I'm so glad that ams2 has gotten to where it is because I remember buying it originally and wasn't that impressed. I tried it off and on but things were just weird sometimes. I didn't like the 32 car limit like project cars 2 had. I found myself recovering from weird spins and slides that should not have been recoverable. But this latest patch has made it the only SIM I've played pretty much since 1.6 came out. I'd like them to finish getting the rest of the IMSA cars. There's probably a few other things I could nitpick. But I really enjoy playing this game it is so much fun.
Slower classes in endurance racing have the advice not to change their lines when faster classes approach. In that regard I find the AMS2 approach right for other racing series but clearly not for multiclass endurance racing. The bigger problem with LMU right now is that faster classes don't let enough space when passing.
It is the faster class car's responsibility to pass the slower class cars. The slower class car doesn't need to leave the racing line, they need to hold the line they are on.
AI teammate and AI in general in AMS2 for the sportscar content at least have broken tire wear so they pit almost twice as often as they should. If you turn tire wear off their pit strategies get better, but still not ideal as they go for fuel with still 10L in their tank.
@@KayoMichiels yeah the driver swap for AI in AMS2 is busted. Ridiculous tire wear and they are 1.5-2 seconds slower than the human. No defending this.
LMU feels more focused especially with the full hybrid options and things like brake migration, but AMS2 feels more sim racer friendly in that sense by giving you the realistic performance but with simplified options to utilise it. Sim racers have enough to do in terms of being driver and engineer without even more options!
I've had ams2 since birth but only with this last update have been playing past a week of new content picked up LMU when they had official vr support recently and also really been enjoying it. I think both are a ton of fun and immersive.
I can't comment on the LMU AI as I uninstalled the game, but I'm very disappointed with the state of the AMS2 AI. Their performance sector to sector is still very inconsistent. At T1 at Sebring at the start of the race an AI always goes into an unrealistic slide that they miraculously save, but they always hit you if you are near them. They are still awful at the hair pin while still having super grip at T17. That kind of stuff can be found at basically every track and it breaks immersion. The biggest issue with the AMS2 AI though is the broken tire wear for the AI and your AI teammate. For LMDh and LMP2 the AI with authentic tire wear are pitting every 50-55L of fuel for new tires. That means for LMDh pitting nearly twice as often as they should. For LMP2 they only use maybe 60 of 75L of fuel before pitting. For GT3 Gen2 they are pitting with about 35-40L of fuel in their tank for new tires. You can visually see how quick their tires degrade by letting your AI teammate take over and have the tire hud display up. They literally melt. It has completely broken offline racing as you have to turn tire wear off to get the AI to do some semblance of normal pit stops, but they are still pitting with 10L of fuel in their tank which means over the course of a race they may still take more pit stops than they need to. I really hope Reiza get the AI sorted, because as of now I dont find them to be in a good state at all.
I prefer LMU because the slower cars behave like they have to. As a slower driver/car you don't leave the race line when a faster car/driver try to overtake you.
Difference on handling is same as RBR and Dirt Rally 2.0 so that LMU is RBR and AMS2 is Dirt Rally 2.0. LMU really nails ligthning and colours like nothing else (includin ac with pure). Lately LMU VR performance has been better than AMS2 at least for me
Sheez, you gotta do an entire lap in LMU at 60kph while staying within the constricts of a few metres from other cars? I can't stand the tedium of leaving the pits at those speeds. Edit: are there no standing starts in LMU? I know they take the "sim" part way too seriously in order to try and distinguish themselves from the other games - but is it true that you must start every race in formation without the option of a standing start? And at the same speed that's reserved for the pit lane? If so then how is this simulating the real world?
You have a normal single file warm up lap with cars lining up doublefile before the race start - similar to AMS2. You also can skip the formation lap. If those 60 seconds of double file are too much for you I fear that LMU isn't for you anyway. It requires some effort and time, that's for sure. :)
@@6665hitm4k3r A lap at most GP tracks at 60kph would take a lot longer than a minute. At full speed most tracks are over a minute a lap, something I'm sure you'd know. You never answered if you have the option to do a stand start in LMU. Then again since this isn't a 'simcade', as you LMU folk call every other title, I suppose that's not an option huh?
@@calypsodawson9368 As does Nascar and a dozen other series, yes, I'm aware of that. The question is whether LMU gives you the option to do standing starts, similar to the option you have with RaceRoom, AMS2 and others, regardless of the series. You know, putting the control in the user's hands, for those us seeking the fun factor when not in the mood to follow the real world. But I suspect that giving the user the option to try something that most of us sees as fun would be too much to expect from a "real sim". K, I get it now.
I have to disagree in terms of multiclass: slower class cars don't have to remove from racing line, but faster class cars have to find their way around them (as far as I know). In LMU there will be driver swaps; can't see this in AMS2 very soon to happen.
