VROOM ! I got my copy ;))))
Random Impressions from 3-4 race in arcade and the B license
Graphics : little aliasing, not frame drop so far. Still looks gorgeous if you ask me. I cant comment more on that part (no specialist)
GT mode : I think it will be more "restricted" than before since u need to reach some level before getting access to all the event (and ofc, u also have to pass the license). Each event will require X level and X license. It is like an RPG ;)
I didnt try the B spec mode.
Leveling will also unlock "option" such as karting etc ...
License : if you try the "demo" of a test, you will have an endless replay showing you the "perfect way" and a girl voice giving you some tips.
Replay : well, u can pause, take photo, not sure if it was present in GT4. The photo can be taken from different camera and, on some, you can manage the angle and the distance. There are more option to monitor your race. It is pretty and entertaining.
Cockpit view : well, it is pretty but I m far more used to the "FPS car" view. So, it is not that usefull IMO
Driving : Not a specialist here too. I play on the pad, I was afraid to not be "good enought" ... but that was ok. I did not feel lost at all. I can control my car pretty well. Good impression so far.
Rain : it is quite good even if, in summary, everything just turn "grey" (foggy silent hill mode lol) and each car just get a "rainy smoke effect" behind it. Indeed, it is really : rainy AND foggy.
One thing that disapointed me is that the rain in the cockpit view is not that "pretty"' compared to what I thought looking at video on youtube. It is a bit "blurry", not that clean. I dont know. Not important IMO.
One little thing that I liked (outside the lack of grip on wet road with my Elise oversteering and me trying to control it :D) is the way your light reflect on the car just in front of you when you are close to it. It will modify it color and make it "yellowished" (sort of).
Editor : sure you dont control everything but it will be very good to test your skill on an unlimited new track. You define your "type of track", then the number of section, then the section themselve : road width, complexity and something else that I forgot.
AI : well, this is GT. Do not expect marvel. It is not a big issue for me but at one point, I was overunning a car with my Elise from the right side (so I was between a car and a wall) and the guy decided to follow it own path so he sligthly blocked my car agaisnt the wall during some seconds : pretty unfair if u ask me. Also, I doubt it did it on purpose : he just decided to stick with his path and that is it !
Bumping : just going to say that car seem to stick less to the road, to be less stable meaning that impact (wall or others cars) may make your car jump a bit more than before. good to me
Damage: well, I didnt directly check for this. Also, I played on arcade so I was not expecting anything. During my races with the Elise on High Speed Ring, despite some "light" impact with wall, I didnt notice anything. Neverhtless, my last race on Arcade was on the Ferrari F40 on Trial Mountain. I did some big mistake during the race including some serious wall hiting at some point. I didnt note any change in my car behaviour. But, looking at the replay, I realized that my very first wall hiting succeed to "press" the right front side of my car and slightly starts to remove the lower part. It was quite good if you ask me because I didnt do it in purpose. Also, after the 5 turns and others wall impact (I have not played this race very well :D), my Ferrari front side was really in bad shape ...
I would have appreciate to have more "painting removed/scratched" on my car but deformation was still good.
So, damage were not as bad as I thought if you ask me.
Overall :
Well, it is a given : GT is GT and stay GT. You get overall more option, more cars to drive, more mode to use etc ... But the overall feeling is the same and, in a way, this is kinda expected. I doubt there is a big leap with GT5prologue graphically. It is the same engine.
Neverthless, from many report, the "driving physics" are said to be better than anything on console and to be greatly improved over GT5p (better speed feeling and better car sound too)
Finally, when I think about people expectation or hype, I realize that PD should have not go the way they did with GT5. It is not a problem of timing (delay) : it is a problem of timing and statement. When you say you want the best experience (that is why it is late right ?), that you take your time, that you need more time and you are going to include weather, damage, editor track etc etc ... people conclude : so full dynamic weather implemented ! full real time damage ! etc ...
That is the problem : editor track is not "full", you cant do everything and some people may be disapointed with it.
Same go for the damage and the standard vs premium car: PD should have told everybody way earlier (and CLEARER, not yes/no, depending on the interview) : we dont make cockpit view, full damage, full tuning on all car. Same goes with the weather : no weaher on all track, no full dynamic weather. etc etc etc ...
Then people may have waited GT5 has one of the very best racing game on console (and it is !) but not as the ULTIMATE PERFECT DEFINITVE RACING SIMULATOR EVER !
Time to Work !
