Fuji, one of the world's worst "premier" tracks?
- Thread starter DrTrouserPlank
- 72 comments
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- 40,690
No. I loved Old Fuji. New Fuji is very much a Tilke track, and there is very little of the track the was changed that I can stand compared to Fuji '90s.
- 906
I really hate that guy for the butchering he did to the classic tracks.
- 10,373
- Manchester
- Ardius_
Yeah, its a very unique track in this respect, I find you rarely run the same line twice in a race there.
But thats part of why I enjoy it, I can hit corners like Casio at Suzuka perfect and get the braking and turn in dead on every time. That is enjoyable in itself, however its refreshing to have a challenge like Fuji where its difficult to nail the lines everytime and you can lose time everywhere (after all, its the slow corners where you lose most time).
I used to hate Fuji, but after much online racing thanks to Prologue, I grew to really enjoy it. I still find it a little frustrating for running hotlaps and testing setups. But I love it for the racing action you get, and the sheer speed you can take sometimes. It has a lot of corners where you can take alternate lines and this is what helps keep a race battle going.
With 3 or 4 cars, you can battle lap after lap taking different lines and the different setups of cars have a more pronounced effect.
The miles of run-off don't bother me much because you rarely end up using them, and when you do, you gain little advantage. They at least help keep everyone in the race, even if some of those people are punters.
There is also a lot of satisfaction to be had from running rear-wheel drive cars at Fuji and battling with the AWD cars, keeping them behind you while keeping control is mighty fun and very rewarding. If you choose a good line then you can minimise the effect of their superior cornering so you can slipstream and blast past on the straights.
Its a completely different beast than Suzuka but I love both. I like all the tracks in Prologue, they all have unique character.
Worst 1st corner? Pah, its perfect for me, a real test of your braking and speed judgement. I love Mugello too, that was my favourite track in Ferrari Challenge, last of the late brakers is my favourite game.
I can see why people don't like it though, like the rest of Fuji, its a messy corner (like TrouserPlank said), you never really feel satisfied with the result and always feel you could have used a better line or gone faster, then you try faster and over-shoot or lose speed in the following straight. But like I said, I find this a refreshing change and a nice challenge. It also equalises everyone, you can gain a lot in these corners by just being a little more daring than the guy in front.
- 1,159
- Finland
- CONTINUE_F5
No.
This is one of my favourite race tracks because of the Prologue version, but I can understand if some people say it being "too safe". I just hope those older layouts reappear in GT5. Especially the one from the 80's!!!
Listen carefully those winds while high speeding the main straight, those winds from mount Fuji, they clearly whisper: "Power.. Give more power.", in japanese of course
This is one of my favourite race tracks because of the Prologue version, but I can understand if some people say it being "too safe". I just hope those older layouts reappear in GT5. Especially the one from the 80's!!!
Listen carefully those winds while high speeding the main straight, those winds from mount Fuji, they clearly whisper: "Power.. Give more power.", in japanese of course
Tetradic
Premium
- 151
- NYC
- Tetradic
Fuji is far from the worst track ever.. but what always got me about it is how F1 decided to adopt it over Suzuka (excluding the commercial reasons at the time). Comparing Fuji to Suzuka is not even apples to oranges, more like filet mignon to cat food. How or why F1 (or anyone with a right mind found Fuji more suited over Suzuka (not to mention many other still better tracks in Japan) amazes me (again, I'm ignoring the commercial reason which I know at the time were the primary driver).
Needless to say I was glad to see F1 return to it's rightful Japanese home, Suzuka!
On that note I can think of 5 or 7 tracks in Japan I'd rather drive than Fuji (Best Motoring's Touge circuit included)...
Needless to say I was glad to see F1 return to it's rightful Japanese home, Suzuka!
On that note I can think of 5 or 7 tracks in Japan I'd rather drive than Fuji (Best Motoring's Touge circuit included)...
