Review: GT3 was wicked, absolute poetry in gaming, so GT4 was eagerly anticipated.
The prologue was a little weak, I thought - not much more than an addendum to GT3 - foreboding?
GT4's physics engine is unarguably improved - but it's a matter of scale, GT3's was already superb. The graphics are also improved, but if you're engrossed in the driving, you'll hardly notice that.
There are a host of new cars to drive - one is almost spoiled for choice! And the circuits keep rolling in, every time you finish something.
By and large, if you got through GT3's licences, you'll find GT4's much easier (I suppose there had been objections that some folk were more interested in 'playing' the game, than in gaining insight into the vehicle physics, and learning the handling characteristics, but I found the simplicity of MOST licence tests a little routine)
I did say MOST. There are one or two genuinely testing licence tests - in particular, Nurburgring is a white knuckle, 14 mile ride - I passed on bronze with three seconds to spare! Unfortunately, Nurburgring is where you MOST notice the limitations of the graphics and physics engines.More of this, more of that, better this, better that - unarguably improved (and I've only completed 3.4% so far!), but.... It's a shame there has to be a 'but', isn't it? NO on-line support (so NO international tourneys!), although you can link-up locally. Car set-up's seem MUCH more simplistic, so all those 'learnings' you made on GT3 are more or less wasted. Somehow I'm dissappointed, and I can't quite put my finger on why? I suppose it's a realisation that I now know - if I WANT to win/make credits, all I have to do is spend money on the right car, untill it will beat the opposition. For ALL the improvements, somehow, I just hanker after the raw competativeness (and struggle to completion), of GT3. Somehow, the graphics aren't QUITE good enough, somehow, I now SERIOUSLY notice the physics engine limitations. Time to try another genre? |
PC & Video Games
