RE: Gran Turismo Sport - first taste
Sunday 22nd May 2016
Polyphony launched the latest instalment of the Gran Turismo franchise in London yesterday, PH there to check out this long-awaited iconic driving game. Held at the Olympic Park the event was obviously intended to make a splash and offered a surprising number of distractions from the game itself, not least the largest collection of Vision Gran Turismo concept cars ever assembled and passenger rides in a selection of supercars.
Finally sitting down with GT Sport was an enjoyable, if (whisper it) slightly underwhelming, experience. The gameplay itself is very competent, but not quite the revolution it's been billed as in an era of Project Cars and Assetto Corsa. The physics and handling models are still very good and especially rewarding when the game is played with wheel and pedals. Visually it's beautiful too, with all of the initial 137 cars and 19 locations, including the return of dirt tracks, rebuilt from scratch for the PS4.
Online is where Gran Turismo Sport is likely to be of most significance for PHers though, thanks to the official partnership between the game's developers and the FIA. This means the in-game championships are FIA sanctioned, with very real trophies and recognition awaiting the winners. More incredibly the game also offers players the chance to earn a real life racing licence. Yes, you read that right. According to Polyphony "by fulfilling various prerequisites, such as completing the lessons in racing etiquette in the Campaign Mode of Gran Turismo Sport and reaching a certain level of achievement in Sport Mode, you will be eligible for the FIA Gran Turismo Digital Licence from your local ASN (national sports authority/automobile club). This will hold the same value as a real life licence." What a time to be alive.
Gran Turismo Sport - first taste
Amid the glitz and glamour of the launch event we bag our first go with Gran Turismo Sport
It's perhaps not yet quite as polished as Forza 6, though it is still six months from release with a few creases to iron out in that time. As 'driven' there are noticeable drops in frame-rate when multiple cars are on screen and the rather underwhelming audio experience, despite Polyphony's poaching of Forza's lead sound engineer last year.
The game's offline structure is somewhat changed from its predecessors. GT Mode becomes Campaign Mode with 117 offline events to keep players busy and Photo Mode becomes Scapes, with over 1,000 locations in which to photograph your cars. These can now be fully customised thanks to the new to the series Livery Editor.
Currently over 22 countries and regions have signed up for the collaboration, including the UK, although the level of licence players will be able to obtain will vary dependant on location. More on this as details emerge, as well as a full review of the game closer to its release!
Gran Turismo Sport is out in the UK on the 18th of November for PS4.
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Discussion
"More incredibly the game also offers players the chance to earn a real life racing licence. Yes, you read that right. According to Polyphony "by fulfilling various prerequisites, such as completing the lessons in racing etiquette in the Campaign Mode of Gran Turismo Sport and reaching a certain level of achievement in Sport Mode, you will be eligible for the FIA Gran Turismo Digital Licence from your local ASN (national sports authority/automobile club). This will hold the same value as a real life licence." What a time to be alive."
While GT has always been visually stunning (some of those photo mode images genuinely look real!), the sounds have always given the impression of being recorded from inside a bag of spuds. The apparent non-inclusion of a damage model is unforgivable these days, even if that is a GT trait.
I'll be keeping an eye on this but from initial impressions it looks like a more polished GT5/6.
I'll be keeping an eye on this but from initial impressions it looks like a more polished GT5/6.
HelterSkelter said:
soad said:
robemcdonald said:
Looks like there is still no damage modelling.
Probably not always a bad thing (too many crashes).Sad to say but Gran Turismo won't get another penny of my money. Sorely disappointed with the AI & driving dynamics of the last few titles and I won't be duped again. Project Cars, Assetto Corsa & rFactor are all better options for people who like driving (granted last one isn't on ps4)
Oh and as someone else said, those engine sounds were awful!
Oh and as someone else said, those engine sounds were awful!
Ste1987 said:
GT6 did show dents and scuffs. I'm sure I read somewhere that they won't do damage to cars because, with it being a simulator, they would have to run crash tests to accurately portray the damage and, of course, that's too expensive.
Similar to what I've just posted in the other thread, anything like this would be slightly less forgivable if everything else around the game was as it should be in this generation. The game is still using PS2 assets for track side scenery, seemingly no vehicle damage modelling or track deformation, no weather effects and non authentic engine sounds.Look at this image taken from the trailer. The track side assets are embarrassing.
HelterSkelter said:
Similar to what I've just posted in the other thread, anything like this would be slightly less forgivable if everything else around the game was as it should be in this generation. The game is still using PS2 assets for track side scenery, seemingly no vehicle damage modelling or track deformation, no weather effects and non authentic engine sounds.
Look at this image taken from the trailer. The track side assets are embarrassing.
On the plus side the car on the grass will still be able to hit the apex of the corner and cruise into 1st place, where the AI will virigously attack until the final lap when they'll drop back like they've lost half their cylinders....Look at this image taken from the trailer. The track side assets are embarrassing.
QuattroDave said:
On the plus side the car on the grass will still be able to hit the apex of the corner and cruise into 1st place, where the AI will virigously attack until the final lap when they'll drop back like they've lost half their cylinders....
Funny and totally true!I just really want this to be great as I've got a Thrustmaster T300 GTE wheel bolted to a Gamepod GT2 rig and want something other than Project Cars.
Looks thoroughly disappointing and once again frustrating that they can't keep up with the current competition. I don't believe the visuals will look so underwhelming come release (probably next year), but that's never been a GT problem anyway. New features like the photo mode and the livery creator have been around since Forza 2 in 2007! PD's glacial turnaround for new releases doesn't help either.
I watched the Twitch stream they put up for the launch. Totally underwhelming. The physics reminded me of Ridge Racer and the audio was terrible, all the cars sounded like washing machines. They supposedly had a bunch of pros run the 5 lap race on the Nordeschleife but they were just crashing into each other so god knows what the game would be like with randomers. Just as well there's no damage though, you'd never finish a race if there was.
HelterSkelter said:
Similar to what I've just posted in the other thread, anything like this would be slightly less forgivable if everything else around the game was as it should be in this generation. The game is still using PS2 assets for track side scenery, seemingly no vehicle damage modelling or track deformation, no weather effects and non authentic engine sounds.
Look at this image taken from the trailer. The track side assets are embarrassing.
I could be in the minority but I'm more interested in how the cars behave dynamically & how much impact changes to e.g suspension/braking/weight/aero make than what the bloody trees look like. Look at this image taken from the trailer. The track side assets are embarrassing.
From what I read it looks like they are evolving the academy concept and making this an actual svirtual sport series. With the VR support as well I think this is going to be next level. Appreciate games like project cars might have a better engine but GT has the big sponsorship and relationships with FiA et AL. Whilst I hate the sounds this is an exciting prospect IMO.
aka_kerrly said:
I could be in the minority but I'm more interested in how the cars behave dynamically & how much impact changes to e.g suspension/braking/weight/aero make than what the bloody trees look like.
You're not in the least bit concerned that they can only be bothered to use 2D trees in 2016? Given this is supposed to generate interest in the game, you'd think they'd have tried to make it look good. Rightly or wrongly graphics play a big role in how games are perceived.
This is the VOD for the announcement stream. Race is at the end. You can decide for yourself how the driving dynamcis look https://www.twitch.tv/playstation/v/67375465
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