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"Auto racing began 5 minutes after the second car was built."
Circuit Superstars is a racing video game developed and published by Original Fire Games!
Grand Prix
In main Single Player mode of the game called "Grand Prix" you will venture into the diverse, dangerous and always fast world of motorsport. Compete in tournaments and show off your skill in vehicles from all categories of racing to earn victories and prove you got what it takes to be a circuit superstar!
Gameplay
Circuit Superstars, which should come as no surprise, has circuit racing as the core gameplay, though an interesting aspect is perspective as game is played from top-down isometric view, standing out from most racing games in that department. Race, improve, win, repeat!
Before you drive off onto a track however, you have to select a tournament or race to participate in, vehicle if such option is possible and livery. Those who know a thing or two about motorsports will notice that cars and tracks are "inspired" by real life. In main "Grand Prix" mode there are only tournaments and every driver has same vehicle. Formula of events is similar to actual racing weekends, first you have a Qualifying session where on a single hot lap you fight for best possible time to determine your position on the grid. (And you can get a point for Pole Position!) Afterwards you get ready for a race, reach highest place possible to score as many points as you can, with main goal being victory and glory that comes with it. Have most points after 5 races (that many each Tournament has in Grand Prix mode) to win whole thing and unlock further tournaments!
Racing itself is a blend of intense and short lenght arcade style of races where cars will bump one another every once in a while, with realistic driving physics as our vehicle behaves authentically on different surfaces, a penalty system, tyre wear, fuel consumption and vehicle damage simulation! All aspects are tracked by gauges on the screen. So keep an eye on those meters while racing! In longer races pit stop is a must, so the game allows for some strategic maneuvers thanks to unique pitstop system where we have full control over the car in the pit lane, including option of going out earlier because who needs a fuel tank or all tyres swapped?
All actions during a race and qualifying earn you experience points, gathering 2000 of them grants you a level up and unlocks new cosmetic items, such as patterns or liveries.
Speaking of, customization! In Garage you can change visually how you and your car look, with our driver having option of picking different helmet and suit, plus emotes (how our character looks idle in main menu and how he is celebrating a podium), while vehicles come with different liveries and patterns available.
Playtime, replayability, other modes
It took me 9 hours to make through every tournament once.
Of course you can give them a spin on other difficulties and if game will click with you, additional modes will have you spend solid amount of hours in improving and enjoying the game further!
Like a proper racing game should, Circuit Superstars comes with a selection of additional gamemodes!
If you need some training, check out Practice mode where you pick a track and car to...well, practice.
As name Free Play suggests, here you make races and/or whole tournaments on your own rules, with AI or friends to compete!
In Time Trial, you get a designated car and track, do your best and get fastest time to climb up the ranking, with trials changing weekly!
And there is Online component where you can drive against up to 11 other drivers, in randomized single races. While game has a Crossplay feature, bear in mind you might have a hard time finding other drivers.
Impressions
While first hour, perhaps two, were...not quite fun, with me fighting tooth and nail against weakest AI to keep my precious podiums as I was adjusting to the game- after few extra hours under the belt Circuit Superstar became what devs wanted, a tough yet enjoyable simcade racer, featuring intense fight for wins where a single wrong move can decide whole race due to their short lenght. Something that I personally really like. The need to be precise, practice, and fight for every tenth of a second cut from a lap until you fully immerse with every lap driven. It's worth mentioning game doesn't have any sort of "rubberbanding", most of the time it pushes hard from start to finish so you better don't blink or run out of breath while fighting on every corner, although AI overall has balancing issues. Unique camera view and manual pistop mechanic is spicing up the game right from the start, with solid selection of tracks and vehicles to drive to keep your interest. Soundtrack while limited to main menu, will put you right in the mood with groovy tracks inspired by different time eras. Customization is simple and gives just enough for every player to spend few minutes on making sure his car looks unique.
It doesn't take a genius to point out that additional modes are a massive positive, further letting you enjoy the game, giving you a reason to stick around and making it a very good choice for party/couch title pick, if you seek something to play with (or against) friends every once in a while and have fun!
But not all is sunshine and rainbows on Circuit Superstars paddock. Unfortunately AI is the biggest problem. It's "adaptive", meaning awful. After first Grand Prix, where I was fighting hard for best possible position, next up was a "sunday church drive" type of an experience, as I without any problems pulled away from my opponents. But few races later, the teethclenching experience came out again. Calling it unbalanced, is putting it lightly. Plus game has a rather funny issue with pitstops, where AI especially on lower difficulties, can pit twice in a row, giving you a free victory in the process. Why? I don't know!
What personally annoyed me is a fact the previously mentioned "tyre wear, fuel consumption and vehicle damage simulation!" is nothing more than a gimmick so you can waste a moment on pitting. Ultimately there is no actual managing it, because AI always gives 100% and so you do have to too, giving zero room to, for example, lift-and-coast in order to save fuel. Sure you can try it, but you will save a mere percent or two that won't change race outcome while AI will gain much, much more charging behind you. There is only one tyre compound so you don't even have any option to toy around with different tyre options. Game also doesn't have night racing nor rain to spice up the races, though I have to say- detail of rubber left on most optimal raceline, making it darker as race goes on, and dirt tracks being cleaner on optimal line thanks to drivers sweeping it is very cool.
Ultimately, I still had an intense yet fun time with the game. It's...good, but few tweaks here, small addition there and it could elevate into something great, even fantastic. I hope rumours of devs working on a sequel are true! For now though, I can recommend this, mainly for fans of motorsports or those who seek a racing game to play on a couch with buddies, as previously stated. One has to also remember this is a small game made my only few people, so I also didn't expect something grand. A solid first title with room for improvement.
Final words and conclusion
If you, like me, got curious about a game due to Top Gear DLC then jokes on us! Because said DLC is no longer available. You have to dive into the vast ocean of internet to find a key if interested, and if there are any left to snatch.
A fun simcade title, Circuit Superstars plays nicely thanks to short, intense racing mixed with realistic driving physics, though overall motorsport aspects need more polish. Recommended nonetheless!
Feel free to check out my curator page for more reviews!