Anyone bored of GT5 (or almost)?

[the Interceptor]

I'm fairly new to the series, started with prologue but it sounds to me like those that are bored were looking for an arcade game (level, points what's next) and those that aren't bored were looking for a racing sim. Those that are bored call it a "grind" to "level up". Which infers the point of the game is to reach a higher level and the way to do it is to grind, not race. To me the point of the game is to race and drive cool cars and the credits are just so I can buy new cars.

This post made me think: what was so different for me in previous Gran Turismos? And I think I have some answers...

I remember in GT3 and GT4, I've never been bothered by not having enough credits to buy the car I wanted or needed, because I always found an event I hadn't done (manufacturer races for one), an event I hadn't done with the car I wanted to use for it or an event I hadn't done the way I wanted to do it (maximize A-Spec points). I remember I even felt happy at times that I didn't have enough credits, because it gave me a good reason to do race series X with car Y in configuration Z. Doing the races was fun, getting the credits was fun, life was good.

But what is so different in GT5? Well ... a lot of the races I would have wanted to do when I get bored with simple A-Speccing do not exist. The races and race series which do exist feel odd. I often find the choice of tracks "unfortunate", I only nodded two or three times throughout GT5 when I came across a track choice which seemed appropriate. Also, a lot of tracks I loved are missing: Midfield Raceway, Apricot Hill (my favorite), even the Test Course. The track choice in GT5 is limited, the choice of tracks in A-Spec events is even more limited, and the track creator surely does not make up for that.

Then, there is not enough reward for completing a race series or a championship. I only get a handful of credits and either a more or less useless or no prize car. In GT3 and 4, I used to collect prize cars in different colors or won them simply for the sake of collecting the credits of the races as well as selling the car. But applying the races was just as much fun as winning the money. In GT5, neither seems desirable for me.

This is also connected to the AI. I would say that some attributes were improved significantly, for example breaking up the typical "staying on the racing line at all times" numbness of the computer opponents. They also fight for position more intensely. Then again, they do a lot of odd things on many tracks. They brake at locations where you usually don't, they sometimes are aware of you and sometimes are not, they seem to have a much better road holding in collisions than my car has. People say that despite having any hp or other class limitations in races, I can make it as competitive as I like by enrolling with a mildly-tuned (or even stock) car. But can I, really? Technically, yes, I can. But it's not really fun, because taking on the AI is more like putting up with the faults in its programming rather than battling opponents. The AI in previous GTs might have been boring, but at least it was advanced enough to provide a good race when our cars were comparable.
This obviously also affects the B-Spec mode. I like the idea, I really do. I have 6 B-Spec drivers, I'm at overall level 25 or so. But I stopped to see the point in doing this. I realized that the main reason I raise these drivers stopped being fun and started to be grinding for credits while browsing the internet. This can hardly have been the intention of PD when they designed this mode, but as with almost every part of this game, I don't really see the point of it.
I'm simply running out of reasons to justify for myself that I do anything in this game. Whichever way I approach Gran Turismo 5, I find a little bit of fun and a lot of frustration and timewasting. My logical conclusion: I know better ways to waste my time.

Another thing which has been floored severely by a couple of odd decisions is the role of Top Gear in the game. I adore Top Gear, have done so for years. I was so happy to find out that the TG test track is in GT5.
But then, I found none of the two "reasonably priced cars" in GT5. There are no standing starts in GT5 (when every lap of the track in GT5 is done with a standing start). The special Top Gear challenges do not seem to have any connection to the show other than to be happening on the TG test track. So whichever way I turn it, everything I would have loved to do which is in some way related to Top Gear is not possible in the game.
Of course I can find the exact spot on the track where the timer starts and do a manual standing start. Of course I can choose a car very similar to one of the reasonably priced cars. Of course I can hotlap a car the TG boys have on their board to see whether I can match the time. But this is all staged. I need to come up with walkarounds for problems which shouldn't exist in the first place.

