Gave it a generous 80 (probably should have rated it a more like a 70-75).
After two days (about 5 hours per day), and having reached level 14, here's my initial assessment:
Likes:
- Car physics / simulation
- License tests
- Special events (Top Gear, Karting, AMG, rallying, etc..)
- inclusion of rallying
- day/night time cycling and weather effects This is an awesome feature, but during rain or even smoke, the car models is just....nasty
- premium cars look great (especially cockpit view) Now if only ALL the cars were like this, if they wanted to add 1k+ cars, they shouldve modeled the interior instead of splitting it up with standard and premium, thats just half-assed
Dislikes:
- Poor car selection (50 Skylines, NSXs, etc.. does not make up fro the fact that Forza 3 has a much larger and more varied car selection) agreed, PD is stuck in the past with the more is better train of thought, in this case, less is better because they can actually implement cockpit view in every car, and instead of porting over almost all of GT4 cars, they could've used the extra time to work in other areas of the game
- difficulty (non-friendly UI) of finding a car for a particular race / series
- Used car showrooms (a PITA - if I want a car, I want it now, and with zero miles - not having to play a grind / lottery of having to visit the Used car lot after every race)
- Splitting the Premium and Standard cars into new and used car lots.
- B-Spec mode
- poor on-line lobby design / matchmaking
WTFs:
- No leader boards!!
- Apparently no meaningful damage (by meaningful, I mean damage that effects the performance of your vehicle and / or the results of the race)
- No best lap tracking (per car / circuit)
Bottom line: most aspects of the game are sub-par compared to Forza 3, and I'm not sure that the more realistic (but less fun?) physics will be enough to keep me from switching back to Forza 3 after a few weeks...
Bolded comment in quote is my quick summary
My experience is pretty much summed up as you explained.
I give it a 85/100, and when Forza 3 first came out I gave it a 87/100....
The game just wasnt up to my expectation. It let me down. The game seems like a rehash of GT4 probably worse if I was more harsh criticizing it. The game just doesnt set it self apart from GT4 in anyway except for what you expected (visuals, sounds, physics).
The tuning aspect is a joke really. I am guessing that PD used turbo size to compare it with low-med-high rev power. Large frame turbo making only 20 hp on a Mini Copper S 07' ....dont make me laugh PD, the High rev (large frame) turbo makes 120%+ more hp.
PD wouldve made the game better if they put in effort to port over the cars from GT4 and made more premium cars instead with the time. 500 premium cars is pretty reasonable, who the hell wants multiple copies of the same car. its useless and takes up development time.
B-spec mode is just useless. Watching an AI drive around the track....
How is there no implement of a leaderboard of some kind. Being a driving simulator you would think there would be a leaderboard, even when games like NFShp has it. The damage level is just retarded. He doesnt want damage introduce in the beginning because he wants us to learn how to drive better first. What kind of reasoning is that, is he that pretentious of this game that he can make damage an unlocked feature? How can you expect to be a better driver where there is no penalty to enforce the correct way to drive Kaz!! He races cars, he should know this!! Everybody knows this.
One thing that is lacking from the game is customization. I mean seriously, you cant change rims on a standard car. I guess Forza step up the game in that area too high for PD to compete in.
The photo mode is excellent in the game. but SEVERELY limited to only premium cars...wow, what, you can only apply postprocessing effects on premium cars. The course editor/maker is trash, they shouldve just called it a course generator.
I love the game, but it has to many flaws to make it the best racing game. In my eyes Forza 3 has a small edge in the best department. It is more complete all around then GT5. GT5 just feels so outdated even compared to the arcade racers.
Edit : Forgot to add this also.
Random cars in the used car lot....really. They should fire who ever thought of that. I am tired of waiting for the car to come up just so I can race a car specific race.
I also want my Mazda 110s now dammit. After playing for over 20+ hours, I havent gotten it yet. Other way to get the car you want is to trade....GT5 has become a social networking game...this **** aint farmville.