Project CARS has been an immense undertaking for Slightly Mad Studios, something we reiterated a number of times in our information blast for the game, but how has it gone down with the critics?

After all, it’s all well and good for Slightly Mad Studios to market Project CARS as the most advanced and competent racer on the market, a Forza and Gran Turismo killer so to speak, but has it done the job?

[Updated – 21.05.15] The Metacritic scores.

We know there are a good deal of you who don’t subscribe to Metacritic and its policies, but it’s still a great indicator for where Project CARS is at. Let’s dive a little deeper, shall we.

Game Informer – 8.5/10 (PS4)

“I like the ease at which you can experience much of the content, but the career mode has room to improve. For instance, team contacts aren’t tied to money, sponsorships, or specific manufacturers’ cars – so other than acting as gateways to the series, the mode feels like a calendar more than a career. There are big-picture goals for your career like completing multiple series, and achievements you can flash as part of your Driver Network Profile when you go online, but it’s not enough to make your career feel fulfilling.”

PC Gamer – 83/100 (PC)

“It’s the most polished racer I’ve played in a while, for sure. While contemporaries like Codemasters have struggled to deliver a game worthy of the most up to date graphical expectations with its F1 series, Project CARS really shines. The engine that Slightly Mad has built is impressive, from the interior detail on all 60 or so cars to the environmental design on every single one of its many varied circuits across the globe.”

PSU – 8/10 (PS4)

“Project CARS is a racing simulator complete with real-world variables such as tire wear and grip, fuel usage, car damage, and suspension settings. Like any racing sim, it requires players to have an understanding of car handling in the real-world. However, on its easiest setting, with automatic gears, no vehicle degradation, and all assists turned on, it feels easy enough to pick-up-and-play, with the main lesson being that you need to take it a little easy around corners. Simply put, you won’t be drifting around corners Need for Speed style.”

Gamewatcher – 8/10

“Just look at it, the attention to detail and near obsessive tender loving care that has gone in to creating the vehicle models themselves borders on mechanophilia. Make no mistake, Project CARS is wall to wall car porn. Every opportunity to thrust curvaceous carbon fibre into your face has been enthusiastically grasped with both hands. You love the sexy cars. LOOK AT THEM! The nigh on perfect visuals combined with the master crafted sound design creates an audio visual feast and the pinnacle of this presentation is the dynamic weather.”

Hardcore Gamer – 4/5 (PC)

“Simply put, Project CARS is simulation racing done right. The subtlety of the nearly countless gameplay tweaks, combined with a robust open Career mode, makes for an experience that racing fans should fall in love with. Of course, none of this would be possible without driving that feels tight, workable and exciting, which is certainly present in droves.”

If you’d like to keep up with Project CARS and critic reviews as they release, this thread is the place to be.