Ok. It's a nice looking game, of course. But it DOES have problems. Some people are buying PS2's for this game (which is insane).

I just want to rain on the parade for a minute, since I consider myself an expert on console driving games. Here's a quick list of the problems with GT3, IMO:

1. Aliasing. This game suffers from really bad aliasing. Just put it side by side with any Dreamcast driver to see what I mean.

2. Sense of speed. Although the frame rate is higher than it was in GT2, this game lacks a sense of speed. 100 MPH feels plodding compared to many other games. See LeMans 24 Hours for the real deal.

3. Understeer. The flaw in the car physics is that even when the wheel is fully turned left or right, the car does not respond accurately. This is true for all cars, not just those that would understeer in real life. There should be more twitch in the steering, so that sharp high speed turns are more drastic. I mean, to do the circular course in the license test, you shouldn't have the wheel all the way over to the lock!!

4. Digital triggers. You can't regulate the amount of accelerator pedal or brake that you use, because the buttons are digital, not analog.

5. Opponent AI. Hello?! What opponent would blindly wreck into you? If you keep your line in GT3, the automoton opponents will take you out! Lame.

The strengths of this game are obvious: the manufacturer licenses, the realistic car models, etc. It's the gameplay that is not the greatest. For true drivers console racing, see LeMans 24 Hours out later this month. The DC version still gets more play in my house than any PS2 game.

PS, if you are a PS2 fanatic please ignore the above. This is intended for people that are considering spending $500 on this game.

 

I agree with the bad opponent AI. If you get a little wide in a corner or make a mistake you are pretty much screwed as the computer run cars don't make mistakes. They don't take each other out or bump walls like they do in Tokyo Xtreme Racer Zero. I don't expect them to make a lot of mistakes and let me back in it, but they seem to run 100% perfect everytime.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TrojanHorse
[B]I agree with the bad opponent AI.

 

I find it interesting that even though the technology has improved SIGNIFICANTLY, things like opponent AI still present the same problems. . .

Sunchild, your post remind of the complaints I've always had with the Need 4 Speed series of games (i.e., run a "perfect race, or lose). . . Oh well.

At least the graphics are top notch. . .

 

I just got it yesterday, and I love it. It looks absolutely realistic, the modifications you can make actually make accurate improvements (in my Toyota so far anyways). The understeer you are getting probably means you should slow down a little, if I'm going just right and hit too much gas I will actually spin. I regulate the throttle just fine using the little joysticks. I use the right joystick for accel/brake and the left joystick for turning, works great and I can hold a certain RPM just fine, as well as slightly brake if I wish. I think the AI makes the game just that much harder and more competitive. I was barely beating the MR2 Spyder and my car is weaker, that just makes me proud I saved the replay . Try not to twitch your fingers so much and the variable accel/decel should work fine.

 

I've only played in Arcade mode so far, so I was hoping that the AI would be better in simulation mode, I guess not from what you are telling me.

I did buy the PS2 GT3 Package, I figured I had put off buying a ps2 long enough and GT3 seems like a game I would like to own, so I picked one up.

The Logitech wheel is the best wheel I've used on any video/arcade game.

I've not played LM24. However; I do own and play a lot of F355 on my DC. The AI and the sense of speed in that game is great.

-- Tom

 

24 Hr. LeMans Is an awesome game as well. I have it for my Dreamcast console. Great graphics and sense of motion. Not perfect but a great game. F355 is a good game as well....super realistic and HARD!

I contemplated getting PS2 but I really have not seen any games that I really want, and I don't intend to buy it just for GT3. Maybe when PS2's price comes down to about half I will consider it. For now, I'm going to hold off for the Xbox.

 

I forgot the biggest complaint of all: SOUND!!

This is true for almost all driving games -- The sound of the engines is pitiful. The s2000 in GT3 sounds like it's coming in from an overseas phone call. Where is the roar of the engines?!!!! They sound thin and wishy-washy and not much like the real thing.

Eventually, a game designer will get that crucial factor right. The problem is that using noise generators is not doing the trick. They need to use crafty samples of the actual engines at different RPMs, right?

 

I bought PSX just for GT2, and it was totally worth it.
I gave it away after playing for a month.
I bought PS2 just for GT3. So far, it's totally worth it!!
Enjoy the game

 

Yo, Sunchild, buy the steering wheel!!! You want twitchy and oversteer, you got it! Seriously, the difference between the wheel on simulation setting and the dualshock is night and day. With the dual it's push, push, push. But with the wheel if you brake mid corner you better be ready for some opposite lock. The sad thing is, the force feedback on the wheel needs some major tuning. You can actually get it to oscillate left and right by just letting go of the wheel But it is still 10 time better than the dual shock (and 10 time harder).

And yes the AI SUCKS!!!!!!! I cannot believe they brag about the AI on the box, what a joke. Apparently nobody told the AI this was racing and not destruction derby. They will not deviate from their line. If your there, well your hit. No attempt to pass just BAM! What a joke.