If you're still with me, you might have noticed that I used the term "odd" quite a few times. This is the picture I get of this game: it is odd. It can be a very very good game in specific moments, but judging the overall layout and gameplay, this is below average for me and certainly not good enough as a Gran Turismo title. I played through the majority of the A- and B-Spec modes as long as it was all shiny and new, but by now, there are almost no reasons for me to fire up GT5 other than that I have bought anyway, so I can as well play it. Doesn't really sound like I'm having fun, does it?

 

[paulpg87]

Bored of b spec, and i'm like level 1 b spec

 

[PedanticNerd]

Interceptor, I agree with you.

GT has always been about a massive selection of events, and even when this massive selection of events has been completed, which can take years of gameplay, it is still fun to replay those events with the cars you want to use, and not necessarily the cars a lack of funds the first time around forced you to use.

Does GT5 continue that? hmmmmmm. Well, as so many people have quite rightly pointed out so many times, it doesn't continue the massive selection of events. The initial play-through isn't going to last years.
Does it continue the replay value? In part. I had a blast yesterday when I found a TVR Cerbera in my UCD and took it straight to the British Lightweights series. Part of the fun was seeing the London track, a fantastic circuit which sadly appears just once in the entire career, and part of the fun was the multiple attempts it took me to beat the Lotus Elise up front.
But at the end of the race, I accepted my prize money (a relatively healthy amount too) and received 840xp. 840 when I needed 500,000 to level up and was already 280,000 of the way there. It was only at that stage when I stopped to think, " what's the point?".

This level system is poorly implemented to the extreme. Everything worthwhile unlocks during the first 25 levels and those initial levels are over so quickly that they literally vanish as you progress through the game. After that the jumps become monstrous, and since later events give you considerably more exp, you limit yourself to those. This level system is what has taken away the game's replayability, and that replayability could have saved it.

What was wrong with using licences to unlock events? Sure, I always found them a chore, but getting a Special licence doesn't render the races which require a National B usless.

But maybe the level system isn't such a bad thing. It's what's made me realise what I enjoy about the game, and I've only noticed that because it's no longer there. I'm not sure as many of us would have complained about the lack of events were it not for the restrictive level system.

So now we know that's the problem, get rid of it! Make the licences mandatory, and give us more events!

I want to see a greater variety of cars showcased across a greater variety of tracks. I want the freedom to be able to repeat these events as many times as I wish, and I want to be able to enjoy them without the constant niggling thought that I should be trying to level up instead.

I'm rambling, so in short, I enjoy GT, so let me.

 

[Wienish]

I just keep challenging myself and suite myself with that. First I want to complete all the championships and races, then I want to try to get everything golden (challenges etc.), level 40 would be nice in my opinion. If I won't have all cars then yet, I certainly will collect the cars until I have every single car in the game, and besides: i have a little tuning garage on this forum, that keeps me busy as well.

Nope, not bored yet.

 

[JackC8]

I was thinking that what would be great is if they had a "Season 2" in A spec, where once you got gold in every race up through Extreme, you could then go back to beginner for a second season, with massively higher exp and credits. There could be restrictions on which cars you could use - no X2010 vs. Daihatsu Midgets. Maybe even horsepower restrictions. That would be sooooooooooo much more fun than just doing these endurance races over...and over...and over, knowing full well that when you reach the next level you'll have to do them twice as many times to get to the level after that.

There would actually be a reason to try out all the slower cars, it would add a lot of variety, yadda yadda yadda.

 

[the Interceptor]

Talking about leaving out purposeful restrictions like hp limits and instead introducing artificial restrictions to prolong the gaming experience, I just remembered what they did in GTPSP to do just this: they introduced the 4 car dealers per 2 days limit. Also, there were no racing events in this version whatsoever.

Looking back now, the PSP game could been taken as a hint for things to come, an indication which way Polyphony Digital is taking with Gran Turismo: simplify and introduce limiting factors to slow down game progress.

