Project Gotham Racing 4 (360)

spooky157 · Post by **spooky157** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:41 am

I uploaded one of our races from Saturday to PGR On Demand. That's a pretty cool feature as well but I do miss getting to check out live races like they had in PGR3.

I think PGR4 is is fantastic. The cars don't feel as floaty as they did in 3, the new tracks are much more spacious and flow so much better and the inclusion of non-supercars makes this so much more playable than PGR3. One note of concern: I joined in a race with a good group of randoms and they mentioned that the bikes throw off the balance in a race. Either way, I much prefer PGR4 to Forza. The racing is so much fun and there's just no way I can really enjoy a racing game without some sort of a cockpit view.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:36 am

This is the game I was hoping for. I can tell after just a few races that it has the fun factor of PGR 2, with a nice variety of cars and tracks to keep the game fresh. The cockpit view is terrific and adds a great deal of immersion to the racing experience. I think I will definitely get my money's worth out of this game.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:59 am

For Murph and anyone else halfway to making a purchase, there's a demo on the Marketplace now (at least the UK marketplace, and it's due to be on the US one either now or shortly) with some exclusive content. No idea what it's like, given that I'm at work, but thought a heads-up might be in order.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:12 pm

This fall is going to bankrupt me.....the Demo is fantastic and has a ton of different game modes (Race, Elimination, Head to Head and Cone challenge as well as Nuremburg in the snow) and vehicles (2 bikes and a bunch of cars).

Does the full retail version have non-supercars (like the car selection in PGR2)? Do courses from Stockholm and Moscow make a return?

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:30 pm

It has Mini-coopers, 60's Z-28's, and all sorts of cars.

As for cities, I know I didn't see Stockholm or Moscow.

They had St. Petersburg, Quebec, Tokyo, Shanghai, Vegas, New York, and a few others but I didn't see those.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:48 pm

Macca00 wrote:. . . as well as Nuremburg in the snow.

FYI it's Nürburg, not Nuremberg: very different places in Germany.

And no, there's no Moscow, but the St. Petersburg tracks are very much like I remember the Moscow tracks being in PGR2. Quebec is the hilly one, but i don't remember what the hilly one was in PGR2.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 2:00 pm

Zeppo wrote:And no, there's no Moscow, but the St. Petersburg tracks are very much like I remember the Moscow tracks being in PGR2. Quebec is the hilly one, but i don't remember what the hilly one was in PGR2.

Edinburgh had its share of dips and dales in PGR2 ...

Take care,
PK

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:41 pm

Zeppo wrote: FYI it's Nürburg, not Nuremberg: very different places in Germany.

Sorry, my bad.

Thanks for the info on the tracks & cars, guys.

ddtrane · Post by **ddtrane** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:11 pm

Rodster wrote:
Zlax45 wrote:Worth getting with H3, NHL 08, and now PGR 4?
If you can wait till October 14th, i've read that ToysRUs is having a buy 2 get 1 free sale.

Thats what I'm waiting for. Can't decide on the other 2 games yet. Although Forza 2, Dirt, Beautiful Katamarcy, NBA 2K8, and FIFA 08 are all getting me giddy. Too tough to tell which 3 will make the list.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:28 am

Played the demo, and it's fine though I am a little underwhelmed and completely unsure of why. Is there an option in the full release to change the height of the seat in cockpit view, as with something like GTR or GT Legends? I've only used the Ferrari in the demo, but the driver needs a booster seat or something because I'm staring at the rev counter instead of the road.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:39 am

GB_Simo wrote:Played the demo, and it's fine though I am a little underwhelmed and completely unsure of why. Is there an option in the full release to change the height of the seat in cockpit view, as with something like GTR or GT Legends? I've only used the Ferrari in the demo, but the driver needs a booster seat or something because I'm staring at the rev counter instead of the road.

I don't think so. I haven't raced with a lot of cars, but so far I've had a pretty clear view of the road from the cockpit. In fact, I have to look down to see the gauges.

