Gran Turismo 6 review

[Bassman]

There have apparently been problems with freezing PS3's when downloading the new update (V1.03), so it was with baited breath I fired up the game a little while ago. No problems... fortunately.

As the BMW M4 now has an interior there are two new Seasonal Races. One with the M4 at Willow Springs and the FT-1 at Laguna Seca.

Took a few laps to Gold both events. I got my third BMW M4 (I bought one before doing the Seasonal the first time). A couple or so laps to Gold on the secondary account I have with the 200% Bonus... at least it was only a second M4 there!

[VR46]

Excellent, look forward to giving that all a go tonight.

In other news, nearly at 100% with GT6



Is pretty easy to get to 85% completion then it gets hard, especially golding Karts, Cone, Drift Challenges etc. To get 100% you need to gold all events in all licence classes.

For example, from when I hit 95% it took me to upgrade seven Goodwood bronze and silvers to golds to go from 95% to 96% last night. Not sure I can face any more annoying races/challenges so may never get the 100% mark sadly.

[wakka]

How many hours of play is that David?

[analog dog]

Dude you're so close you've got to do it!

[VR46]

How many hours of play is that David?

About 35 hours actual driving I think, will check tonight.

Dude you're so close you've got to do it!

That's what I thought before I span a kart out during a championship last night and p*ssed another ten minutes away for the millionth time gggrrrr.

Think I only have two bronze's across the four(?) drift challenges, really hate them and struggle with them greatly.

Cone challenges can be replicated from Youtube replays fairly easily.

[VR46]

It's more like 45 hours driving now I've checked.

Done the update, gone to status, and this, I'm down to 93%



As no new content has been added to the actual game need to sort this, a post on GTPlanet is incoming

Thought the two new Seasonals were far too easy. Clean lap and a gold is almost a given.

EDIT seem like I'm not alone

http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/status-dropped-after-1-03-update.297225/#post-9211753

[Bassman]

I've never done that well with Seasonals on GT5, but these are within my capabilities. I suspect they are trying to make the game appeal to a wider audience.

The only one that gave me grief was the one with the Hudson, though some of the Anniversary ones proved a little troublesome until I got all the cars.

I haven't checked my game for %, but as I am not near 100% it probably won't make much difference. I haven't touched a Kart in a while. I think I am complete up to National A on them.

I eventually managed some more S License races. I completed Suzuka and Brands Hatch. I eventually went for the BMW V12 LMP on Racing Softs and had no real issues with rain, though I used the default fuel allocation at the pit stop and was doing some coasting to conserve fuel on the last couple of laps.

At least they sorted the tyre width thing. I wonder when (if?) they will sort the Stockyard sometime soon...

Edit... Those S Class wins were before V1.03 because (just been to GTP where I use my PSN name). The "fixes" in V1.03 make the timed races difficult as back markers have a tendency to win the race because they cross the line ahead of you! It doesn't apparently work to drive once to the finish line and wait for the race to finish and cross the line.

[VR46]

Each update seems to add it's own problems and you're right about the game being aimed at a wider audience for sure.

Really do hope we'll see at least a demo/Prologue for GT7 on the PS4 before 2014 is out.

Have you done any of the S Class Mission races Bassman? some of them are pretty tough, the last couple like the GT40 at the 'Ring, the AI is a right pain in the ass and makes things much more tricky when you can't clip them or it's lap over. Even some of the shorter ones the AI seems to be at the apex at the wrong time at a slow speed and is pretty frustrating when you're trying to push. Is all good though, thankfully restart actually restarts quite quickly.....

I'm actually pretty good at the single gear karts now, but the shifter ones are a whole new ball game - brakes just aren't up to the job of slowing you from 100+ mph quick enough. With the karts make sure you do an oil change and engine rebuild if poss (only costs about 5000CR), adds 1 bhp and a bit to the PP.

[Bassman]

I rather lost interest on the Mission races after trying some for the earlier licenses. Like you, I am not a fan of the Cone events.

I hate races with penalties at the best of times. With the dodgy AI it makes it a not very enjoyable experience.

I can't see myself graduating to a PS4 any time soon (another car is probably my next priority). I suppose the best we can hope for is a demo for the next game. Knowing PD I would be very surprised to see anything for the PS4 before next year, though maybe with the resources tied up for that, the GT6 patches may be delayed somewhat.

I must admit to not doing oil changes unless necessary as it means the PP stays constant and you don't need to keep adjusting the tuning to re-run limited PP races. I hadn't thought of doing that with the Karts. Next one I will do so.

Edit... Nice to see that the game now does an Autosave after you get your Login Bonus... at last.

[VR46]

Percentage drop is down to the Red Bull Challenges by looks of things, I completed both for the first time tonight and completion jumped to 97%, must be in preparation for the two remaining Red Bull Challenges becoming available later this month.

[Bassman]

Three more Seasonals with the latest update.

One is that old favourite... Ascari. To add insult to injury you get to use an NSX on Comfort Softs.

I had won the Acura NSX and tried that out on the Seasonal and was a few seconds off the pace. Decided it could use some aerodynamics which of course had a severe effect on the PP. Power upgrades tell you the PP instantly now, but there is no mention of the effect when you add aero parts.

In doing the new Seasonals I remembered one of GT6's little idiosyncracies... Front engine cars get a better power to weight ratio the heavier they are (well it applied to the Scirocco from one of the Deep Forest New Seasonal) whereas Mid Engine cars get a better power to weight ratio the lighter they are.

Having "butchered" the Acura I bought the Honda NSX S Type Zero as it was light. A 6 speed box as standard would help being at good revs more often and with the Custom Transmission and a lower top speed, accelleration would be improved. I used all Weight Reduction and got the PP to 470 for the race after adding some engine upgrades (cheapest of each type) to get Peak Power for most of the Rev Range and a reasonably low Kg/HP. I returned to the track. The car didn't seem quite as friendly as the Acura but I got Gold on the 3rd lap. I think I could have gone faster as the car did seem to bog down a bit on one corner and I was being a bit on the cautious side towards the end of the lap... for obvious reasons. That is a long lap in terms of time!

[VR46]

Good stuff, didn't realise more Seasonals were on the cards, did you gold them all easily enough?

Prior to that there was a small update last night which fixes some of the problems caused by the 1.03 update ie the x minutes races.

Did you know where you place the ballast in the car can also affect PP?

[Bassman]

It took a few laps but I did Gold them all.

I wondered if the small update was a fix, though seeing the new Seasonals I wondered if it was for them.

I have seen the PP change when the ballast moves.

[VR46]

I did the NSX one in the '02 model, it's already about 468PP so one minor tune add about 40kg of ballast and away you go, 3.8 seconds under gold time on second attempt, I do know that track really well though after the hour or so spent doing one of the Veyron challenges there. Sliding through the first chicane with ease really helps you start the lap well.
The '02 model on the softs is pretty good and handles well, hardly any tyre squeals either.

Love the X-Bow, that and the Scirrocco were too easy. Half decent clean lap and it's hard not to be near gold time.

Bring on the next ones

[VR46]

Done with the bog standard content in this game now. Got 572/573 stars and 98% completion.

Have golds on everything bar these which I have bronze/silvers on:
Drift Challenge 1, 2 & 3
125 Shifter Kart Race 3 (this is the one star I'm missing, got second about four times now)
Goodwood Run 15 - the Red Bull one.

Been fun and I look forward to the two extra Red Bull bits being unlocked later this month.