On 27/11/2010 07:40, Andrew MacPherson wrote:
> iRacing has messed with my definition of "far too expensive" so I am tempted by the
> idea of buying a PS3 just for GT5 and another Ring experience (among many others).
> So far I've seen quite a lot of comments but there's a really confusing mixture of
> "it suxs" and "it feels great!"
>
> There do seem to be some people finding the driving experience and FFB with a G25
> quite satisfying (in some of the cars anyway), which is intriguing. But as there's
> no other reason for me to buy a PS3 I really need some sense slapping into me.
>
> Feel free to slap away. :-)
>
> Andrew McP
As a long time "proper" sim fan (mostly pc racing sims) I am very much
enjoying GT5 on the PS3.

You have to take it for what it is, eg: a console based racing game, and
once accepted, simply enjoy what it does.

Graphics are great, the premier car models are simply stunning, watching
replays is quite literally like watching a replay of a real race. Photo
realistic (almost) lighting, shadows, details, etc. (10 out of 10)

Audio is also good with each car being sampled and surround sound gives
good effects.(8/10)

Car handling is perfectly fine considering this is a console game, cars
rise and fall with acceleration, braking, etc, cars can be slid (power
slides or pendulum turns when rallying, etc) car physics seem perfectly
acceptable to me. Different models have different handling to suit.
Rumbles through the controller help with feedback, but a controller is
not as realistic as a wheel. (8/10)

NB: I am using the standard PS3 controller with GT5, if racing on my pc
I would of course be using a wheel and pedals, so that takes something
away from the experience for me, and no matter how hard I try, my
partner simply will not allow me to have a cockpit setup in the main
lliving room, so it has to stay in the study with the pc! Maybe I'll
move the PS3 into the study at some point.... BTW I've read on-line that
using a wheel and pedals with GT5 is pretty good.

Damage modelling is ok, but is only used on the premium model cars.
Doesn't seem to affect the cars handling too much? (6/10)

AI are ok, no worse or better than any other racing game / sim I have
tried (eg; most of them). They do tend to stick to the racing line, they
can crash into you, they sometimes have crashes amongst them selves.
They sometimes do stupid things. But hey, thats racing and its also what
humans do....(7/10)

Car variety is good. The loudly proclaim over 1000 cars, but remember
that often (eg: Nissan Skyline, etc) can have upwards of 20 different
models for the same car, so in reality I estimate there are probably
around a few hundred (which is still very good).Car handling varies with
each car and there are a huge variety to choose from and once bought (or
won) they can be tuned with parts, which do affect the handling, you can
start out with a fairly basic car, and once you have spent some more (in
game cash) and tuned the car to its max, you can end up with a race
winning beast. (9/10)

Tracks are good and there is a wide variety (Road, Tracks, Rally,
Hillclimbs, etc). Oh, and it has the Ring. Track detail is good, with a
godo feeling of the terrain, land rises and falls, off camber bends,
etc. Oh, and it has the Ring. Track surfaces also affect handling (which
is good) Try using a powerful rear wheel car on a dirt track, gravel or
snow and you will slide a lot, which is as it should be. Oh, and it has
the Ring. There are old Playstation favourite tracks, and some new ones
too. Did I mention the Nurburgring? Its awesome....(9/10)

Licenses are still here, which are a good way to learn the different
techniques, cars handling and tracks. Great for noobs, but also
challenging for hardcore racers. (8/10)

Races are also good with a nice variety, rallying, time trials, hill
climbs, road and track races, some short, some long (24 hour anyone?) As
I mentioned in the AI section, they can make the racing interesting, but
IMHO are no worse than a lot of other games / sims. (8/10)

Multiplay includes on-line racing (pretty good so far, have only tried
it a few times and it was fun) and there is also split screen option. (8/10)

Overall I like it. I already had PS3 and I'm not sure I would buy one
just to play GT5. But if you already have PS3 gt5 is a must have, it is
the definitive Playstation game. If you are thinking of getting an Xbox
360 or a PS3, I'd go for the PS3, it has the built in Blu Ray player
(great) and on-line play is free, plus I think there are more games to
choose from on the PS3 (not sure though?).

In closing, as a PS3 game I'd give GT5 around a 9/10). But as a
simulator I'd give it less (around 8 or possibly 8.5/10)

I know purist sim racers will probably disagree with my views, buts that
what they are, my views only. I love proper racing sims, but I'm quite
happy to have a blast on a console game too. Each to their own....

8-)

Peter G (PJGTECH)