The lack of save feature in AMS2 is really a big downfall of the single player experience, sad this will most likely never be achievable as long as they use the "livetrack" and "liveweather" system from PC2. The very same system that becomes annoying and unrealistic as soon as you speed up time and track progression, which you need to do to simulate any endurance, this is a lose-lose situation. I wish they would scrap that system out of the game engine sometime and would just implement something more "basic", like in other games. It is a nice gimmick, but at the end of the day it causes more trouble than it's worth. It also greatly reduces the use of replay, as you can't navigate a replay easily because of it, and will cause myriads of bug when using instant replay mid race, such as resetting track conditions...
I'm not 100% certain they couldn't preserve livetrack and liveweather in a save environment. They just have to figure out how to save the current conditions and initialize at any arbitrary point. Easier said than done, I'm sure, but honestly, if they want to be taken seriously with their IMSA license, they are going to have to crack this problem, as well as add driver swaps. LMU has a higher ceiling because they've got those things there, as well as the stuff they are doing for broadcast overlays for live streaming. They are well positioned to have a big e-sports online future with long endurance races....whereas AMS2 is going to be mostly suited for shorter sprint races.
Actually, Reiza has the save feature on their list. Let's hope they are going to realize it. If the livetrack/weather is a hindrance, why not make it optional? Already now we do not have to use it but can set the weather manually. Idk any technical details about it but I am pretty sure Reiza will come up with a solution as their 2025 will be in the token of "Endurance Racing".
Would like to play ams2 but there is definitely a slip problem i run buttkickers from slip angle can set up slip for all other games can't for the life of set it up in ams2 doesn't matter where i set threshold it just vibrates like crazy even going down main straight buttkickers don't lie definitely a slip problem with this game nor even close to real
I think there's a little more to be done on the tire model, but they aren't far off at this point. The fact that the times are comparable, and the overall feel is what it is---well, I go back and forth between LMU and AMS2 ALL the time, and honestly, while there are subtle differences, I don't honestly feel there is as big of a gap as LMU fanatics make it out to be. The people who say AMS2 is just an arcade game are similarly off-base. They both have work to do . Neither is perfection. Both are awesome and excellent simulations. AMS2 really nails it in VR, as well, which is where I play, but the structured online championships in LMU are eating my attention right now, in spite of shortcomings in the work-in-progress title that is that game.
@RandyMagruder I agree, as the video points it out, it always end to personal preference, but I would like to see the improvement on the braking handling. AMS2 has big potential, I really hope they drop another big update
@CedKabandana I think their work is never done nor should it be. On a similar note I get irritated that standing water in LMU can be safely driven through without any noticeable effect.
With all due respect. You could only say this with an older GPU/CPU. Have you seen the Sparks between both sims... I mean the Sparks from under the car. That alone demolishes AMS2 I run a 4090. No only is the VR better but the Triple Monitor Graphics are better. It is literally Photo Realistic and on Ultra everything maxed out Settings. I'm running a fixed 120fps
Not willing to spend $85 on a title + dlc for a game that likely wont make it past early access. If it does then maybe I'll feel more confident at 1.0, but still hesitate to support motorsport games in any way.
Honestly, even with the content right now you can easily spend hundreds of hours in the game. It's easily the best sim when it comes to endurance races, both online and with AI. 85€ (75€ now on sale) is a very reasonable price imo if you're into endurance racing.
@@bhendrikabel what are your Ai settings? I feel like the ai in ams2 is really good, especially at avoiding collisions. You do have to pump it up a bit to be competitive though.
I'm so glad that ams2 has gotten to where it is because I remember buying it originally and wasn't that impressed. I tried it off and on but things were just weird sometimes.
I didn't like the 32 car limit like project cars 2 had.
I found myself recovering from weird spins and slides that should not have been recoverable.
But this latest patch has made it the only SIM I've played pretty much since 1.6 came out.
I'd like them to finish getting the rest of the IMSA cars.
There's probably a few other things I could nitpick.
But I really enjoy playing this game it is so much fun.
Slower classes in endurance racing have the advice not to change their lines when faster classes approach. In that regard I find the AMS2 approach right for other racing series but clearly not for multiclass endurance racing. The bigger problem with LMU right now is that faster classes don't let enough space when passing.
It is the faster class car's responsibility to pass the slower class cars. The slower class car doesn't need to leave the racing line, they need to hold the line they are on.
Great video and comparison. Thank you for taking the time to share 👍🏻
There's also the fact in AMS2 you can swap out yourself with an AI driver that can race a stint for you.
AI teammate and AI in general in AMS2 for the sportscar content at least have broken tire wear so they pit almost twice as often as they should. If you turn tire wear off their pit strategies get better, but still not ideal as they go for fuel with still 10L in their tank.
