Assoluto Racing is a modern-day Gran Turismo. What do I mean by that when we already have a fairly recent GT game on the PlayStation (a movie), and the more popular rival, Forza? Do we need another Gran Turismo? Competition doesn’t hurt anyone, and to be frank, this is old school Gran Turismo – the one you played on the PlayStation and thought you were playing a highlight reel. I immediately loved this and am recommending it.
Despite the accolades, it had been a very slow start with the game for several reasons. Firstly, the Nintendo Switch server was not available in the pre-release code I received, so I had to wait until launch day. Secondly, without knowing anything about the game (and, to be honest, thinking it would be a low-key indie title worth a play, as I like driving games), I was quite surprised by how closely it follows the Gran Turismo model – from licence challenges through to the infectious jingles. Alas, no Feeder or other 90s belters whilst racing. Use your Spotify for that.
Assoluto Racing is an online game. That doesn’t mean you’re jumping into a lobby of frenemies, but racing against their times for those elusive rankings. I couldn’t think of a better way to make you feel inadequate, as other players seem to be either elite or using cheats. Those 2 seconds you saved on that last apex won’t make a dent in the top ranking that’s 30 seconds faster than you. It’s insane. On the flipside, the rankings are based on the cars you use, so all you need to do is find a hard-to-get concept car or a banger nobody wants, and you’re the top of the world. However, that’s not the point.
Having its origins in mobile first, there may be an Asphalt Legends assumption to it having a paywall and all. I didn’t feel this initially, and was content in working my way through licenses and driver reputation, starting with a Mitsubishi Eclipse. It wasn’t ideal, but the 90s reference of Japanese cars got me excited, and all the more reason for the Gran Turismo reference. The focus on the game is a little like the Dreamcast classic Metropolis Street Racer, where you’re looking for a clean run. Instead of earning Kudos, you have the chance of getting bronze, silver and gold awards for hitting the apex, not going off the track and, of course, completing in the allotted time.
This makes Assoluto Racing a game about marginal gains. Halfway through the Nürburgring, you might clip a bit of grass, forcing you to restart the track. On the surface, there’s an arcade feel to it, but like the aforementioned PlayStation classic, you can tinker with the settings on your car to find the perfect handling. Or, get yourself a hypercar and let the propulsion of the jet engines do the work for you. Good luck with that, as this isn’t a game where you can fluke it. Real driving skills are totally in demand.
While the simulation factor is a focal point for Assoluto Racing, I did find the physics quite extreme at times. The handling seems off for quite a lot of cars, though they could be realistic. I’ve never owned a Silvia in real life. That said, TVRs back in the day used to be written off left, right and centre due to the incompetent drivers being unable to handle their power, so maybe Infinity Vector got it right. That said, one thing I will say is that though there are some amazing cars in the line-up – licensed, too – the visuals are a bit ropey on the Switch. I played on the Switch 2, and it didn’t impress me much.
Additionally, the availability of higher-end cars early was a letdown. Going from a D rank to an S+ concept spaceship thingy was like playing WipeOut or Pacer. Even with this significant shift in speed and handling, the rankings proved I’d never make it in the big leagues. However, this did provide the opportunity to try out new cars and begin to understand the real depth of this game. I cannot cover how big this game is in this review, and see this being my go-to Switch racing game for the long term. And yes, I’m including Mario Kart World.
The Switch needs Assoluto Racing, as do you, if you’re a petrolhead. This isn’t a game that focuses on pay-to-win, more play-to-win. Flexing a ton of money to buy the top-tier vehicles to race in modified, unmodified, drift or rally races is the equivalent of the golfer with the best clubs: if you can’t swing, you can’t win. The same for this. You’ll be yet another TVR owner with a waste of metal. To really appreciate the game isn’t about climbing the ranks (which is genuinely rewarding), but learning how the car handles, finding the right racing lines and how to floor it, while dynamically risk-assessing. Assoluto Racing is the best racing game on the Switch right now, and may even prompt you to download it on your mobile to carry on your driving journey of perfection…
