This one may be a bit long so get comfortable. As fanboy of the GT series by Polyphony. I have to comment on the latest Edition of GT. Granted its not a full version more of a taste of what is to come and I LOVE it.
First lets start with the Graphics. Yes you can actually see individual blades of grass on the side of track. Some of the tracks you actually feel like your looking out the window of your car and really seeing the mountains, track, and spectators. It really is amazing. The textures and effects such as when you exit tunnels with the temporary light blindness you experience is just amazing. With every new version of GT the graphics just get better and better. I still remember when GT 3 came out for the PS2 and how amazed I was on how pretty it looked. I called my friend up straight away and told him he NEEDED to rush out and grab a copy right then. GT 4 was slightly better still on the PS2 so you couldn’t improve that much. But with the magic that is PS3 GT5 is just outstanding graphically.
Which leads us to the cars. As always the cars are the best part to look at. They are fantastic and you some of them you could swear you are looking at a picture of the actual car not a digital recreation. Prologue only has 70 cars. However even in the full version they will prolly be the 70 most popular played cars anyways. So I would actually be happy if they saved space on the full version in favor of other great features they may be thinking about passing up this time around. Then expanded on the car library via down loadable add-ons for the game. If it was my franchise that is how I would handle it. But then again I am two steps away from being a minimum wage worker. They pay the big guys the big money for a reason.
The in car physics as typical for GT is great as always. And always improves with each new GT title. So no real complaints there. One complaint I keep reading and honestly I am okay with it. I can do with our with out it is the car damage. GT has never really had anything car damage in any of their games. Reason being is the most of the drivers out there would never be able to finish a race. If you want proof of that just go race online. (More on the online play later) I guess the tire wear is really all I am concerned about. I don’t really hit anything so I could take or leave the damage complaint. I think the people complaining about that are just trying to find something to complain about. Some people just have to complain or belittle things.
I could talk about the actual racing. But by now most everybody has played some version of the game. The tracks are the same old favorites and a couple of all new tracks. I love all the tracks aside for the Oval. I mean really this is a racing game. And I just don’t accept ovals as racing. You’re NOT using the car. The AI is a bit improved. As the other cars seem to react to your little more. And the more aggressive you get they will match with you. So I like it. I mean honestly if you are still playing this game past GT3 really you’re playing for the updated cars, new tracks, online play and super pretty scenery. Other than that its still the same core GT as it has always been. Loads of fun.
Okay so the online play. Hmmmm my first few races I enjoyed as my opponents seemed to just want to race and see who really was the better the driver. That is what racing is about right? They were great and I loved the money you win you can take with you to purchase more cars and hopefully in the full version use to upgrade your cars. Later races however I felt like I was racing a dirt track in middle town America where “Rubbin is Racein!!!” The contact was getting outrageous and just plain tiresome. I want to race!! Not combat somebody!! If I want to do that I will play COD4. I really hope the online play doesn’t become a bunch of 12 year old spoiled brats just running into each other to see who can get who to spin out and lose the race. Sorry but that is not racing. Contact is to be expected at times, but holy cow when your drifting down a straight and the guy in front you lays on his brakes for no reason. Its a bit childish, unsportsmen like and childish.
Final thoughts…I cant really see anything they need to drop. I like the game as a whole so far and really cannot wait to get my hands on the full version when it comes out. Be forewarned when it comes out I will prolly be stuck in my house for a few weeks. My hopes are that they have online tourneys where you can actually win exclusive cars and upgrades. And some way to race your friends. I didn’t see that. Aside for luck of the draw that you and your friend will just happen to land the same race if you time it right on both sides. I may have just missed that. So if its there I am sorry. If you wanted a turn by turn I didn’t do that because you can get that at any number of sites by now I am sure. I will just say I love the game and expect to spend A lot of time on it. I don’t see much of anything they need to improve on aside for letting me at the full version. But I am sure Polyphony will find ways to improve it by the time its released.
One good thing there is buzz about is the inclusion of Ferrari. HMMM I suppose its cool. But you know the great thing for me was being able to drive cars from all around the world that are actually attainable. Then you customize them and see what you can do to make it faster and handle better. When you start putting Ferrari, Lambo, Koenigzeg, Bugatti, and McLaren in there it has its attraction but why not just go play one of the Need for Speed Titles. Dont get me wrong I will buy a Ferrari in the game just so I can finish it and compete against the other Ferrari’s but again I am impartial to them.
