Just got GT3, and it is graphically stunning. It has the finest racing game
graphics that I have ever seen, on a PC, console, or even in the arcades.
The only game on the PC that even comes close is Mobil 1 Rally running in hi
rez with full scene antialiasing , and even that game lacks some of the
graphical nuances of GT3, and this is a game running on a low rez TV screen,
and it is still better in overall graphics presentation.
The replays look about as good as the prerendered opening scenes in GT1 and
GT2. If they could diminish the small amount of residual jaggies and
shimmering, this game would be photorealistic. The car models are beautiful
and virtually perfect in every detail, even up close they look like the real
thing, the best models I have ever seen in a game. Reflections off of the
cars look absolutely real, not faked or tricked up as in most other racing
games. Things that I did not even realize were missing in other racing games
become apparent in this game. For example, most games use very simple
shadows, but this game has hard shadows, soft shadows, diffuse edges on
shadows,darker shadows within shadows, reflections off of the car body
illuminating parts of shadows. It sounds like a trivial graphical touch ,
but it is something that makes the visuals just a bit closer to reality. The
shadowing and shading within tree branches and on other objects make them
look 3D instead of like 2d background objects, adding all the more to the
suspension of disbelief. Texture maps must be larger than in most racing
games, because scenery objects and ground textures don't look like they have
been tiled with repititious textures, as in many racing games. Reflections
off of water on asphalt have the proper graininess of the asphalts bumpy
texture, totally believable.
There are so many graphical enhancements that it would be hard to describe
them all. Suffice it to say that
there is no other racing game that could fool the average person into
thinking that they were watching a real race for as long as this game can.
But lest you think that the beauty of this game was only skin deep eye
candy, let me tell you that this game has a more than decent physics model.
I have yet to receive my Force Feedback steering wheel, so I can only asess
the physics using the Dual shock 2 controller analog joystick.
Admittedly, driving with the joystick is a bit difficult when it comes to
making precise inputs, but you start to adjust to it after running off the
road a few times and weaving all over the place. After that adjustment
period you begin to realize that the cars each feel distinctly different ,
and reasonably believable in their motion and behavior. I would estimate
that the physics is a notch below GPL or Nascar heat, and a notch above
SCGT. It definately is in the SIM camp, although there is an arcade mode in
the game I have yet to try. The only substantial shortcomings I have found
in the game so far, are the lack of dashboards on the interior car view( you
just have a mirror and gauges), and an A.I. for the opponents cars that is
only adequate (they seem to follow the same ideal racing line and dont make
realistic mistakes), athough somewhat better than in past versions of the
game. This is a Landmark Hall of Fame level videogame, regardless of
platform or genre.It is a game worth spending the price of a good videocard
on in order to get a PS2. This game and Madden 2001, make a PS2 worth the
$300 I spent, you simply cannot get games like these two anywhere else at
this point. This game makes me wonder what the XBOX could do with this
level of programming and its superior graphical antialiasing and HDTV
compatibility. Or what about a 2+ GHZ Pentium 4 and Geforce 4 if WSC takes
full advantage of that graphics cards special abilities with shading and
lighting effects.
Check this game out if you want to get a hint at what the future of racing
game graphics will be like.It is something special.