@@KayoMichiels yeah the driver swap for AI in AMS2 is busted. Ridiculous tire wear and they are 1.5-2 seconds slower than the human. No defending this.
LMU feels more focused especially with the full hybrid options and things like brake migration, but AMS2 feels more sim racer friendly in that sense by giving you the realistic performance but with simplified options to utilise it. Sim racers have enough to do in terms of being driver and engineer without even more options!
Loving both at the moment TBH! Will use AMS2 for tracks that are not in LMU in this class.
You can’t save at any time in LMU. It saves automatically after practice and qualifying and you can save progress during a pitstop
Happy Holidays, Timo! I hope that your channel grows even more in 2025. A happy New Year to you and your family as well.
I've had ams2 since birth but only with this last update have been playing past a week of new content picked up LMU when they had official vr support recently and also really been enjoying it. I think both are a ton of fun and immersive.
I can't comment on the LMU AI as I uninstalled the game, but I'm very disappointed with the state of the AMS2 AI. Their performance sector to sector is still very inconsistent. At T1 at Sebring at the start of the race an AI always goes into an unrealistic slide that they miraculously save, but they always hit you if you are near them. They are still awful at the hair pin while still having super grip at T17. That kind of stuff can be found at basically every track and it breaks immersion.
The biggest issue with the AMS2 AI though is the broken tire wear for the AI and your AI teammate. For LMDh and LMP2 the AI with authentic tire wear are pitting every 50-55L of fuel for new tires. That means for LMDh pitting nearly twice as often as they should. For LMP2 they only use maybe 60 of 75L of fuel before pitting. For GT3 Gen2 they are pitting with about 35-40L of fuel in their tank for new tires. You can visually see how quick their tires degrade by letting your AI teammate take over and have the tire hud display up. They literally melt. It has completely broken offline racing as you have to turn tire wear off to get the AI to do some semblance of normal pit stops, but they are still pitting with 10L of fuel in their tank which means over the course of a race they may still take more pit stops than they need to. I really hope Reiza get the AI sorted, because as of now I dont find them to be in a good state at all.
Great vídeo!! I still fighting with LMU to make it looks good with my 4060TI. That’s the reason why, at this moment, I prefer AMS2.
well said Timo
Excellent job on this in depth comparison Timo!
LMU looks like a wonderful game. But it's kinda expensive to me. Unfortunately I'll have to pass it for now.
I prefer LMU because the slower cars behave like they have to. As a slower driver/car you don't leave the race line when a faster car/driver try to overtake you.
Difference on handling is same as RBR and Dirt Rally 2.0 so that LMU is RBR and AMS2 is Dirt Rally 2.0. LMU really nails ligthning and colours like nothing else (includin ac with pure). Lately LMU VR performance has been better than AMS2 at least for me
Let's not forget that LMU is still in early access.
Sheez, you gotta do an entire lap in LMU at 60kph while staying within the constricts of a few metres from other cars? I can't stand the tedium of leaving the pits at those speeds.
Edit: are there no standing starts in LMU? I know they take the "sim" part way too seriously in order to try and distinguish themselves from the other games - but is it true that you must start every race in formation without the option of a standing start? And at the same speed that's reserved for the pit lane? If so then how is this simulating the real world?
Use backspace to skip formation lap
WEC doesn’t have standing starts, neither does imsa
You have a normal single file warm up lap with cars lining up doublefile before the race start - similar to AMS2. You also can skip the formation lap. If those 60 seconds of double file are too much for you I fear that LMU isn't for you anyway. It requires some effort and time, that's for sure. :)
@@6665hitm4k3r A lap at most GP tracks at 60kph would take a lot longer than a minute. At full speed most tracks are over a minute a lap, something I'm sure you'd know. You never answered if you have the option to do a stand start in LMU. Then again since this isn't a 'simcade', as you LMU folk call every other title, I suppose that's not an option huh?
@@calypsodawson9368 As does Nascar and a dozen other series, yes, I'm aware of that. The question is whether LMU gives you the option to do standing starts, similar to the option you have with RaceRoom, AMS2 and others, regardless of the series. You know, putting the control in the user's hands, for those us seeking the fun factor when not in the mood to follow the real world. But I suspect that giving the user the option to try something that most of us sees as fun would be too much to expect from a "real sim". K, I get it now.
I have to disagree in terms of multiclass: slower class cars don't have to remove from racing line, but faster class cars have to find their way around them (as far as I know).
In LMU there will be driver swaps; can't see this in AMS2 very soon to happen.
