I have to admit that GT4 is really, really great. However, I suppose I met with some surprise when I found that it really didn't blow GT3 out of the water. But when you think of it, that's a good thing, really. There are more reflections off cars, the backfires are great, the tracks and environments look great, sound and feel is largely improved, but does it blow GT3 out of the water? No way!
As good as GT4 is, I do think there were some things that I actually preferred in GT3, such as:
1) Rally: This is my biggest peeve about GT4. Rally was way easier in GT3, and by that I mean "fun!" Yes, I suppose that the physics in GT4 are improved, and even more realistic, but what really kills the rally mode in GT4 are those bloody 5-sec. penalties for hitting a wall, or the other car. It is important to point out that the other car can hit you, and bounce of the walls as much as it wants, but you can't. What's up with that!? That's hardly fair! I do my best to control my temper when playing these things, but after getting beat by some little upstart car for the "umpteenth" time on Citti Di Aria and Chamonix, the controller met with the floor! The only nice thing I can say, is that it is cool that whenever you complete any two-part race (single race for the licensed Tsubuka Circuit) in Special Condition Hall, that you get a car.
2) Replay views: I actually preferred a lot of the replays in GT3. They often use the view from just in front or behind the wheels, with the camera on the quarter panel, showing the wheels in motion while steering down the course at high speed. At first I didn't even think that they had that view in the replay modes for GT4, until I saw one for a brief second. It's nice to know that it's still in there, but they don't use it enough. (Okay, granted, that's a minor peeve, but a peeve just the same.)
3) Track Selection: You have to admit that there are more tracks in GT4, and most that returned have been remodelled excellently. However, there were some tracks that I would have loved to have seen back in GT4, such as the Rome Circuit, Smokey Mountain Rally, Special Stage Route 11, and I actually prefer the sunset version of the Laguna Seca raceway.
Ah yes, I almost forgot: I hate the fact that you can't play two-player on all the tracks. I know on GT3 that you couldn't race single or two-player on Complex String (Time Trial only), but in GT4 you can't play two-player on Grand Canyon Rally, and that's probably one of the best tracks! That sucks! You also can't race single player on Citti Di Aria, and only single player on Costa Di Amalfi. Again, that sucks! What's the problem? You race against the CPU on both those tracks, and yet you have limited play on them in Arcade? Huh? I don't get it. Maybe it's too much for the wee processor in the PS2.
4) Soundtrack: The soundtrack for GT4 is not bad by any stretch, and it is quite extensive, but unfortuately, it just isn't as good as the one for GT3. There are some great songs, for sure, like Panama (I have to admit I laughed out loud when I heard that in the opening movie, because it was so perfect), Murder by Papa Roach, James Brown, Jeff Beck, etc., but I remember that on the whole I preferred the soundtrack in GT3. I do have to say that the ability for people who hate rock to be able to substitute Classical music is nice, but in general I found the soundtrack lacking.
5) Formula One Cars: I am glad that the F1 cars have made a comeback, but I get the impression that there is only one type this time around, the Formula Gran Turismo. I think it is so cool that there are actually several F1 cars in GT3, and that they are based on actual F1 cars. That, and the fact that you don't have to do an actual 24-hour race to get one. (By the way, are they serious? Do they actually want/expect you to race for 24 hours on GT4 to win the F1 car? On the bloody Nurburgring!? They have got to be kidding!!!) Mind you, it is good that you don't have to go through the whole randomly picked prize car business in GT4. That used to drive me nuts on GT3.
Well gang, that's all I've got for now. Let me know if you feel the same way I do about these things, or if there are other things you are displeased with about GT4.
And whether you are playing GT3 or GT4 (I intend to play both), have fun!
As good as GT4 is, I do think there were some things that I actually preferred in GT3, such as:
1) Rally: This is my biggest peeve about GT4. Rally was way easier in GT3, and by that I mean "fun!" Yes, I suppose that the physics in GT4 are improved, and even more realistic, but what really kills the rally mode in GT4 are those bloody 5-sec. penalties for hitting a wall, or the other car. It is important to point out that the other car can hit you, and bounce of the walls as much as it wants, but you can't. What's up with that!? That's hardly fair! I do my best to control my temper when playing these things, but after getting beat by some little upstart car for the "umpteenth" time on Citti Di Aria and Chamonix, the controller met with the floor! The only nice thing I can say, is that it is cool that whenever you complete any two-part race (single race for the licensed Tsubuka Circuit) in Special Condition Hall, that you get a car.
2) Replay views: I actually preferred a lot of the replays in GT3. They often use the view from just in front or behind the wheels, with the camera on the quarter panel, showing the wheels in motion while steering down the course at high speed. At first I didn't even think that they had that view in the replay modes for GT4, until I saw one for a brief second. It's nice to know that it's still in there, but they don't use it enough. (Okay, granted, that's a minor peeve, but a peeve just the same.)
3) Track Selection: You have to admit that there are more tracks in GT4, and most that returned have been remodelled excellently. However, there were some tracks that I would have loved to have seen back in GT4, such as the Rome Circuit, Smokey Mountain Rally, Special Stage Route 11, and I actually prefer the sunset version of the Laguna Seca raceway.
Ah yes, I almost forgot: I hate the fact that you can't play two-player on all the tracks. I know on GT3 that you couldn't race single or two-player on Complex String (Time Trial only), but in GT4 you can't play two-player on Grand Canyon Rally, and that's probably one of the best tracks! That sucks! You also can't race single player on Citti Di Aria, and only single player on Costa Di Amalfi. Again, that sucks! What's the problem? You race against the CPU on both those tracks, and yet you have limited play on them in Arcade? Huh? I don't get it. Maybe it's too much for the wee processor in the PS2.
4) Soundtrack: The soundtrack for GT4 is not bad by any stretch, and it is quite extensive, but unfortuately, it just isn't as good as the one for GT3. There are some great songs, for sure, like Panama (I have to admit I laughed out loud when I heard that in the opening movie, because it was so perfect), Murder by Papa Roach, James Brown, Jeff Beck, etc., but I remember that on the whole I preferred the soundtrack in GT3. I do have to say that the ability for people who hate rock to be able to substitute Classical music is nice, but in general I found the soundtrack lacking.
5) Formula One Cars: I am glad that the F1 cars have made a comeback, but I get the impression that there is only one type this time around, the Formula Gran Turismo. I think it is so cool that there are actually several F1 cars in GT3, and that they are based on actual F1 cars. That, and the fact that you don't have to do an actual 24-hour race to get one. (By the way, are they serious? Do they actually want/expect you to race for 24 hours on GT4 to win the F1 car? On the bloody Nurburgring!? They have got to be kidding!!!) Mind you, it is good that you don't have to go through the whole randomly picked prize car business in GT4. That used to drive me nuts on GT3.
Well gang, that's all I've got for now. Let me know if you feel the same way I do about these things, or if there are other things you are displeased with about GT4.
And whether you are playing GT3 or GT4 (I intend to play both), have fun!
I cant take this waiting 
Oh, and one thing that it does have over the McLaren: great sound. The McLaren SL sounds like a vacuum cleaner on steroids; the Nuvolari actually sounds like a car.