The level of detail in this game is remarkable. I was driving around The Mirage in Vegas, and they have the Danny Gans billboard on the sign. I had to stop and take a picture.

mixdj1 · Post by **mixdj1** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:51 am

GB_Simo wrote:I've only used the Ferrari in the demo, but the driver needs a booster seat or something because I'm staring at the rev counter instead of the road.

I had the exact same issue with that Ferrari. I told my wife that the driver must only be about four feet tall.

But then I drove the Lotus and it was fine ... except for that gigantic windshield wiper when it rains.

Definitely looking forward to my copy arriving from Gamefly.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:55 am

GB_Simo wrote:Played the demo, and it's fine though I am a little underwhelmed and completely unsure of why. Is there an option in the full release to change the height of the seat in cockpit view, as with something like GTR or GT Legends? I've only used the Ferrari in the demo, but the driver needs a booster seat or something because I'm staring at the rev counter instead of the road.

Don't feel bad I feel the same way and I bought the game. It feels too much like PGR3 even though it's not. I respect and admire Bizarre Creations as a developer but this series is in need of a refresh and some new blood. I took it as a positive when Bizarre and Microsoft called it a day.

My favorite in the series still has to be PGR2 even though PGR3 and PGR4 are technically better.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:05 am

That's surprising. It blows PGR3 out of the water with its car selection and control, whether you're using a wheel or a controller. PGR2 was my favorite until PGR4, but to each his own.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:10 am

TCrouch wrote:That's surprising. It blows PGR3 out of the water with its car selection and control, whether you're using a wheel or a controller. PGR2 was my favorite until PGR4, but to each his own.

It maybe technically the best in the series. I'm just saying "it feels like deja vu all over again" to quote Yogi Berra.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:27 am

And that's what I mean...PGR3 was pretty loose and sloppy, while PGR2 had very tight control. PGR4 polishes the game to previously unseen levels...it's hardly deja vu for me. I honestly can't see what would make somebody say it feels just like PGR3 unless they hadn't really played 4 much or they just "kind of" like racing games and wouldn't really notice in the first place.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:38 am

TCrouch wrote:And that's what I mean...PGR3 was pretty loose and sloppy, while PGR2 had very tight control. PGR4 polishes the game to previously unseen levels...it's hardly deja vu for me. I honestly can't see what would make somebody say it feels just like PGR3 unless they hadn't really played 4 much or they just "kind of" like racing games and wouldn't really notice in the first place.

I agree completely with that, mate, as you know. What it might be for some people - though not for me, and I'm hoping that with repeated play I might suddenly click into PGR mode and start really loving it - is that it's still driving cars around cities. Of course it couldn't be anything else, but the less the scene changes, the easier it is to feel you've done it before.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:41 am

TCrouch wrote:And that's what I mean...PGR3 was pretty loose and sloppy, while PGR2 had very tight control. PGR4 polishes the game to previously unseen levels...it's hardly deja vu for me. I honestly can't see what would make somebody say it feels just like PGR3 unless they hadn't really played 4 much or they just "kind of" like racing games and wouldn't really notice in the first place.

I just see it as another Project Gotham racing game. I still prefer PGR1 and PGR2 as those two games had very cool radio stations, music and DJ's much like Metropolis Street Racer on the Dreamcast. I just still see the series as getting stale much like Gran Turismo. I'll still buy PGR5 and GT5 but it's basically the same game or idea with just tweaks here or there.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:50 am

Understood. That sounded a little like me calling you an idiot in my previous post, sorry. Wasn't intended that way...after re-reading it, it sounded kind of arrogant (but it's me, I guess everybody's used to arrogance by now). I can see the "PGR Formula" wearing on somebody, but it's still about the most fun racing game that's accessible to the highest number of players on the planet in my opinion.

