Gran Turismo 5

[Number45]

Speaking of times, no online leaderboards? Seriously?

I couldn't believe this either. If/when I do pick this up and assuming I get into it, time trials/leaderboards are pretty much the only thing I'm likely to do (after the licence/career mode stuff anyway). I'm sure I've read it's being patched in, not sure if it's in this weekends update or not.

[dvdx2]

Wow I was going to pick this up today but that's a pretty damming statement.

what does that have to do with your enjoyment of the game?

Also isnt it better for heavy installs if it saves the laser from getting a hammering, reading discs?

[saturn-gamer]

I couldn't believe this either. If/when I do pick this up and assuming I get into it, time trials/leaderboards are pretty much the only thing I'm likely to do (after the licence/career mode stuff anyway). I'm sure I've read it's being patched in, not sure if it's in this weekends update or not.

This weekends update will add rules to the online mode. Like maximum horsepower and weight classes.

But this, along with credits, were already in Prologue if i'm not mistaken?

[rmoxon]

Yes indeed he did, which in real terms means he could only have played it once.

Never in my entire life playing videogames have I played a game so poor that I felt it was going back to the shop after one time playing it. I really struggle to believe even the poorest entry in the Gran Turismo series could genuinely be that bad.

I don't mean to target teddymeow specifically, but I really don't understand the attitudes of some people in this hobby. Is it not worth spending a little time with the games you buy to see if they get any better? I have been able to find at least a little enjoyment in every game I fork out my cash for, even the duffers.

In this case it's even more baffling as it's a driving game - does what it says on the tin. The only reason I can think to return it so soon is if you were expecting football or something.

Well he said he wanted it to do somthing new, maybe he wanted there to be a mode where a bunch of cars knock a football about.....

I agree with what youre saying though, I dont get it either, this is GT and having put many hours into it already its the best in the series by far, Im absolubtley loving it and I feel its as addictive as anything I have played this year.

I too find it weird that you would buy a game called "Gran Tursimo 5" and be disapointed with this.

[Brad]

I think it's abundantly clear by now that you cannot decide whether you'll like this game by reading reviews or the opinions of individuals. Like Morpheus said 'No one can be told what Gran Turismo is'.

[hudson]

I couldn't believe this either. If/when I do pick this up and assuming I get into it, time trials/leaderboards are pretty much the only thing I'm likely to do (after the licence/career mode stuff anyway). I'm sure I've read it's being patched in, not sure if it's in this weekends update or not.

Leaderboards are on the way apparently. Still, I'm surprised that they weren't in from launch.

Eurogamer: On a specific note, will you be adding online matchmaking soon?

Kazunori Yamauchi: In this release we focused on the features that allow close friends to race together. Online updates are planned of course for leaderboard and matchmaking - [they're] all planned in the process of evolution.

[Phar]

Leaderboards are on the way apparently. Still, I'm surprised that they weren't in from launch.

From reading those comments it definately sounds like GT5 will be going through Spec II, III, IV stages, could probably be quite different from the current game in 6mths time.

Will probably get this over the weekend regardless of some of the negatives, it does sound like they probably would have been better off launching the game as Prologue and just updating that on a regular basis though, that way it could have had 3yrs worth of content and refinements made to it.

[Neon Ignition]

One thing I forgot, the actual menu for buying the standard used cars is awful. Why they can't just list them all by dealer in the standard way I don't know. I just wanna see what's available but it's just a random list of text boxes.

[Wools]

I've been playing this since Wednesday afternoon, having booked them off work to play GT5, and thought I'll chime in with some impressions.

Since the opening of GT5, I've been struggling to focus my attention in any one area of the game. I have Licences to complete, A spec races to take part in, I'm continually drawn to special events as they're so diverse and exotic compared to the normal races, cars I want to buy in the dealers, a garage that needs sorting, GT TV has a special on Goodwood 2009 I want to download, Arcade mode is drawing me to rally races I've yet to take part in, I want more money to tune my GT-R '07 (That can beat any car I've tried it with) and it was only last night that I discovered photo mode. The game is so diverse, sprawling and polished, I just can't focus and I'm acting like a kid in a sweet shop.

I also can't find enough superlatives to do this game justice. It's polished, definitive, exhaustive and beautiful. Despite this, it's also esoteric, bewildering and ugly all at the same time.

Although I don't want to mention those lesser moments, they are there. The loading and install times at the opening of the game were bloody ridiculous, and even then, I was still hit by network issues and install times thereafter. Trackside detail is both wonderful yet on some tracks it's completely bland, lacking any complexity with stretched textures and plain details. The Premium cars are truly a thing of beauty, the best recreation of cars that I've ever seen in any videogame, PC or Console. But on the other side you have the standard cars which are relics of the PS2 era, some being faithful recreations, others being horrible looking slabs of polygons, with 4 moving wheels.

If those faults bother you then I can imagine you'll struggle or not even bother with this game. However, if you're like me and class them as chinks in the armour, or you're completely blind to it (And with those install times, you better be!) I can't think of one other driving game that comes close to GT5 that is so full of passion and content, it surpasses everything else I've played. With only 25% of the game completed, and a wheel stand pro yet to be delivered, GT5 is going to consume hundreds of hours over the following years. Absolutely brilliant.

Also, here's a few pictures I took of the 458 in photo mode last night. Many apologies for the sizes dial up users!

[hudson]

Interested to know if anyone bought a wheel for the first time to play this game and whether or not you've stuck with it?

[Number45]

I'm not picking up the game until I can justify a G27 + stand to myself (and I have other priorities at the moment). I want to make this my first proper GT game, and I feel I'll need a wheel for that to happen.

EDIT: Also, great write-up Wools.

[wod]

Interested to know if anyone bought a wheel for the first time to play this game and whether or not you've stuck with it?

I'm in too minds whether to get one, that logitech gt wheel for 80, as i've never had a wheel before.

[MartyG]

If you're intending to be playing this game a lot a wheel is almost essential as it transforms the game. The input precision in particular compared to a pad makes placing the cars on the right lines that much easier, and the force-feedback allows you to work out how near to the limit you are. I could be tempted to upgrade if there are setups now with force-feedback on the brake and clutch pedals.

The downside is they take up lots of space and need something decent to attach them to so that they're solidly held (the force-feedback in some is very strong) and not in an awkward position to use.

Incidently, how to people use their pedals? With one foot for brake/accelerator or do you left foot brake?

[Rossco]

I always used right foot for braking as it was the most realistic way. Are there any wheels now that require a clutch pedal to change gears? I would love that if GT5 supports it?

[Brad]

Totally agree re: the wheel. You can't possibly have proper control of a car's accelerator and brake using buttons. There just isn't enough movement in them. Same goes for the wheel really but the precision that a proper brake pedal gives you makes it possible to stick really close to the cars in front when taking corners for example.

I left foot brake. Felt odd for about 5 minutes but now it's second nature. This allows even faster control/reactions to situations.