AMS2 has driver swaps, at least in the single player
I personally prefer LMU
The lack of save feature in AMS2 is really a big downfall of the single player experience, sad this will most likely never be achievable as long as they use the "livetrack" and "liveweather" system from PC2. The very same system that becomes annoying and unrealistic as soon as you speed up time and track progression, which you need to do to simulate any endurance, this is a lose-lose situation. I wish they would scrap that system out of the game engine sometime and would just implement something more "basic", like in other games. It is a nice gimmick, but at the end of the day it causes more trouble than it's worth. It also greatly reduces the use of replay, as you can't navigate a replay easily because of it, and will cause myriads of bug when using instant replay mid race, such as resetting track conditions...
Savegame in simulator? 😂
Go to forza horizon
uhhh i guess gtr2 isn't a sim?
I'm not 100% certain they couldn't preserve livetrack and liveweather in a save environment. They just have to figure out how to save the current conditions and initialize at any arbitrary point. Easier said than done, I'm sure, but honestly, if they want to be taken seriously with their IMSA license, they are going to have to crack this problem, as well as add driver swaps. LMU has a higher ceiling because they've got those things there, as well as the stuff they are doing for broadcast overlays for live streaming. They are well positioned to have a big e-sports online future with long endurance races....whereas AMS2 is going to be mostly suited for shorter sprint races.
Actually, Reiza has the save feature on their list. Let's hope they are going to realize it. If the livetrack/weather is a hindrance, why not make it optional? Already now we do not have to use it but can set the weather manually. Idk any technical details about it but I am pretty sure Reiza will come up with a solution as their 2025 will be in the token of "Endurance Racing".
@@stefanoviaggio8096well i like to see you -mr know it all- to complete a 24 h race without saving. Good luck wiseguy
I prefer LMU because of the built in online (instead of having to use LFM) and the racing feels more raw.
AMS 2 does it way better
Would like to play ams2 but there is definitely a slip problem i run buttkickers from slip angle can set up slip for all other games can't for the life of set it up in ams2 doesn't matter where i set threshold it just vibrates like crazy even going down main straight buttkickers don't lie definitely a slip problem with this game nor even close to real
Man ams2 would be so cool if it wasn't for his oversteery physics
I think there's a little more to be done on the tire model, but they aren't far off at this point. The fact that the times are comparable, and the overall feel is what it is---well, I go back and forth between LMU and AMS2 ALL the time, and honestly, while there are subtle differences, I don't honestly feel there is as big of a gap as LMU fanatics make it out to be. The people who say AMS2 is just an arcade game are similarly off-base. They both have work to do . Neither is perfection. Both are awesome and excellent simulations. AMS2 really nails it in VR, as well, which is where I play, but the structured online championships in LMU are eating my attention right now, in spite of shortcomings in the work-in-progress title that is that game.
@RandyMagruder I agree, as the video points it out, it always end to personal preference, but I would like to see the improvement on the braking handling. AMS2 has big potential, I really hope they drop another big update
@CedKabandana I think their work is never done nor should it be. On a similar note I get irritated that standing water in LMU can be safely driven through without any noticeable effect.
@@RandyMagruder strangely enough that LMU runs much better in VR on my system than AMS2, especially at night races.
Exactly my thought. 1.6 was a step in the right direction but it's still off. I still enjoy the game but just for fun races
Automobilista 2 way better in every aspect!
What is better 🤔? I like AMS2 - LMDh and LMP- GT3 not su much. But I hope they fixed a few (little) bugs (Replay bugs etc.)
Interesting. I think both games are awesome. Lucky me I guess.
Love both Sims. However LMU is Superior I. graphics (4090) FFB, Netcode, Physics, Sound.
Sorry. But these are simply facts
LMU gfx are sub par compared to ams2 by a pretty wide margin imo.
With all due respect. You could only say this with an older GPU/CPU.
Have you seen the Sparks between both sims... I mean the Sparks from under the car. That alone demolishes AMS2
I run a 4090. No only is the VR better but the Triple Monitor Graphics are better.
It is literally Photo Realistic and on Ultra everything maxed out Settings. I'm running a fixed 120fps
Not willing to spend $85 on a title + dlc for a game that likely wont make it past early access. If it does then maybe I'll feel more confident at 1.0, but still hesitate to support motorsport games in any way.
Honestly, even with the content right now you can easily spend hundreds of hours in the game. It's easily the best sim when it comes to endurance races, both online and with AI.
85€ (75€ now on sale) is a very reasonable price imo if you're into endurance racing.
LMU only has Race Weekend for offline racing. Game over.
@@gomezthechimp1116 you do realize LMU is still in early access and they haven't finished the feature set for full release, right?
Still better than a championship in a simcade
And AMS ai is terrible
@@bhendrikabel what are your Ai settings? I feel like the ai in ams2 is really good, especially at avoiding collisions. You do have to pump it up a bit to be competitive though.
@@king_0_frod 99 ai settings in AMS and 94 in LMU
stupid question ........
arcad vs simulator comparison is not possible........