The question you're all asking I'm sure is what is it like for our league?
Well, I've done some research (and onerous it was too eh).
Look away now if you're saving the surprise...
The Car
Car: AMG C63 - TC500 Spec. Trying to get as close to GT5 spec as I could, for comparison...
Setup
I reckon the PP points are somewhat different, the car I reckon started with higher, so tuning is a lot harder. My C63 (much the same setup as GT5) has a lot of power limiting going on.
I'll not give too much away, but overall a similar car, though it does feel a little under powered.
I've done stuff to the body, and changed wheels etc. Also, it's a custom paint chip.
Tuning, much the same setup as GT5, stiffened & lowered suspension, no aero, camber a bit of diff etc. Pretty much the same as it was in GT5 actually.
The track
In a small voice, I'll say I'm not sure about Bathurst. It's a tricky track to master, so whilst it is great fun it's hard to put in a consistent lap I think. This was one of many laps that I did but one of only a few that actually counted.
In terms of lap times, well I'll let you get the stopwatch out for the video below, but in terms of other lap times:
- 2:04 Outright - that's in something other than a V8 super car.
- 2:08 - Ford / 2007
- 2:22 - Me, three laps in playing Live for Speed in a stock V8 race car.
And here is my lap (about four laps in):
Review
Not sure I need to say too much, there's a video of my largely lame driving above...
I think it's better than GT5, a lot better. Certainly the cars feel more alive and are less forgiving than in GT5.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly, but I think the turn in on cars is much better, and there's more tyre squeal action, in GT5 this car is impossible to step out almost. In GT6 I swapped ends regularly, but always because of my bad driving, a drift arcade game it is not, at least with a race spec car.
The car seemed a bit asthmatic on the straights, but hoping and bouncing around the bends was plenty fast enough. Overall I'd say similar lap-times to GT5 if I concentrate (and have the same track of course!).
You'll see in the vid there's a few times I have to correct, this game, with these tyres (Racing Medium) it's going to be a proper test of skill over tuning I think. And on that note, I'm certain the tyres aren't as sticky as they were, or as above, something is making the cars more twitchy (good luck with your RUF Evan! - I've bought one and it's errr, interesting even at 460pp!).
Overall, it's a fantastic game for sure. You'll all find out for yourselves, but the interface is largely far superior to the mish-mash of GT5, though I don't like the car selection screen, a better tool needed there I think.
Also, I'm sure it's been mentioned elsewhere, but no more second hand cars - you can buy all the cars in the dealership. This actually is quite overwhelming - there's just hundreds of cars and dealers, unreal really, and of course great fun to go hunting cool cars - El Camino anyone?
Not sure I like the setup screens for handling, you have to adjust then check the pp points - I think that's a step backwards as it's a right pain trying to set the weight/power mix now. And I reckon more than one person will screw up their transmission as it's not clear what your top speed is if you get into ratio adjusting.
Many folks say they'll never go back to GT5, and I'd largely agree, it's like going between GT3 and GT5 - the physics are going to feel very wooden with GT5 now. Which is fine.
A couple of game set-up does & don'ts:
- If you're using a steering wheel, make sure you change the handling from 'arcade' to Professional or Sim. Personally I'm on Professional (the middle setting) but given the physics of these cars I'm going to try Sim I think.
- Don't turn on anti-flicker, I tried it and it introduced a lower frame rate as far as I can tell.
That's about it, open to comments and questions - vague review because I'm figuring you'll find this all out for yourselves soon enough!
[edit] And here is the lap record for Mount Panorama (Bathurst). No, it's not a V8 Supercar...
