Gravel: New Off-Road Racer Coming to PS4, XB1 & PC Early 2018

[Pfei]

I just noticed on replays you can now ffwd an rewind. What I asked for

I'm not sure but I think on PS4 pro it all looks a little sharper and not so much blur .Lighting looks brighter too?

Still no HDR but, yes, the patch is supposed to improve graphics on the Pro. Also, supposedly they have made the handling more arcadey??? Haven't tried it yet.

 

[ELmarcotuff]

I was also wondering the improved handling note

 

[Northstar]

I’ve only had time to do a couple races, but my first impressions are positive.

The physics feel solid for an arcade game. Graphically it isn’t too bad, certainly nothing breathtaking but I wasn’t expecting it to be.

I’ve only driven the Toyota you start with so it may be different with other cars, but the sound could be better. The music and announcer are also bad, but thankfully we can turn both off.

Also, it’s going to take time to get used to the HUD as it’s hard for me to get my shifting points down without RPM increments visible and it’s hard to go off of engine noise in the game.

I will have some more time this weekend so hopefully my opinion of it is still positive.

Alright I managed to get some decent time with the game and my opinion isn’t as positive as before.

The driving itself is still solid, but the sound seems to have gotten worse and I’ve seen a few weak spots graphically.

The graphics I can live with, but the sound is a big issue. The worst one I’ve come across is the Mitsubishi ASX which seemingly didn’t even load its engine noise.

I like it enough to stick with it and hope they bring some improvements in the sound dept. though.

 

[Silver Arrows]

Also, this may not be as big of an issue to some as it is to me, but the steering movements in the cockpit view, specifically the hands when you are turning, are incredibly herky jerky and fast in it's movement. I don't know, it just doesn't feel as smooth, nor as natural as other games.

 

[Theiceman1]

Still no demo in E.U store...

 

[torque99]

Also, this may not be as big of an issue to some as it is to me, but the steering movements in the cockpit view, specifically the hands when you are turning, are incredibly herky jerky and fast in it's movement. I don't know, it just doesn't feel as smooth, nor as natural as other games.

Not as fast as Assetto Corso cockpit where my drivers hands are on fire when I move the DS4 Controller But yes he does seem to dance around the wheel. I put all the audio up to top levels and so far apart from a few cars it isn't too bad.

I guess this large recent patch coming so soon after release was meant for day 1 ? It must have been made before to be tested/signed off but it never made it for release day? I did think the graphics initially were not quite right.

The only thing i hope they patch is on replays you can flick through the other AI cars, as you can only follow your car and when in photo mode the free cam is not that free (only about 20m from the car) and the roads/wheels still do not move/blur when you pause (they did this on MotoGP/Ride2) otherwise I am enjoying the races especially the cross country & beach runs.

On medium/hard I am finding it quite tough and stressful to come first (my reactions are not as quick as they used to be) I might give in and go down the 'easy/very easy' route to finish the main career. I think as the game is so short, they ideally want you to set up your own custom arcade quick races (up to 6 laps) and go for a blast/few laps rather than a long drawn out career.

 

[Pfei]

Tried the patch on the Pro. Greatly improved visuals though HDR is still missing. Everything looks more crisp. A big improvement.

Regarding the physics, I really couldn't tell a difference. Maybe the physics tweaks were only for a few cars?

 

[torque99]

I'm not too keen on HDR in the 4k games so far it always looks too washed out or over saturated and seems to then affect the next game I play. I now switch it off on PS4 and my tv .

 

[lancia delta hf]

Still no demo in E.U store...

It's up. Downloading it now.

 

[Harry Freq]

Do we know if the demo is patched or not?

 

[Pfei]

I'm not too keen on HDR in the 4k games so far it always looks too washed out or over saturated and seems to then affect the next game I play. I now switch it off on PS4 and my tv .

Don't want to sound condescending, but you either don't have the necessary equipment or don't have it calibrated correctly. HDR is absolutely incredible. IMO it's the biggest jump in picture quality since 480i -> 720p more than a decade ago.

First, you need an HDR-compatible TV with a 10-bit panel. 8-bit panels do not display HDR correctly. Second, if you have a 10-bit HDR TV, on just about all brands you actually have to activate the HDMI to use it through the menu using the remote control.

To make things even more confusing, all TVs also have an HDR color mode. However, this HDR color mode has nothing to do with 10-bit HDR. It's akin to the HDR mode in cameras. Basically all it does is over-enhance and over-color images.

Also, Samsung TVs (if by chance yours is Samsung) tend to come with colors way oversaturated out of the box and usually need to be toned down.

I hope I can help. My motive is not to challenge or belittle you. It's just that statements like "looks too washed out or over saturated" 99% of the time are caused by incorrect equipment/settings/calibration.

 

[torque99]

Don't want to sound condescending, but you either don't have the necessary equipment or don't have it calibrated correctly. HDR is absolutely incredible. IMO it's the biggest jump in picture quality since 480i -> 720p more than a decade ago.

First, you need an HDR-compatible TV with a 10-bit panel. 8-bit panels do not display HDR correctly. Second, if you have a 10-bit HDR TV, on just about all brands you actually have to activate the HDMI to use it through the menu using the remote control.

To make things even more confusing, all TVs also have an HDR color mode. However, this HDR color mode has nothing to do with 10-bit HDR. It's akin to the HDR mode in cameras. Basically all it does is over-enhance and over-color images.

Also, Samsung TVs (if by chance yours is Samsung) tend to come with colors way oversaturated out of the box and usually need to be toned down.

I hope I can help. My motive is not to challenge or belittle you. It's just that statements like "looks too washed out or over saturated" 99% of the time are caused by incorrect equipment/settings/calibration.

