I don't think its the load times that are a pain, but the number of times it needs to load, even for simple things. Everywhere you go, even if its just to tune, check a car etc. you have to load, and it seems to take a lot longer than it should for something so simple.

^^ Pretty much this.

I think reviewers nit-picking and hype damaged the review scores, but as others have said, they do have points in their reviews. It won't stop me from getting the game for Christmas though.

The head tracking wasn't implemented in the GT Life portion of the game due to memory limitations.

Reported by GTPlanet, from Yamauchi's Twitter:

"As you may know, many players noticed that GT5’s face-tracking functionality only worked in Arcade mode. According to Yamauchi, it’s not available in GT mode due to memory issues with the PS3."

http://www.gtplanet.net/yamauchi-on-gt5s-mechanical-damage-updates-more/

So if you really want to use that feature, you're stuck with the arcade mode.

The astronomical hype of GT5 is what made it get this low scores as a game I think it easily deserves a 9 and as a racing simulator its the best on consoles (Yes I played Forza 3) all the reviewers mentioned many good points about the game but also they were nitpicky and for most of the reviews the written review didn't match the score at all as I said maybe because the game was hyped to the moon and it didn't meet the hype but still as a racing game I guess its easily  up there with Forza 3 as the best racing games this generation.

Loading times aren't very bad without the install....

It was graded to a much higher standard than other racing games.  That's the only way you can be called the best sim unanimously and yet garner mostly 8's.   People expected more than they do from games like Forza, and they are graded that much more rigorously.  Sony overhyped, and the hype backfired, basically.

Great game though, if anyone was thinking about diving in.  Worth every penny.

They are still coming in by the way

Telegraph

9/10

"So this probably isn't the most playable driving game on the market, but only because - and here's the rub - it so accurately recreates the dynamics of the cars that it features.

The ultimate driving simulator, just like the ultimate car, will be enjoyed by many but mastered by few - the same few who probably could genuinely drive flat out around Le Mans in the wet, in a Pagani Zonda R Roadster - and not crash."

Honestly I stopped playin GT4 within 10 minutes because of load times.

Modnation racers was also out for me..

GT5 doesnt seem to bother me as much, I know what you mean though. The silver GT logo loading ? That does jump up a lot.

My friend brought Forza 3 to me (fully installed with his HD and just switched) and I had GT5. We compared the loading times, Forza lost by a ..margain.

Ive installed it and took a look yesterday. 6.501 MB is installed (Roughly 6.5GB). The loading times are NOT long for me at all tbh.

On to your point,

@TC
The online is fucking amazing. Play it with friends and you will be addicted. Its easily one of the best online plays on the PS3 that I have experienced. So fucking fun!!