Disclaimer : Base game was provided via a review code by the developer. I've spent some considerable time providing feedback and suggestions to said developer, which has resulted in the implementation of the deluxe packs as seen in the DLC section of the store page, his willingness to adapt and provide new ways for players to get involved and experience this game should be seen as a pure positive, and I purchased the deluxe cars pack as a measure of support. Developers who act inclusively should always be supported in such a manner.


With that out of the way, let's get some misconceptions out of the way, what VRC-Pro is and is not. First off, it's not a casual racing game. This isn't a knockabout toybox racer like say "Toybox Turbos" or "Blazerush". Whilst VRC-PRO deals with miniature racing cars, it should be treated with the same respect as say Assetto Corsa or DiRT Rally, you will need to either -have- an interest in the subject matter (namely RC car racing) or be willing to learn and take an interest in the hobby to get the most out of this. This is a "simulator" as opposed to a normal racing game, except here we're discussing simulating radio controlled cars, and that's a different mindset. It takes a different approach to get used to, but once you get over the learning curve, it's most definitely an entertaining and satisfying experience.


The core package provides you with a good slew of tracks, both indoor and out, time trial and practice modes, as well as practice against the AI to get you used to the core concepts, it also provides you with an arsenal of components ranging from spec grade controllers, batteries and motors, all the way through to a selection of bodies that come with their own decals and colour schemes. Critically, all of these components can be fine tuned in much the same way that one can tune a full size car in AC, except now you're dealing in the fractions of millimeters and fractions of degrees, but the principles are very much the same.

You'll be adjusting to balance downforce against top speed, working out the best gearing ratio for a given track to optimise for speed versus acceleration, the user interface provides a solid level of information as to what each change will affect, so you're not left in the dark as to what your adjustments will cause. A useful addition is the marker that shows where the original setting -was- before you started tweaking, so you can assess how big a change you're making before you commit. Pitting in track allows you to make some adjustments, but for the full suite you'll need to go outside of the track and take the car apart, that also allows you to change components, and with the deluxe car pack, there's -tons- of options available.


The graphics are solid, the track are well appointed, and the cars are suitably detailed, the game runs at a rock steady 60fps and I doubt it's going to tax anything that's been built in the last five years. The only hiccup is the flat textures that represent the people around the edge of the track, but you won't really be paying attention to them when you're trying to set good times.

An important note is that the physics engine most -definitely- feels convincing. These machines may be light, but they have grip and traction once they're up to speed, and using something with an analog control (such as an xbox pad) is deemed *critical* if you want any chance of setting decent times. The game supports the full gamut of controllers, and in a full nod to authenticity, even supports RC radio controllers if you order a USB dongle from the VRC PRO site. This allows people who are testing their RC setups to port their configurations into the game, and then test them from the PC environment using their RC controllers with full and immediate feedback, this is an important plus.

Sound? It has some. It won't win awards, but it does the job. The music is .. music. I'll be kind and say you can set it to "off" if it doesn't flick your switch. Multiplayer is stable and the netcode is reliable, in the tests I ran it didn't hiccup once, and there's a good and solid community that's been running alongside this game for an extended period of time, which is a nice to have. The skill levels range from hobbyist right the way through to high end (as evidenced by the time trial leaderboards), so there's always likely to be a race that suits your tastes.


The one thing it lacks right now is a true Single Player "Career" mode of sorts (a la Project CARS), which means that beyond Time Trials and Practice VS the AI, you're going to be reliant on the community and your own enthusiasm for the world of RC simulation as for how much you get out of it. In that sense it's going to be a lot like Assetto Corsa, if you have a love for the subject matter, this is an easy sell. It's a very niche product, but what it does, it does exceptionally well.

