Thanks to Polyphony Digital's continually effort of releasing updates to Gran Turismo 5 to ensure a much more refined experience, GT5 is a much better game than it was before when it was released. These updates brought a lot of fixes and new features. The updates have notably improved the A.I. of opponent drivers offline as they were previously described by IGN as "zombie A.I." I can now say that the A.I. is far more dynamic as they were before. With the latest update (v1.10), the game is actually fun and challenging and not boring or easy as to what many have thought long ago.
I was one of many who have said that GT5 is too easy and boring. Now I realize that I was just naive back then. In A-Spec, the events are unrestricted to tuning. I was the type of GT player who simply bought a car and uber-upgraded it, thus making A-Spec events too easy. I was easily plowing my way to the front with no competition. The A.I. at the time was in automation mode and was not fun to race with. This what made me think that GT5 was boring to play and way too easy but then realization hit me...
I bought several cars and left them how they were (basically stock cars) and tried out A-Spec once again. I was using the Ferrari 458 Italia, no tune upgrades whatsoever, no oil change and sports hard tires. I chose the La Festa Cavallino event (for A-Spec, not seasonal). I am now driving with all assists turned off (except traction control at 5 and ABS at 1) using manual and playing in the cockpit perspective. Back then I was driving on automatic with the default "beginner" assists turned on including the driving line and at the time my first 458 Italia was fully upgraded (had around 720HP). I was also the 'very' aggressive type of racer and no nothing about racing etiquette.
Now that I had GT5 since the day it came out, I can consider myself a professional GT player but it took more than 800+ hours (a fairly accurate estimate) of playing and learning as I play. I also learned about racing manners and rules from here at GTPlanet that made me a much better (and cleaner) racer! So back to the narrative above, GT5 plays differently now... It is actually fun and challenging to play now! My 458 Italia was evenly matched with the other Ferrari cars.
As said before, the A.I. plays more dynamic. I would see the A.I. cut corners time to time, drive side-to-side with another racer, go three-wide, make mistakes, would overtake more often and drive far more defensively. Heck, I'm pretty sure these A.I. drivers have personalities now. There was an Enzo Ferrari in this race that was noticeably aggressive as he would cut corners and ram other A.I. drivers. I also witnessed two Ferrari cars that were racing alongside for awhile side-to-side battling for position. When the Ferrari cars were about to enter a corner side-to-side, one Ferrari managed to take the inside line and forced the other Ferrari to go outside but that poor Ferrari hit the sands! As for my race results, I was able to get in the top 3 but getting to 1st place is such a huge battle! Heck, the entire race was hectic.
I ask you to do the same by driving a stock car with assists turned off and post your impressions/results and appreciation of the newly enhanced GT5 A.I. in an A-Spec event race.
tl;dr version (and perhaps conclusion): GT5 is more fun and challenging if you use a stock car (no tuning upgrades), turn off all assists using manual, use the cockpit camera view, possess extensive knowledge of racing etiquette and have great racing skills. This is how Gran Turismo 5 should have meant to be played and I'm enjoying it.
I was one of many who have said that GT5 is too easy and boring. Now I realize that I was just naive back then. In A-Spec, the events are unrestricted to tuning. I was the type of GT player who simply bought a car and uber-upgraded it, thus making A-Spec events too easy. I was easily plowing my way to the front with no competition. The A.I. at the time was in automation mode and was not fun to race with. This what made me think that GT5 was boring to play and way too easy but then realization hit me...
I bought several cars and left them how they were (basically stock cars) and tried out A-Spec once again. I was using the Ferrari 458 Italia, no tune upgrades whatsoever, no oil change and sports hard tires. I chose the La Festa Cavallino event (for A-Spec, not seasonal). I am now driving with all assists turned off (except traction control at 5 and ABS at 1) using manual and playing in the cockpit perspective. Back then I was driving on automatic with the default "beginner" assists turned on including the driving line and at the time my first 458 Italia was fully upgraded (had around 720HP). I was also the 'very' aggressive type of racer and no nothing about racing etiquette.
Now that I had GT5 since the day it came out, I can consider myself a professional GT player but it took more than 800+ hours (a fairly accurate estimate) of playing and learning as I play. I also learned about racing manners and rules from here at GTPlanet that made me a much better (and cleaner) racer! So back to the narrative above, GT5 plays differently now... It is actually fun and challenging to play now! My 458 Italia was evenly matched with the other Ferrari cars.
As said before, the A.I. plays more dynamic. I would see the A.I. cut corners time to time, drive side-to-side with another racer, go three-wide, make mistakes, would overtake more often and drive far more defensively. Heck, I'm pretty sure these A.I. drivers have personalities now. There was an Enzo Ferrari in this race that was noticeably aggressive as he would cut corners and ram other A.I. drivers. I also witnessed two Ferrari cars that were racing alongside for awhile side-to-side battling for position. When the Ferrari cars were about to enter a corner side-to-side, one Ferrari managed to take the inside line and forced the other Ferrari to go outside but that poor Ferrari hit the sands! As for my race results, I was able to get in the top 3 but getting to 1st place is such a huge battle! Heck, the entire race was hectic.
I ask you to do the same by driving a stock car with assists turned off and post your impressions/results and appreciation of the newly enhanced GT5 A.I. in an A-Spec event race.
tl;dr version (and perhaps conclusion): GT5 is more fun and challenging if you use a stock car (no tuning upgrades), turn off all assists using manual, use the cockpit camera view, possess extensive knowledge of racing etiquette and have great racing skills. This is how Gran Turismo 5 should have meant to be played and I'm enjoying it.