Thanks @Pfei No Worries, I understand. It is probably my mid range TV (55") until I get my 8K OLED in the future . I have a 4K SMART TV with HDMi 'ARC' set up to a top end pioneer A/V Receiver (10 bit ) HDR TV.

I will try and adjust the saturation and settings again as it does have low latency HDR game mode.👍

 

[Pfei]

Thanks @Pfei No Worries, I understand. It is probably my mid range TV (55") until I get my 8K OLED in the future . I have a 4K SMART TV with HDMi 'ARC' set up to a top end pioneer A/V Receiver (10 bit ) HDR TV.

I will try and adjust the saturation and settings again as it does have low latency HDR game mode.👍

Make sure your receiver does both 4K and HDR pass-through. Only the newest and most expensive receivers do HDR pass-through. BTW, I have a mid-range 55" too (Sony 55XBR-855D) with a 10-bit HDR panel. Even though the TV is pretty lacking on HDR specs (for example half peak brightness of true HDR) the difference still knocks my socks off. Every game I have with HDR support looks absolutely amazing. So maybe do some research and check your setup to make sure all is OK.

 

[torque99]

Thanks @Pfei I'm sure it has 4k + HDR pass through (quite new model late last year) I will check though again

 

[FT-1]

Oh. My. Word - This game has had a serious glow up thanks to the latest patch. While it can still appear rather cartoony in very bright lighting conditions, the lighting and motion blur appear to have been given a new lick of paint and the game looks pretty damn good now during gameplay! Also, some of the photomode issues have been fixed such as the focus when adjusting aperture. 👍

Xbox One X footage

 

[MeanElf]

Do we know if the demo is patched or not?

My guess is no after playing the demo earlier today.

 

[GroupB]

Getting another 7 gig update after the 5 gig one yesterday (X1X)

 

[m8h3r]

Played the demo yesterday, IMO its OK..... just OK. For now I'll stick with the Burnout remaster but I'm sure when I see it pop up in a PSN store "under £16" I'll 95% surely pick it up.

 

[imported_rik19]

Tried the demo, hhmmm, nah i`m gonna leave it now i think, dont think the snowy level was a good choice for the demo, as its put me off buying it..shame that, cos i wanted to see what the big quarry track looked like aswell..

 

[MrCrynox]

Played the demo yesterday, IMO its OK..... just OK. For now I'll stick with the Burnout remaster but I'm sure when I see it pop up in a PSN store "under £16" I'll 95% surely pick it up.

After playing the demo I think the same. It's Ok but certainly not a full priced title.

Tried the demo, hhmmm, nah i`m gonna leave it now i think, dont think the snowy level was a good choice for the demo, as its put me off buying it..shame that, cos i wanted to see what the big quarry track looked like aswell..

I thought that the snow level was a poor choice as well. Why couldn't they have included a couple of different stages to show the diversity ? Also I hear the main has received some large updates, improving the graphics and handling.. Isn't this similar to what they did with the SLRE demo ? Seems like deju vu, shooting themselves in the foot.

 

[lancia delta hf]

Tried the demo, hhmmm, nah i`m gonna leave it now i think, dont think the snowy level was a good choice for the demo, as its put me off buying it..shame that, cos i wanted to see what the big quarry track looked like aswell..

Fully agree. The demo is trash, a boring snow track. Give me a track that the game is really about: um gravel? The demo told me nothing. A trophy truck and stadium track of a track with jumps may have convinced me.

 

[Scaff]

Fully agree. The demo is trash, a boring snow track. Give me a track that the game is really about: um gravel? The demo told me nothing. A trophy truck and strain track of a track with jumps may have convinced me.

Should have been trophy trucks in Namibia.....

 

[lancia delta hf]

Should have been trophy trucks in Namibia.....

From what I've seen, I completely agree. I told my mates to download the demo, after playing it I told them not to bother. Has online improved?

 

[Harry Freq]

Tried the demo, hhmmm, nah i`m gonna leave it now i think, dont think the snowy level was a good choice for the demo, as its put me off buying it..shame that, cos i wanted to see what the big quarry track looked like aswell..

Turn the snow off as it makes the track look much better! Also the 2nd track is better than the first.

Quite enjoyed the demo with the controller will prob pick it up at some point when im looking for something different to play.

Couldnt figure how you change camera views though think you need to be part of Mensa to figure it out.

 

[imported_rik19]

Turn the snow off as it makes the track look much better! Also the 2nd track is better than the first.

Quite enjoyed the demo with the controller will prob pick it up at some point when im looking for something different to play.

Couldnt figure how you change camera views though think you need to be part of Mensa to figure it out.

Yes i did try the snow off, and change camera view is the touchpad.

 

[Harry Freq]

Yes i did try the snow off, and change camera view is the touchpad.

Jesus...cannot remember the last time i pressed the touch pad No wonder i couldnt get it

 

[GroupB]

So I’m happy to report that after the 2 major updates, Gravel far more resembles a current-gen console game. It’s too bad they bungled the launch, as many people will already have written it off based on how it used to look.

 

[imported_rik19]

Hmmm interesting... Ive only tried the demo, so it could be a lot better then?

 

[torque99]

I think it's really good of milestone to even give a free demo, not many games give a demo or even so soon after launch

 

[MrCrynox]

I think it's really good of milestone to even give a free demo, not many games give a demo or even so soon after launch

Yeah it certainly is. I just hope they patch it with the improvements otherwise it will end up doing more harm than good. I had high hopes for Gravel and really wanted Milestone to do well with it. At the moment I'm not sure how is going to sell or work out for them.