Well, let me tell you, driving a car to its limits on a track feels quite different to driving a car on normal roads (even if it's spirited driving).
GT5 reminds me of driving a car on a track, but not so much because of the physics (they're fun and allright), it's more because the visual part reminds me of sitting in a car and driving on a track, really.
In which you seem have a lot of experience? Haha, sorry, couldn't resist.
It feels very similar to Prologue in terms of physics. A little more smooth and not as nervous anymore, but there's smiliratities no doubt. It's like they went from Prologue to TT demo and back.
It's terrible (unless it's fall/winter/early spring). You'll sweat your ass off wondering why you got on a motorbike in the first place (to feel free, and now you're sitting there, all cramped inside a tight leather suit, sweating your ass off while other people enjoy the nice summer weather in their t-shirts).
It's the reason i sold my bike and bought a convertible.
I never understood people who insist on riding their bikes when there's ice and snow on the road. Sure enough, nothing could stop me from taking my bicycle for a ride on snowy roads when i was younger. Even when i was 18 years old, i still would drive my enduro bike over snowy backroads for fun... but going to work on a bike when there's snow on the streets, no thanks.
Can't you take the train/bus?
It shows you temperature (don't ask me what the colors represent and how it works exactly, no idea) and wear?
Re-racing events does not work. I tried it with the Turbo Car race in the Professional racing events, apart from the money you earn, i didn't earn any additional experience points to the points i've earned in the first try (made gold in both tries). So that doesn't work.
I'm wasting too much time with GT5. 
Level 20 now. Just bought an 458 Italia, didn't have time to test it yet.
By the way... how does one level up when all races and special events are finished? I'm not there yet, just curious... online races?
Level 20 now. Just bought an 458 Italia, didn't have time to test it yet.
By the way... how does one level up when all races and special events are finished? I'm not there yet, just curious... online races?
I can't stay away from the license tests, i keep coming back to them to do more. Got gold on all N-B, N-A, I-B and the first five S license tests, silver on the rest. Gotta get all gold times.... 
This is where i actually went the opposite way. I didn't believe the hype and focused on the negative things we've heard/seen about GT5.
I expected it to be really bad in every aspect (apart from nice premium car models, in other words a screenshot generator). And now, since my expectations were REALLY low, i'm positively surprised.
See, personally i think GT5 is a lot better than FM3.
In GT5 i can overlook the bad things because the actual driving with the G25 and cockpit view is great and a lot of fun.
In FM3 i can't overlook the toyish driving/driving feel/immersion while on the track... even tho i've always tried, since the rest of the game (menus, cars, customization, etc) is really good. I never was fully satisfied with FM3, if it weren't for the better graphics, i would have kept playing FM2 instead (because there, the driving was good actually).
I couldn't care less about the standard cars in GT5 by the way. I didn't have to drive one yet, and if i can do without, i'll stay away from them. To me, GT5 is a game with 200+ cars. Compare a Forza car with a GT5 premium car, otherwise it's not fair... Forza doesn't have "standard" cars.
To be honest, i'm having so much fun behind the wheel in GT5, that i don't care about all the things that are bad/missing as far as menus, features, etc goes. You seem to be the opposite in this regard. For example... if i remember correctly, you enjoyed some recent NFS titles quite a lot (pro street, shift?)... now, i think those are games which offer a pretty finished and "complete" game feel (all the things you're missing in GT5 now), but to be honest... i couldn't stand them personally, because they felt terrible to drive.
Different tastes.
Last edited by jibber, .
As i've written above, please name another racing game on a console with better graphics, better physics (i honestly don't think Forza has better physics, they feel a bit more natural regarding tyre modelling, but overall a lot more toyish, i believe FM2 had better physics), that works with my G25, has a good selection of real tracks and cars, etc. I can't think of one right now. Maybe one would think we could expect more from a racing game in 2010, yes... I thought the same actually... but can you name one that does it better (and not just in one area, i mean as a complete package)?
And regarding graphics. GT5P looked better? Come on!
I popped in the GT5P disc two days before i got GT5 and i was seriously worried about it, because GT5P didn't satisfy me anymore visually. Appart from the shadows and such things, which are horrible in GT5, this looks a LOT better than Prologue.
I completely understand what you mean.