- 10,373
- Manchester
- Ardius_
Thats easy to explain:
1. Like you said, you're ignoring: Money, money, money!
2. Toyota owns Fuji, Honda owns Suzuka. All Toyota does is throw a bit more money at Bernie and hey presto its favoured. Then when things went pear-shaped, Toyota pulled out of their contract to swap year on year with Suzuka, so we're back to Suzuka permanently for the time being.
3. These are the only 2 tracks in Japan that are suitable for F1 these days as far as I know, and are the only two that are licensed to hold an F1 race.
4. The 2 Grand Prix at Fuji were both fairly exciting, one featured an insane wet race and the other a pretty awesome victory for Alonso, but I agree, Suzuka is way better.
I completely agree with the author of this thread, Fuji is a boring and uninspired track in my opinion. They would have been better off making it an oval like they were originally supposed to when it was being built. I'll take a track like Watkins Glen, Nurburgring, Spa, or Interlagos anyday over Fuji. Its far from the worst but I can think of a laundry list of tracks that I'd rather see in GT5, and I would take basically any oval over it.
Tetradic
Premium
- 151
- NYC
- Tetradic
Yes and Yes. I'm well aware of Toyota and why Fuji is gone now. I do disagree that the races that where there were interesting. That wet one was rather boring. Give me a wet race at Suzuka any day. I think the drivers agree (giving how much they adored Suzuka on return this year).
As for me referencing F1... I simply did it because I like F1... otherwise I was talking GT World. I know only Fuji and Suzuka could hold a F1 race (or most major FIA series races)... but that doesn't say there aren't some amazing circuits in Japan to drive on... that would work well for GT5 and beyond.
Even Motegi would make a better F1 circuit than Japan (if brought up to spec)...
Tired Tyres
Premium
- 12,510
- West Yorkshire
- Tired_Tyres
- Tired Tyres
I used to hate this track in GT4 but I've got used to it in GT5P and that's the key for me. If you are at least semi-good at a track you will like it and if you are not you won't like it.
As far as better tracks in Japan go, I'm hoping Sugo makes it into GT5. I really liked that track in F355 Challenge on the Dreamcast.
As far as better tracks in Japan go, I'm hoping Sugo makes it into GT5. I really liked that track in F355 Challenge on the Dreamcast.
I think you have to watch this video (in its entirety) to appreciate the track:
[YOUTUBEHD]VstzlUWZnOI[/YOUTUBEHD]
- 906
I don't have any problems getting around the track fast, but I still don't like it and I never will (the 2005 version).
- 919
I've got to weigh in against Fuji as well. As many have said, yes, it's basically a personal preference issue, but I think a LOT of it has to do with the fact that when the track was redesigned for 2005, the designers kept the basic shape and path of the the pre-existing track. WHY they did this I'm not sure - cost effectiveness combined with an attempt to maintain a semblance of the "iconic" trackmap and its related buildings is my guess - but it's resulted in a catastrophically awkward mix of fetishistically technical curves and salt-flat-style straights. An American analog would be attempting to remap an entirely new course on top of Laguna Seca - it could be done, but I doubt the results would be impressive.
Yes, the new Fuji is challenging and that can be frustrating, but there are scads of other extremely challenging tracks from GT4 that I found to be among my favorites - the Nordschliefe, Monaco, and Infineon/Sears Point come immediately to mind. Those tracks, though challenging, were interesting. So now that I've typed all this out, I guess what I'm saying is that Fuji is technically difficult and mind-numbingly dull at the same time. Not my favorite combination.
Yes, the new Fuji is challenging and that can be frustrating, but there are scads of other extremely challenging tracks from GT4 that I found to be among my favorites - the Nordschliefe, Monaco, and Infineon/Sears Point come immediately to mind. Those tracks, though challenging, were interesting. So now that I've typed all this out, I guess what I'm saying is that Fuji is technically difficult and mind-numbingly dull at the same time. Not my favorite combination.
- 133
- Florida
- GTP_TBoat/TBoat009
Having driven Sebring several times I don't feel too upset about Turn 1. I have always been intimidated by Turn 17; getting the line wrong can be hazardous to both car and wallet. Likewise my limited experience at Road Atlanta had me sweating bullets every time I came to Turn 12 in all it's downhill, off-camber glory.
