Enthusia & GT ...

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For some reason I feel that, any upcoming car enthusiast should have these two games, for the shear overall understanding of motorsports (cars) inner workings and basic overall physics of driving.

These two games seem to compliment each other in so many ways. Does anyone else own and play both? And although Enthusia did not come to fruition as GT did, it seems so relevant as a companion game.

It is a wish of mine, that, someday PD & Konami will agree to allow a successful union of some of the platforms that underpin the beauty of the software. Such as the Enthu-point and Level format from Enthusia meshed with the A-Spec format of GT. And the union of the Physics engine along with tyre characteristics.

I'm not sure if this has been brought to the table before, but I thought it would be nice to have a discussion of the possibilities and potential that lie in the embedded coding, brilliance, of these two fantastic sims.
 
Assuming it's not someone with the same name, Enthusia's physics programmer works for Polyphony now and worked on GT5. And some people think the levels of Enthusia Life inspired the (much maligned) XP and levelling system in GT5. So there are (or rather, could be) elements of what you wish for. :)
 
Damn I wonder how Polyphony hired Enthusia's physics programmer. "DAMN I L0VED Y0UR W0RK ! Now screw Enthusia 2. Join the 0THER SIDE."

:\ Enthusia is such a great, unique game. A sequel seems highly unlikely now.
 
Thanks for the responses!

@ Wolfe: I haven't played GT5, as of yet, but from what I understand from various postings, here at GTP, the leveling system is more arcade-like than the Enthu-points level system. Which was based on individual race results and directly linked to a particular car that was utilized.

What I have noticed is the Driving Physics and the Nurb-ring are quite similar, based on what I've seen of GT5 on youtube. And yes, it is the same Physics Engineer from Konami, that is now employed by PD.


@ mistamontiel: Enthusia is definitely unique. When I purchased it many moons ago, it was seldom talked about, and at that time, the Grand-Theft auto series was making headlines all over yonder.

A very nicely packaged piece of software, Enthusia, that missed it's mark. The interesting part about the game, though, is how the challenge never seems to end.
 
DKLion3s..I just noticed it says you're a new member, next to your name. Just righteous. This IS the only Enthusia forum..I read Konami acted as if they never worked such a brilliant driving simulator in '05 for the PS2.

When you bring up Nurburgring, I remember having a time trial run on it, mostly screwing around. On the hunt for that song.

..Each and every single song is completely unique..and they fit so perfectly..the smoothest tunes I've heard and real upbeat as well..it is masterpiece, very few flaws..EPR lives forever
 
DKLion3s..I just noticed it says you're a new member, next to your name. Just righteous. This IS the only Enthusia forum..I read Konami acted as if they never worked such a brilliant driving simulator in '05 for the PS2.

Thanks for the welcome!

That's interesting! I guess they're shying away from their marketing failure. Although, IMO, EPR was brilliance for it's day, a step away from the then general arcadic structure of car games (console), new frontiers were achieved from it's inception.

When you bring up Nurburgring, I remember having a time trial run on it, mostly screwing around. On the hunt for that song.

Yeah, love the progression of the music on the "Ring", as if it's your companion along the journey. Love the way it ramps up, crescendos, towards the end of a lap.

..Each and every single song is completely unique..and they fit so perfectly..the smoothest tunes I've heard and real upbeat as well..it is masterpiece, very few flaws..EPR lives forever

I think the selections were very well matched for each track, as it didn't overpower the other effects. Quite simply, a well drafted equalization structure.
 
Yeah. Enthusia's on my list. I really liked its physics, especially during that time. Clutch was good too. I also played J's Racing and Driving Emotion Type S.
 
I recently made my third foray into Enthusia Professional Racing, however this was the first ever with a driving wheel. I purchased a Logitech Driving Force GT and it changed my console racing hobby into an addiction.

Fast forward to November when I purchased GT5 on release night and loved it. however, after playing for a few months, some things still don't quite feel 'right' with GT5's physics having my own fair share of experience in FR cars in real life.

I recalled playing Enthusia on my PS2 with a controller and loving it, with my main grief being that I found it impossible to be precise enough with a controller. Well, on to eBay I went and $10 and 3 days later a copy of Enthusia Professional Racing is at my door. The wheel changes the game completely compared to my previous experience, and after three days playing, GT5 has not been booted up since this gem arrived. The clutch and its usability, the VGS, the realistic countersteer inputs, the FFB, it's all brilliant!

I drive a Toyota Soarer in real life and the representation in-game in eerily accurate - especially the handling on the stock 55-series tires. The way it breaks loose progressively as a result of the peaky powerband is wonderfully re-created, and the car models in general put GT5 Standard cars to shame. In fact, the number of visible straight lines used around the wheel arches is less than with GT5 Premium cars in some cases. Furthermore, with the exception of some overly-blocky rooflines, the proportions on the cars are all perfect. Konami has given a wide range the same attention to detail that is only otherwise seen in the GT series and you have to appreciate this - I never thought that models from 2005 would be this detailed.

This game is downright addictive and wonderfully executed. It's a shame that GT didn't learn more from this game because it does so many fundamentally right things that GT5 still doesn't quite accomplish physics-wise. Long live EPR.
 
I have yet to experience any racing sim with a wheel, due to the fact I've been driving manuals IRL for some 30-something years now, and my driving arm and clutch knee are giving out. So I may not ever use a wheel because of this, but I've been quite tempted a few times given the reviews by yourself and others.

It is definitely quite touchy using the DS2 controller, and a distinctive difference in how it interacts with both EPR & GT series. I find that even though it is touchy with EPR it is somewhat gradual and linear compared to GT, which slams from side to side.

Both games, to me, seem to compliment each other in most ways though. I find there are aspects of both that can be appreciated at certain levels.

Regards. Thanks for your input GT master42, you've got me second guessing getting a wheel after all, seeing that I had no intentions of getting one for the above reasons.
 
I don't have a wheel, but in my opinion with a DS2 Enthusia is much better than GT4. Good luck trying to slightly corrent your line on a straightaway in the latter.
 
I played Enthusia way back. Never got so deep into the game than in GT.

But It wasn't the badest game, I have to admit.
 
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