And it seems that their is indeed a graphical gap between the offline and online modes, though that was expected.
http://watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20081031/siro.htm
My only real complaint would be the ground textures and the rather obtuse HUD (though the latter seems rather typical of Japanese games, despite the offerings that HDTVs allow).
Online:
(old shots, for comparison purposes)

CG:
(also old shots)














