USA First Impressions?

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My Initial Thoughts on GT4:

Pros:
* Graphics are far more superior then GT3
* Car sounds, at least the ones I've driven so far, are also much better then GT3
* Support for 900 degree DFP is great but I'm sure will take some time to get used to, since I at least was used to the 200 or so in GT3
* Improved layout in game menus makes it easier to navigate.

Cons:
* DFP becomes WAY TO SENISTIVE if you change from the default 900 degree mode. It's so sensitive that even moving the wheel left/rigth an inch can get most cars to rear wheels to brake lose...it's almost seems like it would seem easier to use a DS2 then the DFP when not using the 900 degree mode!
* Aracde mode, at least from what I've encountered, doesn't allow you to run any car on any track by yourself...there is always 5 other cars on the track along for the ride/enjoyment.
* No way to calibrate the DFP as was available in GT3. I thought this would be something that would be included in GT4 for those who wanted to make sure their wheel was correctly setup/calibrated in case there were any issues with how the wheel reacted in the game.
* Limited # of actual race cars one can use while in Arcade mode. I really liked how in GT3 you had a whole class of race cars to choose from...everything from a Skyline, Team Orca Viper, C5 Vette & the Mazda 787B to name just a few. Have only seen a Lister Storm so far but then again, I've not spent that much time playing it so I could be mistaken.
* Brakes on most cars seem to be bit more sensitive then even in RL! Definitely will make most of us here re-learn proper braking techniques when entering/exiting turns.

More to come as I spend more time actually playing the game.
 
Mister E
I started over two times, and now I'm doing it the right way... I hope.

I used my GT3 save to get the A and B licenses but not the money, since it seems to ruin the whole beginning part of the game. I like starting slow and working my way up. I'm now trying to gold all the licenses.

Can I still get the prize cars from the A and B licenses if I used the GT3 save?
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yes you still get the prize money if you redo all license test.
 
...and the second question:

It really depends on the car, the transmission (4WD or 2WD etc.) and the amount of grip. Generally you want there to be a fair bit of revs happening when the lights go green so you don't have to build them up afterwards, while all of the other cars are already taking off. Some cars need lots of revs for a quick getaway, some will just wheelspin like crazy.

A standard Skyline GTR will usually take off like a rocket if you keep it floored from the get go due to it's 4WD layout, so this car is a good starting point. Pick a more powerful car such as a Dodge Viper (abnoxious and overpowered 2WD :trouble: ) and experiment with different rev variations and throttle positioning. Practice makes perfect.
 
2. What kind of start its the best, do yu keep the throttle all the way up until the start, or leave it and when it says go, then push it?
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Like Ape said, you'll have to experiment with your cars what the correct rpm to launch from is. I launch my evo at around 4,500rpm it's enough to keep revs high and not bog and it isn't so high that the tires spin too much. But hey it's awd they're easy to launch ;)
 
Bought a 1995 Honda Civic SiR-II won the sunday cup and the ff challenge sold the car from the ff challenge and won a mazda6 concept from the ff challenge which is a nice handling car i still havent transfered my credits over but if i do im going to have to buy a BMW M3 =D handling > Horsepower.
 
From everything I heard about this being wrong or that being messed up, IT'S NOT.

Yes the license tests are a pain, but these cars are allot more fun to drive during them, it makes up for the ammount of tests you have to take.

I did the GT3 import as well so I could get into the game and have some fun, I bought an A4 mildly tuned it and ent into Sunday Cup and Clubman Cup. Some if the AI/Cars are harder and some are the same as GT3. IMO so far the AI and physics are much better than GT3.

*A nice surprize was that you can add weight ballist in the car setup mode

Photomode, I'm gonna love it!!! Get a Memory Stick, you'll need it!!!

B-Spec during a Sunday Cup Race, I tried it twice at the same event, it improves during the race. It's a nice addition.

*A bad bit was the digital Tach/Mph display in the corner of the screen on the chase view instead of a cluster in the middle.

*The screen bounce isn't as bad as I thought at the start, but it isn't earth shattering, I'll just buy a new TV.

