[spazman]

Finally got some time to sit down and try this today, first impressions MASSIVLEY DISAPPOINTED. Put disk in to be presented with a mandatory install, disappointment one.

With the install finished i was presented with an update, after watching the painfully slow download progress it failed at about 60%, i try again, and again still nothing disappointment 2.

I finally gave up on it as after 45 mins of faffing about with the train wreck that is PSN, bought myself a golf, first race, everythings looking pretty handling's much improved (turn off asm and traction it RUINS the game). The first corner i have an AI car just run straight into the back of me, now i know not having any damage model means this dosnt affect the other car or mine for that matter, but what the HELL is polyphony doing, do they even have an AI programmer. It hasn't changed since 3 its like i don't exist on the track. That was disappointment 3.

After battling with the shoddy AI for a while i though id give online a go, this according to the ads is a revolution in online racing. Load up the online bit and oh thats right i dont have the update that eternally fails and has downlaods speeds a dialup user would laugh at. After ANOTHER 45 mins of trying it finally updates, yay i think i'll be racing my friends in a minute. Oh no wait i wont it just lumps me with a bunch of idiot 12 year olds who think its awesome to drive everybody off the road, MASSIVE disappointment 4. I seriously doubt you could make the online aspect of this game any worse at the moment.

I was also disappointed that there wasnt some sort of photo mode, having a game this pretty it seems madness not to put one in.

Anyway, if you were looking to this as a reason to get a PS3 dont, imo its not worth the £17 i paid for it. I really really wanted to like this, being a total car freak and excuse to thrash exotica is welcome and i LOVED the first 3 games, then that 'other' console racer spoiled me with its far superior handling, AI and online.

So in summary,

The good, handling is better still not the best, graphics are purdy

The bad, you have to install!, update took me nearly one and half hours to get! AI hasnt changed in 6 years no photo mode to take advantage of pretty graphics.

Edit, oh and i have a Dualshock three and this has the worst implementation of rumble ever, rumble strips dont rumble!

Edit 2, Buy a mazda rx8 as your first car, itll smash the opposition in c class.