By the numbers you have over 70 cars, including the Ferrari F2007 (which costs a mint) and Nissan GT-R, six tracks, single player, two-player split-screen, arcade, and online mode. Single player consists of four classes with 10 races each; Class S is going to be near impossible for most, though.
The game has much improved physics, but I still feel that Forza "feels" better both in terms of car performance and speed on the track. GT 5 Prologue doesn't feel stiff, it just is something that comes from spending many hours in both the GT and Forza games, and I still prefer Forza for the feel of the game. One of the biggest improvements, as with the new physics engine, is the A. I. The CPU controlled drivers no longer seem brain dead.
My biggest complaint is the grind to buy more cars. This is nothing new to GT, or Forza for that matter. But the amount of money earned per race could be tweaked a bit. This game has six tracks, so 12 layouts to race on - that is not much. You will be spending a lot of time winning the gold cup to afford cars you need to progress through single player. You can win money online, too, but I feel that the money earned pales in comparison to the cost of the cars in the game.
My next biggest issue is that this series still has no damage modeling, or at the very least a realistic damage feel - especially when Polyphony Digital prides Gran Turismo on realism at every turn. You still feel like you are playing bumper cars when you smash into the rear end of the GT-R in front of you, or when you are stuttering around a guardrail. I don't want ping pong, I want collisions. Damage modeling is said to show up this fall at the earliest, I hope that actual collisions do too.
My last form of contention is with online play. Yes, GT finally has online play. And yes, this is only a "demo" but there are some kinks to be worked out. It isn't even the lag that is the issue (well, that too); it's just the glitches in racing online. Stuff like cars disappearing and reappearing happens. This is the first game that is online in the series, so you sort of figured this would happen. Thankfully there is time to tweak the online portion before the full game ships next year.
Article comments
1 - Waldo
Damage modelling is a big issue for the GT series. however, I think that the final game will include this. However, if you go by the GT standard of realism, the first time you hit another car with any heavy force, you're out of the race (as in real life). Secondly, I've heard that some vehicle manufacturers are quite keen not to see their cars looking damaged (license agreement?). either way, GT5 will probably deliver the goods.
2 - SPM
If you actually want to see collisions and enjoy smashing into the rear end of GT-Rs in front of you and, then this game is NOT for you! GT5:P on-line mode sucks is because people ruin it by crashing into each other. Also, why did the author assume that people didn't have fun with the GT series? Because it's too realistic and may require practice? There are tons of people out there who know how to drive, and appreciate the difficulty of the REAL driving simulator known as Gran Turismo. This bias article mentions 'Forza' almost more than 'Gran Turismo'. I think this guy should stick to what he 'feels' is better, a boyish arcade racer called Forza.
3 - Ken Edwards
Wait a minute so you are defending the game not having damage modeling? That is all I need to say.
4 - nova
u say forza 'feels' better, and then 'spending many hours in both the gt and forza games' but by the sounds of it u have played forza alot more and therefore dont have the fair experience to judge properly which 'feels' better. i for one have never played forza and love th GT series which i have NEVER found boring or 'unfun' as you so intelligently put it and i can guarantee it has better physics and thus better 'feel'. i do not plan on playing forza partly because of the graphics and the fact that GT is there anyway. in my inexperienced opinion i think i enjoyed PGR4 more than i would forza.
5 - Ken Edwards
How long has Forza been out? A couple years now, it is not an old franchise. GT has been out for 10 years now, I have played the GT series for a considerably longer amount of time.
I was going to ask if you have even played either Forza games, but you have already answered that for me.
I just love the blind devotion that fanboys have.
6 - gorky
Since I'm actually old enough to have a driver's license, and have driven cars of different types (i.e. RWD,FWD,4WD) GT is not a REAL driving simulator. Forza isn't either, but for my money its closer than GT is. GT has never handled drift properly, and has always failed miserably at low speed handling. Directly comparing performance in GT or Forza vs real life in the case of a car I do have lots of experience in (Mini Cooper S) Forza comes closer.. and since I can't stand any steering wheels i've tried, the 360 controller gives much better control because you can modulate the throttle and brake, so for me Forza2 takes the console simulator cake. Oh, and I've played every GT for what its worth...
7 - Hal Stuhl
First off, this game is well made. Although after playing it once, I was very disappointed with the results. They start by giving you $35,000 to purchase a car. I purchased the Mazda and was happy with it. But it is not fast enough to win a race, the turning is sloppy on this game as well. When you drift into the sand, its is very hard to gain back the traction and get back on course I am not going to return it because I will play it again and try to become better, but for now it totally sucks.