The entire sound of the game is improved.

All in all after 4 quick hours lastnight, it's an A+
 
intelectualism
Thats a good strategy... anyone that doesn't have gt4 yet is lucky, we're paving the way and showing them the easiest way to finiancial freedom.. lol
(the track is Capri Rally (Easy))
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I hope you can understand if we don't see it like that :) :) GIMME GIMME GIMME!!! But no! still 13 days to go :grumpy:
 
RogsR34UK
which I used to win a Special Condition Series Race which game me a car that I sold for 265,000 (American/PAL equivalent)
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Which race was it exactly in special condition series?
 
I imported all my license and 100k$ from my GT3 save into GT4. It's an option that is greatly appreciated. I bought myself 3 car : Dodge SRT-4 (FF) , Subaru Impreza WRX STII V3 (4WD) and Mr2-spyder Special Edition (MR) and went into the Beginner's event. After you buy a car, It automaticly saves to your memory card. no more buying a car, trying it out and reloading your previous saves. For those who don't have GT3 saves, there is a Used Car section and you can buy very affordable car, Remember to change the oil to bring back your HP the motor lost with time.

The Simulator mode screen is like a big map. Each country of car manufacturer and event category are listed. If you want to buy a american car, you go on the American flag' car and it will listed you all the American manufacturer. One you have choosen a Manufacturer, you have the option to browse new and classic car. If there is a One-manufacture event in the game you have the shortcut to go directly there.

So I went into beginner event and choose Sunday cup. First thing you will notice in GT4 in the same elevator music in the pre-race screen. My suggestion is to turn it off and enjoy the car sounds. You have the option to race in A-Spec or B-Spec mode. So I choosed A-spec mode to start with. One thing i have notice is the game put you with car of the same HP. So if you have bought a Vitz to start with, you are not going to have the same opponent.

the Sunday cup track are fairly easy and dumb down version of bigger track. You get the chance to try an easy Twin Ring Motegi, Suzuka and some homemade PD track. The AI is fairly easy and is only following a race line. You better step on the gas or they will push in the turn like they did before. You can still bump you way thru turn like before.

The major differences between GT4 and the previous installament is the time they took to implement the DFP 900o wheel. You can feel every single understeer, oversteer of the car. Each car is very different in handling. After racing with FF train, I jump into a 4WD and what a difference. Drifting is now becoming a dangerous stunt. You have to limit your throttle in the apex. I'm guessin' that once I get in higher class car, it's going to be quite difficult to tame the beast.

So far my favorite track is El Captain, Laguna Seca, Suzuka and Twin Montegi. They have also revamped Gran Valley speedway for the better.

After my succesfull win in Sunday Cup, FF Cup, FR Cup and 4WD Cup, I went to redo Sunday cup in B-spec mode. You can command the pace of your AI Driver from 1 to 5, Ask him to
Pit and force him to overtake an opponent. The b-spec mode is quite boring but it's going to be a very good tool for endurance race. The mode point you gain in B-spec mode, the more you AI is going to improve. So if you feel like watching more then driving is still win points, B-spec mode is perfect for that. You can relax and watch the beautiful scenery.

I've played a bit with Photo-mode but don't have a USB Flash drive to save some of the render I did. This mode is only for car lover fanatic. IF you enjoy watching your latest purchase in of the world most beautiful sceneray, you are going to love it. I don't think there is more into then sharing your favorite car picture with friends.

*WARNING*
Do not try Nurburgring without spending time with other track. This track will teach you a lesson, It' the most difficult and demanding track I ever experience in any racing games. IF you think you were a master it in PGR2, you have seen nothing yet. My suggestion is make a few laps with a Vitz or a Mini before attempting with anything like a Skyline or Evo III.

I'll give more impression tonight or tomorrow.
 
Ok here we go....

The DFP is perfect, stop complaining. Why would you change it from the default setting anyway?

You can drive alone in Arcade mode, it's called time trial.

THE DFP automatically calibrates itself everytime your turn on your PS2, no need to do it yourself.

There are limited cars in Arcade mode because you can win a bunch more and then have way more cars.