I also expect the experience to "fade" once i've played this game for an extended ammount of time (notice that i'm still saying game, not sim). The experience is very immersive for me at the moment, and i love it, but i have a feeling there's a pretty undetailed and basic physics engine underneath (which usually shows when you've played enough, or in this case, when you play with a pad... felt weak to me (but also more fun again like GT3, as you mentioned)).
What i dislike the most is the sometimes weird looks of the game (tyres/wheels hovering above ground, bad quality shadows, etc) and the really long loading times.
I actually like the menus and everything. It's in proper Gran Turismo style in my opinion. Depends a lot on personal taste of course...
I know this is not the best game out there (physics wise), but damn, can you name another one that is better on a console with a wheel?
For me this is the most "rounded" experience i've had so far regarding a racing game on a console. Maybe LFS and iracing are better (ok, not maybe, they are, period.), but as a whole experience (including immersion, graphics, fun, etc), GT5 is great.
I know i didn't have as much fun behind a wheel for quite a while as i'm now having in GT5. I hope it'll last longer than a week or two...
Which renders your whole review a bit useless.
I mean, i basically agree with you regarding physics, even with a wheel, the cars don't handle exactly as they should (i also think they feel too loose/slippery/snappy a lot of times).
However, i've played it whith the controller a few times now (at night when the wheel is making too much noise), and compared to the wheel, it feels like a crappy arcade racing game. Try it with the G25, it's worth it.
Maybe your car's too fast? That has always been a problem with GT games, if you enter races with a too fast car, they'll be far to easy to win.
I have mixed feelings regarding the physics so far. Sometimes they feel really good (most of the time), sometimes there's moments when things feel really wrong (especially watching replays on certain tracks (nordschleife) the car sometimes seems to hover above the ground)).
I also had the impression that certain cars handle a lot better than others.
There's a race in the toscana during the grand tour special event where you drive a lamborghini... that thing handles like... i don't know, but it feels VERY wrong.
Anyway, drifting my S2000 is a blast... from time to time i catch myself saying things like "wow!", "holy ****", "ohh man, this is brilliant!" during the process.
I also had the impression that certain cars handle a lot better than others.
There's a race in the toscana during the grand tour special event where you drive a lamborghini... that thing handles like... i don't know, but it feels VERY wrong.
Anyway, drifting my S2000 is a blast... from time to time i catch myself saying things like "wow!", "holy ****", "ohh man, this is brilliant!" during the process.
So apparently the custom wheels cycle around like the used cars at the used car dealer. I love this game so far... but sometimes PD really makes strange decisions...
The S2000 is a bit "slippery" in real life too. Not as slippery as in GT5 tho, i'll give you that.
It doesn't bother me too much to be honest. As long as i have my S2000 with white Advan RG-II wheels it's all good.
Completed the two first AMG driving school events and unlocked the nordschleife yesterday evening by the way. Gonna have some fun on the ring tonight...
Completed the two first AMG driving school events and unlocked the nordschleife yesterday evening by the way. Gonna have some fun on the ring tonight...
Tried three different cars so far. S2000, RX-7 and Lancia Delta. If i remember correctly, the RX-7 and Lancia had less options than the S2000 (about two or three wheels less). None had more than about 10 different wheels to choose from.
Enkei, Volk, Advan, Prodrive... (maybe two models each), that's all i've seen in this game so far. Most of those wheels aren't very pretty either (3d models).
As funny as it is, but this is the biggest disappointment i have with the game so far (and that there's not enough interesting premium cars).
I'm a little disappointed with the aftermarket wheel options. So there's like 10 wheels in this game, that's it? 
I can see where he's coming from. I played for about eight hours today and i could feel in the first 30 minutes that the physics are still kinda "simple" when you explore their limits. It has improved a lot tho, and i think in 99% of cases it feels amazing. LFS would probably still be the better drifting simulator, but for racing and some small drifts here and there, this is exactly what i was hoping for... it's damn good.
I don't care if physics are simple, detailed, whatever... if they fool me into thinking i'm having an awesome time behind the wheel... they're good enough for me. This game does the job (for me at least).
PS: Replays look amazing (car dynamics, suspension, etc... a tiny bit too stiff, but still very impressive)!
FGED GREDG RDFGDR GSFDG