Get your specs on
Despite being 3D-enabled, GT5's world feels sterile and lifeless, nowhere more so than in track side details. Patently old-gen, with blurred, flat textures and simple reflections, GT5's environs look like model railways, with barren landscapes punctuated by plastic people and candy-floss trees.
City scrapes
Graphics aren't GT5's only shortcomings. The menu and navigation systems are unwieldy relics of the last generation. Every action is made more difficult by bewildering design choices, such as allowing you to enter into the Tuning Shop with a Go-Kart, but only bothering to tell you that you can't tune it when you come to select individual parts. Frustrating enough in itself, navigation becomes exasperating through slow load times. Excruciatingly slow to start with, load times remain lengthy even after GT5's watch-paint-drying 50-minute 8GB install.
The interface most frustrates in online racing. Without a proper invite system, your friends are left to search long lists for your lounge - GT5's persistent online race lobbies. Once found, its a confusing rush to choose restricted races and car types before someone hits the Start Race button, which is available to all lounge members. Any selfishness, momentary indecision or disagreement usually results in several players being precluded from races.
More hairpins than a fashion boutique
That said, with a little teamwork, races start without a hitch. And when they do, GT5 shows itself to be an excellent online racer. With up to 16 racers driving independently-tuned cars it's another mightily impressive display of physics. And with full chat and spectator options, along with basic social networking features, such as message boards and driving statistics, GT5's community features will ensure real longevity to its online offering.
Verdict
GT5 ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. Polyphony has fallen way short in fulfilling expectations of producing the defining racer of this generation. By spending too much time tinkering under the bonnet, the developer has failed to notice the advancements made by other racing teams. But while many drivers will be put off by GT5's infuriating dashboard and second-rate coachwork, there's no denying the technical genius under the bonnet and the thrill to be had in the drive. ®
More Games Reviews |
|||
 Tron
Evolution |
 007
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit |
 Assassin's Creed:
Brotherhood |
 Super
Meat Boy |
Gran Turismo 5
COMMENTS
Wow...
... You must really hate Forza.
Your suggestion that the reviewer is a Forza 3 fan, and therefore hates GT5 is somewhat stupid. Does the release of GT5 somehow delete every copy of Forza 3 in the universe? Does it somehow stop people playing Forza 3?
GT3 was the reason I bought the PS2, and I was eagerly awaiting GT5. So far, it feels just like GT3. Admittedly I am only level 10, but I've been racing over the same tracks as I did in GT3, and they don't look that much better at 1080p on a 42inch plasma. (Please feel free to post your anonymous comments about the poor quality of my TV, or the poor quality of my eyes etc etc, or how I am being paid by the Forza 3 team etc etc).
The menu system is ridiculous, but I can live with it. The fact that I can't change gear ratios, just the top speed on a Fully Customizable Transmission is a serious pain (And surely redefines the meaning of the word "Fully"?)
The graphics are unimpressive, but graphics do not make or break a game for me, so that isn't really an issue. I do wonder why all the GT5 fanbois are so obsessed with the "Amazing next gen graphics" though. Is that all they care about? It seems to be their one defense against any criticism of the game.
80% feels about right for the game. The long loading times on an installed game is very annoying, especially when trying to complete the licenses.
ho ho ho
Been playing this non-stop for 2 weeks now and have to say that graphically, anyone who thinks that the visuals are PS2 quality have broken eyes, a crap TV or shares in Microsoft. Haven't experienced any tearing whatsoever on my rather modest Evesham HD Panel and it's an old un. So in a nutshell don't buy crap TV's then blame the games for the TV's crap performance with fast moving images.
Yeah gotta love that
Negative comment about GT5 = Shill to Microsoft
Your opinions can only be bought and sold whereas my feelings for GT5 are pure I tell you!
Paris for the pure feelings rather than bought or sold of course
In all honesty...
If you liked GT4 you'll like GT5 ... just maybe not enough to splash out for a PS3 and the game.
Don't get me wrong, GT5 is a great driving game - but so was GT4 (and 2 and 1 - never owned 3 for some reason) - if you're a fan of the series and already own a PS3, buy it. If you don't own a PS3 this is probably not enough reason alone to get one - it's not without its pimples.
Still, there are plenty of other reasons to get a PS3 - BluRay player, ability to stream videos from a media centre PC, online film rentals, iPlayer on your TV (not an issue with Virgin Media admittedly) and plenty of other good games.
Confused
Did someone put a copy of GT4 in your GT5 box?
As clearly anyone that thinks GT5 does not play and look a generation ahead of the existing games is clearly either biased beyond belief, blind or has been paid off.
To even suggest it does not look as good as Forza3 is laughable to the extreme. Do hang your heads in shame for jumping on the bandwagon.