I don't find the brakes that sensitive but to each his own.

More playing less complaining please.


SimRaceDriver
My Initial Thoughts on GT4:

Pros:
* Graphics are far more superior then GT3
* Car sounds, at least the ones I've driven so far, are also much better then GT3
* Support for 900 degree DFP is great but I'm sure will take some time to get used to, since I at least was used to the 200 or so in GT3
* Improved layout in game menus makes it easier to navigate.

Cons:
* DFP becomes WAY TO SENISTIVE if you change from the default 900 degree mode. It's so sensitive that even moving the wheel left/rigth an inch can get most cars to rear wheels to brake lose...it's almost seems like it would seem easier to use a DS2 then the DFP when not using the 900 degree mode!
* Aracde mode, at least from what I've encountered, doesn't allow you to run any car on any track by yourself...there is always 5 other cars on the track along for the ride/enjoyment.
* No way to calibrate the DFP as was available in GT3. I thought this would be something that would be included in GT4 for those who wanted to make sure their wheel was correctly setup/calibrated in case there were any issues with how the wheel reacted in the game.
* Limited # of actual race cars one can use while in Arcade mode. I really liked how in GT3 you had a whole class of race cars to choose from...everything from a Skyline, Team Orca Viper, C5 Vette & the Mazda 787B to name just a few. Have only seen a Lister Storm so far but then again, I've not spent that much time playing it so I could be mistaken.
* Brakes on most cars seem to be bit more sensitive then even in RL! Definitely will make most of us here re-learn proper braking techniques when entering/exiting turns.

More to come as I spend more time actually playing the game.
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Quick_Nick
Braking in GT4 is harder to control because the wheels lock up very easily. This might take some getting used to.
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Maybe it is time to replace the standard pedals by the outright model from FREX
 
OMGOSH!
GT4 is pure love. I started the game over once, I didn't think that starting with a semi-tuned R34 was very fun. So I ended up starting over again and headed back to the used car lot to pick me up a Mazda RX-7 Type R-S (FD). In stock form the Sunday Cup was too easy. I then took it over, still stock, into the FR races and won all of them for over 140 points each race, much harder but much funner.

The DFP, 5.1 surround sound, and my cockpit are my new best friends. The sounds are VASTLY improved over GT3. But then again what isn't vastly improved over GT3, seriously no comparison.

Played for 4 hours last night and the time flew. Each track, although familiar, is new to me, because the new physics it's like learning how to drive on each of them all over again, I love it. Rolling starts are great and easy to take off full throttle. I turned off all assists and if you stand on the throttle when starting at a stand still, which some races still use, you'll spin your tires all day.

The display shaking doesn't bug too much, just think of it as 'speed vibrations.' ;)

All in all this game is the game of all games.
 
Alright... This might start a flame war here, but you asked for first impressions, and here they are: good and bad... I got the game last night, and got a chance to try out different options, but not everything yet. Maybe I will find more pros and cons as I get more into it.
I opted for transferring the licenses and money from GT3. I worked hard enough to get to 80% completion on that game. Since it won't be seeing any action anymore, I might as well make some good of it. I went out and SPLURGED! :) I bought the dark grey M3 I've been dreaming of for a personal car. I bought an Arctic White '89 300ZX, an almost exact replica of my previous car, and my personal favorite. I bought a red '03 Accord Coupe, just to satisfy my wife's capricious inquiry "Where's MY car?". And at last, I bought a pocket rocket '01 STI Impreza, put exhaust on it, and chipped it. That thing is a blast! If the real STI is as fun as it's game counter part, I haven't DRIVEN a car yet! Definitely on my short list of "cars-I-will-buy-the-day-I-hit-the-lotto-jackpot"! No wonder I got dusted by one at the track! :)