- 768
- Live_Fr0m_NY GTP_YoungTurbo45
i actually really like fuji, but in my opinion any track from GT5p should be cut, ive played them so many times its going to be a chore once GT5 comes out and im forced to race any of them
- 2,344
- Bristol UK
- GTP_Chris
- 906
I wholeheartedly agree.
BTW, in reading through this thread, I keep reading similar comments like those below:
Why is it assumed that we (the ones who don't like the track) don't know the proper lines through Fuji 2005?
I don't know if you guys are implying that, but keep in mind, it is possible to be good at this track & not like it.
- 10,373
- Manchester
- Ardius_
I can agree and understand that opinion, though I do still enjoy it.
I think going along these lines, its similar to Paul Ricard - a flat, rather featureless track with acres of run off and extremely technical driving (it also features similar first and last corners which frustrate people). But it does feature some good racing and can be enjoyable, at least for me anyway.
Heh, now I certainly can see a lot of people thinking the same way! I perhaps vainly hope that means some of the public races on Suzuka and Fuji will be a little more punter-free in full GT5 when they are less restricted.
I think the opposite, I look forward to racing these tracks in GT5, because I know they will be slightly easier races than the rest as I know the lines and braking points like the back of my hand. Its nice to have tracks that are familiar as well as ones that are not.
And Suzuka is too good a track to cut from any game, regardless if you've driven it 1000 times. (surely you should be sick of the Nurburgring now that every racing game has it in?). I will never get sick of Suzuka, the flow of the track is brilliant, every lap is a joy.
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- 768
- Live_Fr0m_NY GTP_YoungTurbo45
I understand where your coming from and it's not that i dont like the tracks, I actually love every track from GT5p (besides daytona ughh)
Im just worried about the actual amount of unique tracks we will get... and that 5 of them i would have played countless times this generation. I just think back to all the tracks from the older GT's we could have.
Im just worried about the actual amount of unique tracks we will get... and that 5 of them i would have played countless times this generation. I just think back to all the tracks from the older GT's we could have.
- 334
Fuji is my favority track in prologue, when u drive it in expert mode 10 laps its something ulike anything u can experience playing prologue online!!!! Try to get the feeling to the track, make say 200 laps, not in a row of cause, and u gonna love it, the only fact that u dont like it says for the fact that u dont have experience driving on it, i know this because my first feelings over the track was something that u feel.
- 906
Again, why is it assumed that those who don't like the 2005 GT version of Fuji is automatically thought of as inferior drivers?
Is it mutually exclusive to dislike the track & be proficient at going around it at a rapid pace?
(I asked this question halfway up this page & still have not gotten an answer).
- 334
Because its a human nature to dislike/hate/detaste/dont like something that u r not good at, cause everytime u screw up it hurts your EGO (mine, somebodyelse's, everybody's), thats why I came to a conclusion that the dude is not good at all at fuji, cause otherwise he would love it, cause again its a human nature to lilke being victorious (you r good at the track - u win - u like it).
- 163
- pentaxuser
Its a true statement at least for me. I remember I hated Nurburing in GT4, but in the PSP version I would take to time trails using a R34 GT-R, and getting a 7:5X time on good laps. Now I find it rewarding to go through nurburing. So too with Fuji. Hated the 2005 course layout, but after doing time trails and watching that BMI Fuji video, I'm liking the course because I'm doing better.
Thats just a factor, but still Fuji isn't my favourite track either
- 906
You might be right with your conclusion most of the time, but the fact is, you (as well as others) cannot make that blanket statement that you will like the track only if you are good.
You're only assuming. I, amongst others, are actually good at this track, we win, but we don't particularly like it.
There's something called preference.
I love technical tracks. Nurburgring, Monaco, Infineon, Suzuka, etc. Those tracks have character that I like. Fuji 2005, IMO does not. This is my opinion.
I still don't think you can jump into any conclusion just by that statement alone.
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