on-track racing experience.
Catch The Grift
What’s most insulting about Rennsport is the gall for the game to be charged at full-price and there’s even a season pass on top of it as well! One of the Trophies is actually gated behind the purchase of the DLC, which means you can do most of what is required in the base game, but you need to access the dlc to get the Trophy.
There are also microtransactions, which makes Rennsport appear even more money-grubbing than it already is. There sure is a lot of moxie when it comes to Rennsport by being a seemingly out of nowhere racing game that roars into view with an eye-watering price tag and additional ways to pry money from petrolhead pockets. Rennsport obviously needs to prove itself worthy of the money before forcing us to impart ours, but greed can definitely get the better of us all in this culture.
Rennsport doesn’t leave a positive impression at all by overcharging players for a flimsy racing game package that’s clearly unfinished. Yes, the car handling is nuanced, the featured track selection is nice, and while the car selections come up short, they are hulking and sound as impressive as they look; however, Rennsport falls very short in just about every way and will not hold racing game aficionados’ attention for very long until they drop off and find a better and fairer alternative to spend their time with.
Rennsport is out now on PS5 and PC.
Review copy was kindly provided by the publisher.