First the good:
*The physics are much better. Hands down! You do have to pay a lot more attention to the racing line, time your throttle and braking better, etc.
*The overall feel of the game, w/menus and stuff, has improved dramatically. The driving park series are great.
*More realistic tire wear is awesome!
*The fact that you have aftermarket tuners is awesome. You no longer have to limit yourself to the manufacturer's high-performance options.
*The graphics have improved. I wouldn't say dramatically, but I would agree that the improvement is positive and substantial. I liked driving around Costa d'Amalfi, and watching spectators jump out of doorways, the shadows on the ground, the glare from the pavement. It was nice, and didn't have the 'dusky' characteristic of some of the GT3 tracks. The "vibration" effect that a lot of people complained about is not that bad IMHO.
*Used car lot return is a welcome sight. I remember spending hours on end searching through used car listings in GT2, just to find some rare models.
*PhotoMode is a heck of a lot of fun. For some odd reason, I can't get as outstanding of quality out of my shots, as the preview screenshots, even in professional mode, but that is a matter of practice I think.
*New tracks, such as El Capitan are awesome. The Laguna Seca turn following the Corkscrew has been altered. If I can recall it correctly, one of the pro racers previously noted that it was somehow off the mark.
*License tests (IB and up) are hard! A lot of fun to play around with those!
*THEY FIXED THE LIGHTNING!!! Major pro on PDs side! A company actually went back and repaired a bug before a release! Then again, it took them long enough!
That about sums up the pros...

The cons (this is gonna get ugly in a hurry!):
*WTF is the deal with autosave? No 'Off' option? I don't want to save everytime I change cars. I want to be able to buy whatever I damn well please, run around the driving park in it for the fun of it, turn off the PS2 and get on with my life, leaving my game progress unchanged. In GT3 I had more than plenty of money to buy 'toys', hook'em up, and thrash them around the Complex String, but I still didn't keep them... I usually tried out cars that I would never consider owning in the game, and had FUN! And don't give me that "as real as it gets" BS. Some guy in another thread actually said that you don't go to a dealer, buy a car, modify it, wreck it and then re-load the game! Wake up and smell the rubber, you're sitting in front of a friggin TV, still playing a GAME! If it's supposed to be so realistic that you can't buy cars for fun and then reload, where's the damage? To sum it up, the autosave feature blows! Don't like it...probably never will!
*AI STILL sucks! Cars behave differently enough from GT3 to notice the change in AI, but still plow into you in corners, if you are in their driving line. There is no 'human' component to it, as PD previously claimed.
*PD's shortcoming is here again: they baloon the actual number of available vehicles by adding a trillion of different versions of the Skyline, the Civic Si-R, and many other Japanese vehicles. It seems that Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi suffer the most from that 'multiplicity'. As far as I am concerned, that's like adding another Mustang, just for the sake of a spoiler delete, or foglamp delete option. A bit ridiculous, if I may add.
*I kind of don't like the longer loading times, but given the extra features, that's self-explanatory.
*Well, I must say, that after a longer consideration I moved sound into the 'cons' section. I don't think the improvements that were made were 'spot-on'. The sound improved, but marginally. Yes, the cars sound differently, and kind of cool. However, when I took a 300ZX around for a spin, nostalgic about my own, the sound was somehow off the mark (maybe too buzzy in the high RPM). Same was the case with the '03 Accord Coupe (my wife's car). I have finally tried a Mustang (almost authentic sound) and the Ligntning truck. First of all, Ligntnings were automatic, and that was not replicated, but OK, that's a minor detail. Second of all, the sound is definitely off, especially, when you purchase aftermarket exhaust. The rumble goes away with aftermarket exh. and the truck starts sounding more like an underpowered Ranger. I think it just plain sucked! So, I took a hit on HP, and removed the aftermarket exhaust, just to keep the sound more authentic. The M3 is not nearly as 'raspy' as it should sound at high RPMs. Either way, 'A' for the concept, 'C' for the execution.

For my European, and especially Eastern European friends, I feel for you. Being a Russian emigre to US, I make close to 6 times my dad's salary, and still find $50 (let alone $85) a hit on the pocket. You shouldn't have to sacrifice your retirement savings for a new game. It ain't right!

Overall, I think that about sums it up. I disagree with some, who say that GT4 is merely an 'expansion pack' to GT3. The feel and look of the game has changed to a degree that sets it apart from its predecessors. If you have the cash, buy it! If you don't rent it, borrow it, do whatever you can (I know I did, in my day), but get it and play it!
Hope this was of some help!
 
