GT5 is a game.
As any game out there, it needs two things: 1- fun and 2-goals. Basic formula is that you're going to have fun meeting the goals the game sets for you. If anything in there fails, the game is simply not fun, not interesting, and you'll forget about it in no time. To give you an example, think about some RPGs where you just grind to be able to fight the next boss, so that developers can write 100+ hours of gameplay in the box.
But, GT5 is a game with a simulation aspect. I wouldn't call it a real simulator, as those are few and not really fun. Picture Flight Simulator, for instance. Very good simulation, and as fun as piloting a commercial airplane from London to Tokyo. So, GT5 makes some compromises with reality, and I believe everyone is well aware of this.
In it's evolution, the GT series grew considerably. Better graphics, better physics, more cars, etc. But it seems it has lost itself in the way. Not that GT should copy Forza, Shift, iRacing, TDU or anything, but as a gaming series, one would expect GT to improve. And that hasn't happened in the whole meaning of the word.
Simple things such as qualifying, leaderboards, A & B Specs together (as we could use Bob in GT4 during endurance races, for example), etc. are missing from GT5. Others, such as some tracks, are missing, even the ones that were present in past games.
This gives me the feeling that GT5 has a lot of content, but not much of a goal. And getting to this goal isn't exactly fun. I'll make some examples so you can get the idea.
1- Racing is way too easy. If I'm racing, let's say, among Ferraris and Lambos, I should be able to bring one to the race and find a good fight, instead of resorting to a lower car so that the AI can keep up.
2- I can't save endurances while mid race, but I also can't alternate the driving with my Bobs. So, I have a whole B-Spec mode that feels a bit pointless. Remove the rewards and there's nothing else to bring us there. It's a game we want to play, not a video we want to watch.
3- So, if we remove the rewards of races, and the need to reach certain experience levels, what is the incentive to come back? How many memorable races did you have in GT5? This is somewhat frustrating, for sure. And shows that the basic game formula is flawed. The goal is to level and collect cars, not the races per se. And to achieve such a goal, one has to do the same few races over and over, or struggle to find good online matches.
I'm not sure how the development of GT5 was conducted, but I can see a clear lack of focus in the whole process. A conclusion that stroke me when I began to really see beneath the surface of the game. Remove all the eye candy, the new features, and GT5 is GT4. You enter a race and it feels like a time trial, unless you bring a lower car. The same formula. Same thing. And this is sad.
That's why I think GT series should focus more on the racing aspect. To have a good racing game, you need racing realities. Good AI, mechanical damage, racing rules, etc. The driving aspect they have already nailed in most cases.
p.s.: Sorry if it was confusing, I'm a bit tired.
p.s.2: Please, don't come with arguments like "If you don't like it, don't play it". This is a forum, meant for a debate among the community. If you can't debate, then just don't.
Peace