 

[tonedef99]

I love the game, but occassionally I do feel boredom set in. Here's my issue! Most of the selling points in the advertising campaign are little to nothing in the actual game. I know there are many updates to come, and I can't wait, but I just feel like this was intended to be the greatest game ever, to really bring the racing experience to fans, and that apple fell far from the tree. Here are a few examples: 1. Nascar racing on tracks like Laguna Seca. Really? Who the hell wants to lumber around in a heavy beast of a stock car on tracks intended for smaller, lighter cars? Why wouldn't you include more "NASCAR" tracks? 2. Formula racing- don't get me wrong, the tracks are on point and the cars are nice, but why not include more cars. Also they force you to use the Formula GT car. It just makes no sense. You already have the Red Bull title in the game, as well as Sebastian Vettel.......soooooo why not add his F1 car while at it. I really do love the game and remain a loyal fan of the GT series, but gentlemen, lay off the mushrooms while laying the idea foundation for a game. P.S. Fernando Alonso ftw in 2011!!!!

 

[Gejabo]

I was getting bored when I was level 24, and had to grind... Grinding isn't racing -.-
Now that i've unlocked the Endurance, it's fun again

Depants on the care you use. just get a lowerpowered car and it is racing agian.

To answer the Qestion of the OP.
NO I not borede with GT5 and won't be for a long time

I'm level 24,5 and only have done 2 of the extreme events, so no american cup, no FGT, no dreamcar, no DTM and so on yet.

Go race online, find your own challenge.

Or if you really can't be bothered just selle the game

 

[ChadSpeed]

Wow if you are getting bored of gt5 already I can't imagine how long previous gts lasted. ?

I am getting bored already, but I think its parlty due to all the time I spent on previous GTs. I have simply done all the time trials I can do, at least if my times are not posted on a leaderboard anyway. The online and seasonal events are all that draws me back on occasion. 👍

 

[Gerner]

Im really bored of the game atm.. And im never gonna play those Endurance race (Maybe the first 60lap race) But rest will not be played..

 

[vantage2]

Figured it would make sense to add a poll to this thread, should have done it originally :s

 

[audi S4]

I have a wheel that I play this game with and I believe that really keeps the game interesting for me. Dont get me wrong I am loving the game so far, yes it has its flaws but I am satisfied with what we did get from GT5. I voted for still having fun!

 

[Nielsen]

The number of events doesn't really affect the lifetime of GT5 if you ask me. Sure it's nice to have a lot of different stuff to do to earn money but the core of the fun is to drive. I don't need a bunch of pointless events to enjoy that. I'm still having fun and future updates will hopefully extend it.

I haven't even touched any of the Expert, Extreme or Edurance series yet and I'm not in a hurry either. I primarily start game just to enjoy and experiment with my collection of cars.

 

[Turkey :D]

I'm starting to get bored. There's not enough premium cars and some of the tracks, especially Cape Ring, are really lame.

 

[ghostrider135]

I'm quickly getting bored there's far too few events, I hate grinding and I refuse to leave my ps3 on for however long it will take me to actually get 24 hours for an endurance race and having these seasonal events is all well and good but ive still got to sign in to psn etc just to play them we need more a-spec and b-spec events fast we need more of a game, Thank heavens LBP2 is nearly out

 

[Gigantoad]

I'm not bored yet at all. I'm close to level 28 and mostly enjoy driving my FGT right now. Trying to drive without aids and switch to manual shifting gives me a lot of satisfaction. It's just so much more fun to actually feel what the car does and to try get my lap times back from when I used aids, or even top them.

Then of course there's the X1 coming up that I'm certainly curious about.

 

[paulpg87]

I'm sure the previous GTs lasted longer due to the amount of events they had.

GT5 is just too little in A-Spec events, B-Spec makes it even more boring in my opinion.

👍👍

 

[bazylfox]

I'm level 27th Aspec and 23rd lvl Bspec, and i'm not even close to getting bored with the game.

I have so much fun just driving Nordschleife with all my bimmers
Yesterday i've earned GTR-07 record trophy and human stopwatch trophy !

Since i've got no time to play endurance races during week, i'm waiting for the weekend to try them up !

If you're getting bored with the game try to race every car on every track !

