What do you think is GT5's strongest point?

[IceMan PJN]

As the title says what do you think is GT5's strong point?

I'll probably have to go with the physics since it doesn't particularly exceed anywhere else. There are points that on the one hand are strong but at the same time also weak because the game is a horribly mixed bag.

You could argue the car list, which is indeed quite long, but it's also horribly redundant and very unfortunately 80% of the cars aren't even current-gen models (meaning PSP, PS2, or even PSX), so the bulk of the cars underwhelm and PD didn't actually add all that much to GT5 in terms of the car list versus the several hundreds Turn 10 have brought to Forza during the current generation.

You could argue the graphics, which in some places look fantastic, but in others looks awful. Specifically, the Standard cars and some of the track models really drag the rest of the game down here. There were also some graphic infidelities at least early on, like the shadow issues, grainy smoke issues, and the headlights originally just shining horizontally regardless of whether your car was pointing level, up hill, or down hill. The rain looks several years dated, even being outdone by PGR4 which came out back in 2007. Whoever modeled Laguna Seca had obviously never seen the real circuit or even photographs of it because it's green while the actual circuit is never green.

In all other areas the game lags behind the other guys.

 

[ka-mai]

At this point its between you and the track and there is a feeling that overcomes you ...a kind of Zen moment in which nothing matters but apexes and braking points.

I am sure other games can provide a similar immersive experience but so far I love this game because it ticks the "Zen of Racing" box for me ...

yes exactly this. Nothing else keeps me coming back to it, but this. Mostly on Nurburgring, where a good lap is just so exhilarating no matter which car you select. Like the old slogan, man & machine in perfect harmony.

What I find quite interesting is the slight differences in the premium cars, like for example drive the BMW M3 and then the Merc C AMG which are in the same class as competitors, and from what Ive seen and heard the BMW is far more tactile and becomes part of you when you drive it than the Merc, which has more brute force and is more a "blast" car. Driving the 2 on this game, you can feel clear difference in finesse in handling between them.

Its these subtleties which are interesting to me, more from a hobbyists point of view than a gamer's. This is no longer (perhaps never was) a game for me, but more of a toy, something to get out and tinker and play with.

Anyhow, am digressing. I agree with JP here completely. Its that zen moment which is the most impressive. And its thanks to many different variables within the game coming together to fool enough of our senses simultaneously that this minor miracle happens at all.

 

[sneakypete123]

This is more PD's strongest point than GT5.

Its the way (and I'm sure this is how it goes) they take all the negative feedback, write it down on paper, then tape it to the end of their shoe, bend you over and kick you right up the arse with it <BOOM> and whilst your rolling around on the floor they give you a swift knee in the happy sacks with their secret weapon - (Nissan GT-R)

 

[kingstang5oh]

Physics and graphics.

Everything else is garbage.

 

[XSquareStickIt]

This game is absolutely amazing if you're a Mazda Roadster or GT-R fan.

Alright, seriously speaking, I'd say it's the sheer amount of obsession poured into the Premium cars. Even the minute details that next to no one cares about are meticulously replicated into the game. One of such feature is the Pop Up headlights animation, and how different cars have different timings from their headlights turning off to retracting back into the hood. For example, the FC RX-7's does the two almost instantly, whereas the NA Eunos Roadster takes about 5 seconds to retract after the headlights turned off.

......aaaaand that's about it. I'm struggling to think of much else to say. I'd say the graphics and physics are amazing if they actually were.

 

[tlsuth41]

The online racing with people of similar tastes and style of play.

Countless hours of VERY competitive races that satisfy my desire to race for real as I used to do.

Extremely inexpensive. Even with a cockpit.

 

[Chrunch Houston]

The online racing with people of similar tastes and style of play.

Exactly 👍

 

[zuperkiwi]

Strongest point?
It's on PS3

I think its graphics. Just awesome.
Not its saturation, it's just too much.

 

[dxm8975]

The GT5 was overly a flop for me if anything, but touching on the strong points of the game,

1, the graphics
2, the functions of online competitions with players worldwide.
3, some of the additional sorts of cars(like Peugeot 905 and Jaguar XJR-9 which weren't present in the Japanese version of GT4)

are the points that deserve to be evaluated in my opinion.

 

[ederss7]

gameplay and car selection.the only good thing in graphics is premium cars.look at some tracks with the same graphics of the PS2(La Sarthe 2005,Suzuka...)

 

[V v G T v V]

Well that's difficult. Do you mean compared to other Racing Games on PC, Xbox, PS3?

I think the Day Night cycle is impressive. The Track nurnburgring is Great and the best version of nurnburgring i driven. I like the different GT-R Version and the photomode.

Nice Thread and a Good question

I agree 100% 👍