Verdict : Highly recommended for serious RC fans, and worth wishlisting even if you're not. This is definitely "one to watch"

[i]Disclaimer : Base game was provided via a review code by the developer. I've spent some considerable time providing feedback and suggestions to said developer, which has resulted in the implementation of the deluxe packs as seen in the DLC section of the store page, his willingness to adapt and provide new ways for players to get involved and experience this game should be seen as a pure positive, and I purchased the deluxe cars pack as a measure of support. Developers who act inclusively should always be supported in such a manner.[/i] [H1]This isn't your father's RC game, this isn't Re-Volt either...[/H1] With that out of the way, let's get some misconceptions out of the way, what VRC-Pro is and is not. First off, it's not a casual racing game. This isn't a knockabout toybox racer like say "Toybox Turbos" or "Blazerush". Whilst VRC-PRO deals with miniature racing cars, it should be treated with the same respect as say Assetto Corsa or DiRT Rally, you will need to either -have- an interest in the subject matter (namely RC car racing) or be willing to learn and take an interest in the hobby to get the most out of this. This is a "simulator" as opposed to a normal racing game, except here we're discussing simulating radio controlled cars, and that's a different mindset. It takes a different approach to get used to, but once you get over the learning curve, it's most definitely an entertaining and satisfying experience. [H1]A more considered approach to Radio Control cars...[/H1] The core package provides you with a good slew of tracks, both indoor and out, time trial and practice modes, as well as practice against the AI to get you used to the core concepts, it also provides you with an arsenal of components ranging from spec grade controllers, batteries and motors, all the way through to a selection of bodies that come with their own decals and colour schemes. Critically, all of these components can be fine tuned in much the same way that one can tune a full size car in AC, except now you're dealing in the fractions of millimeters and fractions of degrees, but the principles are very much the same. You'll be adjusting to balance downforce against top speed, working out the best gearing ratio for a given track to optimise for speed versus acceleration, the user interface provides a solid level of information as to what each change will affect, so you're not left in the dark as to what your adjustments will cause. A useful addition is the marker that shows where the original setting -was- before you started tweaking, so you can assess how big a change you're making before you commit. Pitting in track allows you to make some adjustments, but for the full suite you'll need to go outside of the track and take the car apart, that also allows you to change components, and with the deluxe car pack, there's -tons- of options available. [H1]Dinky scale, dinky graphics, dinky sounds...[/H1] The graphics are solid, the track are well appointed, and the cars are suitably detailed, the game runs at a rock steady 60fps and I doubt it's going to tax anything that's been built in the last five years. The only hiccup is the flat textures that represent the people around the edge of the track, but you won't really be paying attention to them when you're trying to set good times. An important note is that the physics engine most -definitely- feels convincing. These machines may be light, but they have grip and traction once they're up to speed, and using something with an analog control (such as an xbox pad) is deemed *critical* if you want any chance of setting decent times. The game supports the full gamut of controllers, and in a full nod to authenticity, even supports RC radio controllers if you order a USB dongle from the VRC PRO site. This allows people who are testing their RC setups to port their configurations into the game, and then test them from the PC environment using their RC controllers with full and immediate feedback, this is an important plus. Sound? It has some. It won't win awards, but it does the job. The music is .. music. I'll be kind and say you can set it to "off" if it doesn't flick your switch. Multiplayer is stable and the netcode is reliable, in the tests I ran it didn't hiccup once, and there's a good and solid community that's been running alongside this game for an extended period of time, which is a nice to have. The skill levels range from hobbyist right the way through to high end (as evidenced by the time trial leaderboards), so there's always likely to be a race that suits your tastes. [H1]A strong spine, and a solid foundation, much like Asetto Corsa, there's a future here...[/H1] The one thing it lacks right now is a true Single Player "Career" mode of sorts (a la Project CARS), which means that beyond Time Trials and Practice VS the AI, you're going to be reliant on the community and your own enthusiasm for the world of RC simulation as for how much you get out of it. In that sense it's going to be a lot like Assetto Corsa, if you have a love for the subject matter, this is an easy sell. It's a very niche product, but what it does, it does exceptionally well. Verdict : [b]Highly recommended for serious RC fans, and worth wishlisting even if you're not. This is definitely "one to watch"[/b]