Guys like Adam will have to learn that they can brake MUCH later than any other game they play, and that those brakes will hardly ever lock up so it's a foot-to-the-floor (or finger-to-the-controller-base) braking technique. The throttle control, however, is modeled very well. You'll have to use very smooth acceleration and not use full pedal unless you want to smoke the tires every corner, especially in the wet or snowy conditions. Also, the tracks have been modified to be MUCH "racier". The red and white curbs have been placed around the tracks to make it more like a race track and give you fewer instances where you'll plow head first into a 90-degree corner because you couldn't quite judge it closely enough. It also helps the first-corner pile ups quite a bit; I've even run RANDOM RANKED RACES and had fun, which is usually taboo for me.

I thought I was tired of the PGR game after PGR3, for what it's worth. The new career mode and some of the ranked sessions are dynamite, though. It has me completely hooked. I hope you find that "on" switch for it, Adam

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:02 am

TCrouch wrote:Understood. That sounded a little like me calling you an idiot in my previous post, sorry. Wasn't intended that way...after re-reading it, it sounded kind of arrogant (but it's me, I guess everybody's used to arrogance by now). I can see the "PGR Formula" wearing on somebody, but it's still about the most fun racing game that's accessible to the highest number of players on the planet in my opinion.

I never took it that way.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:29 am

I'm looking forward to more time with the full version, but ain't dancing the happy dance over what I've tasted in the demo. I just don't get the warm fuzzies with this series, and I don't really know why, except for me, it doesn't ever seem to have that extra 'oomph' for me. I want to like it, but I don't. I hate the bikes!

Honestly, I preferred Test Drive Unlimited to this, to Forza, because there seemed to be more, I dunno, 'personality' to it, and the fun factor wasn't limited to simply driving on tracks.

Not much of a sim racer, I guess...

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:00 pm

I would say TDU has been the most refreshing and memorable racing titles in the last 15 years. Sure it's not perfect but to play a game on the island of Hawaii is awesome. It's for sure one of my top two racers in a long, long time.

I have never been to Hawaii and whenever I play the game it's like i'm there in a virtual way. That's how convincing TDU at replicating Hawaii. I'm really looking forward to TDU2.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:37 pm

GB_Simo wrote:Played the demo, and it's fine though I am a little underwhelmed and completely unsure of why.

I still bought the full release, though - there's logic to it somewhere, I'm sure - and it turns out that PGR4 is actually just about the most enjoyable console racing game I've ever played. The AI seems to be racing me and racing me properly and fairly, the handling is both easy to pick up and rewarding to master, it looks bloody wonderful, the track design is a million times better than in PGR3 and there's a Ford Sierra Cosworth in it...

I agree completely with those in here who've said that the wider variety of cars makes the game so much more playable than the supercar-centric PGR3, and I think that was part of what put me off the demo - sure, the handling was improved from 3, but they were still super-ish-cars in the demo and I felt a bit like I'd done all that before. Now, as I'm tooling around in Audis and D-Type Jags and Sierras, it feels much more like a proper next-gen PGR.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 6:16 pm

Anyone else finding that the Kudos counter suddenly stops counting when they're doing a Cone Sprint or Time vs Kudos race? I know they've taken out the multipliers so it doesn't make any real difference to the score if they're not stringing properly, but you do lose a few Kudos before you realise they're not counting, and then have to lose time slowing down to make sure they're banked without you adding to the string. Not gamebreaking at all, but irritating.

Speaking of irritating, Time vs Kudos...they've broken that completely. The clock only stops while you're still racking up Kudos, so you don't gain any reward on the clock once you've stopped performing and started to drive quickly. The only way to clear them with a reasonable score is to snake all the way down the straights so that the clock barely starts to move, which is silly.

I still love this game, though...

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 1:21 am

I'm finding myself...bored. I just can't get 'into' the game, for some reason. It looks great, plays well, but...I just don't want to play it. When I fire up the Box and start thinking about what I'm gonna play, I give PGR a fleeting thought, but it just feels like work to me.

I find myself looking more forward to the next Burnout, really.