There are times when you try something new expecting to be surprised, expecting it to be packed with content and obvious new features… and it just isn’t. That’s exactly what happens with version 0.4 of the Assetto Corsa Rally early access. You fire it up and quickly realise: no new stages, no new rallies, no that initial “punch” that makes you say OK, this has changed a lot. But the more time you spend with it, the clearer it becomes that something else is going on.
Climbing into the Subaru Impreza S3 Group A is almost instinctive if you love rally. It’s one of those cars you feel like you already know before you even touch it. Or so you think. Because once you start driving, the feel has nothing to do with what you had in your head.
It feels heavy, struggles to brake, and as soon as you push it into difficult conditions, such as rain in Wales (not exactly the best idea for a first outing), everything becomes an uphill battle. The car isn’t bad, not by any means, but it demands more than you expect. And that’s when the doubts start: is the problem the car… or is it you, coming in with the wrong expectations? With a little time things improve, especially once you move to tarmac and start to understand how it moves. But that first impression sticks around, rattling in your head.
Then there’s the Peugeot 306 Maxi Kit Car, which is the complete opposite. You don’t come in with as many expectations, so everything lands differently. At first it’s disorienting, because front-wheel drive here doesn’t feel like it does in other games. It isn’t simply a case of accelerating and having the car go straight. There’s something unusual about it, in a good way.
It forces you to rewire your instincts. To turn earlier than your body wants to, to place the car with more intention, and to improvise less. And when you start doing it right, or at least less wrong, the car responds in a very rewarding way. It’s hard to explain precisely, but there’s a moment when it stops feeling strange and starts making complete sense.
And that’s when you truly enjoy it.
Not every location shines equally, but there are combinations that work especially well. The narrow tarmac of Alsace with the 306 is one of them. It’s one of those situations where you’re not overthinking anything; you’re simply stringing corners together and everything flows. The car feels comfortable, you feel more confident, and before you know it you’re deep into the stage without realising how you got there.
It doesn’t happen with every car on every road, but when it does, you really feel it. One of the more curious additions is the weather system. You can now encounter snow in locations like Wales, which isn’t exactly typical, but it doesn’t matter. It suits the game well. It gives each stage more unpredictability and stops everything from feeling so foreseeable.
That said, it has its rougher side too. There are no dedicated tyres for these conditions, and you feel that from the very first moment. The car becomes more delicate, you have to take more care, and any mistake costs you dearly. But that isn’t necessarily a negative; it simply changes the pace and forces you to adapt.
Some technical improvements have been made to force feedback, but in all honesty, nothing that makes a clear difference. It’s there, yes, but it isn’t what’s going to make you enjoy it more or less. What has stood out is the appearance of some minor stutters. Nothing serious or consistent, but it’s surprising given that the game had been running quite smoothly until now. It may be an isolated issue, but it’s worth mentioning.
Still Small… But Showing Promise
In the end, the overall feeling doesn’t change that much: it’s still a game with limited content, fairly restricted in options, and clearly still in development. But what little it has, it does very well. And that carries more weight than it might seem.
There’s also that unavoidable part: you, driving. Missing a corner because you misread a pace note, arriving too hot at another, or completely fluffing a hairpin. There are moments of frustration, but also moments where everything clicks and a stage comes out clean. And those are the ones that bring you back.
This isn’t a spectacular update and it won’t change the mind of anyone who wasn’t already convinced. But it adds things that, little by little, are building something interesting. And above all, it makes clear that, even though there’s still a long way to go, there is a very solid foundation here.
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See you on the track
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