Then make some tracks of your own and then race all cars on them.

 

[hickey]

I'm not getting bored at all. I've just reached level 25 in A-Spec and in B-Spec I'm at level 26. At the moment I'm spending my time doing the seasonal events before they get closed (I ignored them at the beginning). Also, I have still some extreme races to do in as well as the endurance races. However, I'm not sure if I ever will do the 24h races.

This game has some many challenges to do and I think I won't be bored for the next couple of weeks.

 

[A1-242]

I can't believe what i'm reading, Do you think F1 drivers get bored driving the same car around the same tracks? When i race online my heart beats like mad, its an intense experiance. I have recently been racing SuperGT300 in a Japanese lobby & im addicted. As long as the cars you race against are competitive, you shouldn't get bored.

 

[Lloyd87]

I pretty much have no desire to play the game anymore. I bought every car that I wanted (except the X1 and Ferrari F1's) and the game just ran out of replay value.

What is the point of the game now? Anyone else feeling the same? (and happen to still be browsing these forums? lol)

You know I was about to open a thread like this!

I've started feeling the same since i've realized that completing vettel's challenge using a simple dual shock 3 is almost impossible.

 

[uncle_hayley_j]

Bored, until I hit the Top Gear Test Track on multiplayer and just have a fun time .

 

[bombe32]

Interesting with the poll. Shows that those who are far in the game has nothing more to do. I am 35 A-spec, nothing to race. No chance for me to complete one of my endurance races on Suzuka (1000km), Tsukuba (9hrs) or Le Mans (24hrs).
All special events gold, all license tests gold. Online won't work.

Tell me, what could I possibly do to actually accomplish anymore in the game?

I am just hoping that soon a new patch will add something to do.

 

[ZSPaulus]

Here's an idea that came to my mind; Sell all the game stuff you have and buy youreself a real car.. (That is if your old enough..)

You can have so much fun in a real car its just rediculous!

 

[brambos]

Tell me, what could I possibly do to actually accomplish anymore in the game?

I'm still at level 22, so there's stuff left for me to achieve, but once I hit the endurance races the events will be over for me. There's no way I can fit those monstrosities into my life when I have about an hour of game time per day, max.

However, GT PSP has kept me busy for weeks by just letting me build my garage. I figure that's what I'll be doing once I get to level 35: collect cars... all-out-Pokemon-style and just re-run races and practice tracks with my new cars to find the hidden gems in the dealerships.

 

[bombe32]

Even though practice is a good thing, it's not that I buy a game for. I buy it for the racing.

The online play in GT5 is the worst I have ever tried in any game. Horrible. If I want to have some good races I need to participate in the events created on forums.

 

[kuma78]

I've started playing Burnout Paradise again, pretending that all the other cars are bob, and I have a blast.. a absolute BLAST slamming and forcing them to die horribly.. or at least mangle the car.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

I have really tried to enjoy this game, but the standard cars just kill GT5 way too much for me. Online has been fairly fun when its not lagging to bad. But being forced to run the hood view because there is no interior on 80% of the game is just ruining the experience for me. Plus cant change wheels and all the other problems with the standards. So yes pretty much bored of the game already. I could accept no interior and not being able to change wheels on an arcade game. But on a sim thats been in development 5-6 years? No way. Plus we cant even take the standard cars to the photo travel. I just dont even see why they imported the 800 cars from the PSP. It just kills it for me.

 

[lrn2swm]

I've started playing Burnout Paradise again, pretending that all the other cars are bob, and I have a blast.. a absolute BLAST slamming and forcing them to die horribly.. or at least mangle the car.

I have been playing Shift and having a blast, while waiting to see if PD sends us any more content.

Loved GT5 while it lasted, unfortunately I wanted a lasting relationship and GT5 wanted a one night stand. (Well, in fariness a month and a half.)

 

[marky5244]

I'm bored with it because I want to race the AI drivers but I find the AI pretty awful. Why, oh why, do they have to brake so early for the corners? If the AI was improved I think I'd be enjoying GT5 a whole lot more...