GT4 is a very good game, yet it is some what frustrating as im a first time DFP user. The A-10 test is hard as the RSX understeers so heavely. this is a good game but its not to easy.
 
TwinTurboZ
The cons (this is gonna get ugly in a hurry!):
*WTF is the deal with autosave? No 'Off' option? !
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Twin Turbo Z, just FYI YOU CAN turn off the autosave function! ;)
Found it last night, search around options you'll find it.
 
well, here are my impressions......

I transfered my licenses from GT3(great idea since we didn't get GT4P!) and my 100k.....
after buying a new car and running a few races, I've decided to start over. I'll still transfer the licenses and money but I'm going to stay with the initial 10k. I'll use the other 100k for those 'special' used cars that I want only. I'll use my winnings for tuning....

Maybe I need to get used to the new physics, but it seems harder to drive this go around, which I like! I will still do the A and B licenses to win the cars though.

Overall, I think the game is FANTASTIC!.... now I think I'll be sick for a few days and have to stay home from work and rest (while I play GT4) !!!!! :)
 
You can only RESTRICT the autosave. Every time you buy a car - or even get in or out of one in your garage - it still saves the game.

I admit this is going to be a pisser for me.
 
neon_duke
You can only RESTRICT the autosave. Every time you buy a car - or even get in or out of one in your garage - it still saves the game.

I admit this is going to be a pisser for me.
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Alas, there is ONE flaw of the perfection of GT4, thanks for clearing this up neon_duke.
 
Ok so I played it asap and transfered the 100,000 and the two licenses (iplan on starting the game over sometime from scratch once I get used to the physics).
Anyway, the phisics are very different feeling, but I'll get used to them. Photomodes ok, but I have no cool cars to take pics of yet. What's the point of A-Spec and B-Spec points, besides just for rankings? Also I'm a little annoyed at the horrrible soundtrack for the intro movie. Some of the songs are ok, but a lot of the soundtrack is bad. What's up with paying to drive on tracks? Stupid! I know its a small amount but its the principle. Also, I liked the race and tuning selection setup better in GT3, although I'm thrilled that they brought back the one make races. Anyway, I WILL enjoy getting every car though. But finally, B-Spec is SO cheap. If used all the time, a retarded monkey could beat this game. I strongly suggest not to use this feature unless in an endurance race because otherwise you will feel guilty and you won't be worthy of the 100%. By the way, auto save doesn't bother me that much, just eliminates the memory card trick. It's kind of nice not worrying about saving. So there's my take. Overall it will be a great game, just some setbacks we'll have to deal with.
 
boostman
Twin Turbo Z, just FYI YOU CAN turn off the autosave function! ;)
Found it last night, search around options you'll find it.
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If you have the solution tell us.
"OPTIONS" did that last night put on restricted AUTOSAVE still saved after choosing new car.
 
:D its ALOT better than i was thinking!

transfered my A and B licenses, got IB license last night, gonna get IA tonight..

bought myself a 05 mustang ;)
subaru WRX
and bought myself a used '01 Celica for tuning.... well for the FF races really :p

and took a few pictures just to see how it all works, tracks look GREAT
 
About the control I can tell you it is just fantastic with the DFP! Very realistic and I just got the BMW Demo this far so probably it's even better on the full game! You can feel allmost every bump on the track and the Force Feedback works better than I ever wished!
 
Locost7Rules
Does it make you advance one day everytime you save?
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It assesses you a day for all kinds of things. Each individual license test, for instance. I did my B license last night, an arcade race, and a bunch of just general poking around the menus, and I'm about 23 days in already.

If you're trying to get minimum days it's going to be a PITA - worry about that on your second trip through.
 
I have it, I hate it, I love it.

I chose not to xfer my save file over so I can start from scratch here. My first car is an early 90's Lancer Evolution. It was a steal at $9500 :)

There's too many cars that don't belong in a racing game 👎
The physics will also take me a long time to get used to, but that's a part of the game
They should have made the old GT3 rally courses much narrower
 

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