I've been eyeballing this game for a while as I don't yet have a PS3 but will at some point get one when there are enough compelling reasons to get one... (it's getting close, lol). That said, my local Super HEB had a PS3 kiosk set up with GT5:P set up and I was waiting on my wife so.... I played for about 30 minutes or so. I've played a LOT for Forza 2 so I was happy to have a chance to play this and compare for myself since fanboy rants on both sides make it impossible to get a fair comparison.

My assumptions going into playing this game was that the entire game was 1080P at 60FPS. I expected something that was phenomenal. That said, I'll put out a few comparisons to my time with Forza 2 and with my (limited) experience with GT5:P. First, graphically GT5:P does look better. No one area really stands out hugely but overall it had a better "polish" graphically than F2. I'm not going to comment on car selection or track selection -- just graphics and simulation.... Now, for the simulation part. I still think Forza 2 has a slight edge over GT5:P in terms of handling and physics. I know that's blasphemy but that's my opinion of the two games.

I am curious if I played a "final" GT5:P or a "demo" and if there is, in fact, a difference as that would change things up a bit. These are the few things I noticed right away in GT5:P

-The user interface is slick and the cars look wonderful.
-The car models are exceptional
-The animation is very smooth
-The cockpit view is quite cool
-The overall physics and handling of GT5:P are FAR beyond anything GT has done before

Now, my real questions. I noticed a number of places in the game as I was playing that were low resolution and stood out like a sore thumb. As the shadows moved around the cockpit I noticed that they were very jagged and obviously much lower resolution than 1280x1024. The second place I notice a real resolution hit was in the "over the hood" view. The hood of the mustang was very shiny and highly reflective and as I drove there were all sorts of things reflecting. They were at a low resolution again, but highly anti-aliased to cut down on the jaggies. No amount of antialiasing was going to hide that low of a resolution, however.

So here is my question and something that I couldn't figure out from the Kiosk. There was a GT5:P demo that preceded the actual purchased copy. Do you notice these things in your retail Prologue or not? Perhaps I was playing a demo of GT5:P and not an actual retail GT5:P and there may very well be a difference.

Lastly, this title is showing incredible promise. If the remaing graphical hitches (that I've seen) are corrected and they add some level of damage (as has been promised), this game is going to go from awesome (as it is) to freaking phenomenal.

I was too busy staring at the acrs when I was playing to notice these things.... It is a fun game anyway, even if only for a short while, because there aren't that many races, and I found the later ones punishingly hard

Well, I'll agree with you, KN, that looking backwards in the cockpit view does create some awful Jagged lines which represent the shadows of the rear-window defrosters in most cases.

Like Munkeh, I don't really notice what's going on with the hood because the brief time I spent in that point of view, I always stare at the race-line. (I use the no car shown, 2 big tachometer and speedometer view mostly.)

Also about the driving physics, KN, what driving assists do you have on and at what settings? I drive with all assists off (except with my Dodge viper which has ASM on slight because it can fishtail in an instant without). These assists if on will greatly effect your feel for the car and the game's physics model.

Maybe the full retail release of GT5 will address any issues you might have.

A few data points to help with your decision.

If you have a 1080p TV at home, it will look even better. No TV under 32" is 1080p, and you were probably not playing on a TV that big in the store.

I never played the demo, so I can't compare, but the shadows are an issue in the release version. Not bad, but if your staring at them, you can see some odd effects.

The physics is top notch. I think it's as good or better then F2. The problem however, is your opposition gets to defy them. When they slide into the dirt, they drive just like they were on the asphalt. You get the luxury of driving like your on dirt ;)

I don't recall what the opposition does in Forza 2 since I don't notice the AI cars go off track much.  They seem to brake hard and swerve to avoid accidents even if you are the one initiating contact.  They always seem to drive within their limits.

As far as vehicle controls, I'll be honest -- I drove with most turned on in Forza 2 except to experiment without them.  On the demo at the Kiosk, I didn't have time to get really deep -- just 30 minutes -- so the driving aids were all turned on.  I would say that the physics models between the two are quite similar including overall handling, car behavior, track line holding etc., but in Forza 2 I just felt it was a tiny bit more responsive with all of the aids turned on and the car itself seemed to be a bit more "alive".  All that said, it was a brief play session and wouldn't render judgement on the game until I've had a bunch of time to play it.  Without a PS3, that's not going to happen for a while but then that's life.  You know, bills and such?

In the end I suspect that the final game will be an exceptional experience given where it is today.  I question whether a Forza 3 will be able to pull off the same things in its next iteration.  Heres to hoping, though, as the competition is great for us -- better games than ever before... 

The game is great and more upgrades will be coming soon (damage, weather, etc.).  Also, your cars, money, etc. carry over to the FULL game when it releases in 2009.  And rest assured GT5, the full game, won't have any graphical glitches.

If you have a wheel and racing chair, this game is incredibly realistic--especially on a 60" 1080p Sony TV.  EVERY car controls/drives uniquely.  They have done a masterful job of creating the most realistic racing sim to ever grace a console.

That's great news that money is carried over. :) Now I wont have to race Cappucinos for hours when GT5 comes out because I will already have done that.

Yea, there are subtle differences between the two, and it's hard to say what's better. It's just a matter of preference. If you are looking for the best racing experiences this year, I feel it will probably be GRiD. And the 360 and PS3 versions will probably be the same. If you’re looking for a PS3 just for racing, I would just get GRiD in a few months and pickup a PS3 when the real GT5 comes out.

The biggest problem with GT5:p, is not what we listed, those things are just nit picking between two great games. It’s the fact that it’s only part of a game, and it feels as such. As much fun as it is, I always feel like something is missing.

I love the PS3, and if you have a few reasons to want one, and GT5:p is the straw that broke the camel’s back, go get one! :)

If this is what you want one for, I would wait, at least until the next major update to it.

Grid is not going to match GT5 (or even F2) is driving realism. Also, every Grid screenshot I've seen has been from a "Crysis-level-PC". I doubt it will look that good on PS3/360 or most current PCs.

Codemasters is an awesome developer (Dirt was pretty good) but they are no Polyphony Digital when it comes down to make driving simulators.