iainl Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 The new UK version of the official magazine has a playable demo of PGR2 on it this month, and so I took it for a spin last night. Anyway, here are my initial impressions from about 45 minutes of playing: The first big change is the way the different medals work. Rather than adjusting your goal time/score/position to increase or decrease the bonus you'll get (which was the only real way to get good enough kudos for a gold or silver in PGR), you now have the far simpler method of choosing just from 5 different options of goals. You're picking your medal aim straight off (pass through to platinum medal) rather than having a nebulous kudos idea; I'm not sure how I feel about that really. Once you're actually in a game, its literally like night and day compared to the first one. Even with the daytime races on PGR and particularly MSR the game looked dull and overcast - PGR2's three demo courses were all bathed in sunlight and very bright indeed. Slightly washed out, in fact, which makes driving a lot easier but I don't think looks that wonderful. Another change is the car handling. I don't know if its just because the three cars in the demo are all supercharged fancy things, and I'm more used to the slower cars in PGR, but they are all seriously twitchy; full throttle with anything like a serious turn and you'll be facing backwards very easily, and over-correcting is a constant problem. I got used to it fairly quickly though, and it does mean that kudos-cranking slides come naturally. Finally for now, they've tweaked the Kudos meter even further towards being generous to minor mistakes. Now if you clip a wall on your 5th trick of a combo you don't lose the whole lot, but just get the straight scores of the last 4 without the accompanying combo bonus. All in all, its more of the same with some tweaks though, and as I've still not got that far through PGR (I gave up on getting far in MSR years ago) I think I'll be waiting based on this, basically because I don't know the new cities like I do London, New York or San Francisco. Besides, F-Zero arrives next week, and I'm neck deep in Soul Calibur II as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyjaw Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Twitchy? That's not something I'd expect from that game given the fairly neutral handling of PGR. I think I will like the amended kudos system, where you don't lose all your points. How's the aliasing in this one? It won't affect my buying decision, but I'm curious if they were able to tone it down any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam P Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Another change is the car handling. I don't know if its just because the three cars in the demo are all supercharged fancy things, and I'm more used to the slower cars in PGR, but they are all seriously twitchy; full throttle with anything like a serious turn and you'll be facing backwards very easily, and over-correcting is a constant problem. I got used to it fairly quickly though, and it does mean that kudos-cranking slides come naturally. Hmm, I'm rather ambivalent when it comes to twitchy racing games. On the one hand, I really like the challenge. On the other, how that twitchiness affects the controls is really important. If the cars are nervous but you still have a very responsive, very precise, very faithful method of control then it can be a great thing because it's all down to how good you are. However, if the twitchiness is hard to dial out with skill it ruins the gameplay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 I don't know if its just because the three cars in the demo are all supercharged fancy things, and I'm more used to the slower cars in PGR, but they are all seriously twitchy; full throttle with anything like a serious turn and you'll be facing backwards very easily, and over-correcting is a constant problem. It was like this in the first PGR, IMO. For example, take a F50 out on a twisty stretch of road after driving a WRX for about 20 minutes and you're going to be sliding that F50 all over the place until you come to grips with the handling. This is by far my most anticipated game for the Xbox this holiday season, as I spent over 200 hours with the original PGR and still play it at least 3 times a week. All the previews of PGR2 have made it sound like just what I expect from it, same as before, but with changes that make the game easier to get in to for beginners, but at the same time, provides a challenge for the veterans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam P Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 This is by far my most anticipated game for the Xbox this holiday season, as I spent over 200 hours with the original PGR and still play it at least 3 times a week. All the previews of PGR2 have made it sound like just what I expect from it, same as before, but with changes that make the game easier to get in to for beginners, but at the same time, provides a challenge for the veterans. Not to mention it will have LIVE. I will be getting a wireless adapter and a LIVE subscription just to race you, Buck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Originally posted by Sam P@Oct 30 2003, 01:48 PM I will be getting a wireless adapter and a LIVE subscription just to race you, Buck. Don't forget to pick up that can of "luck" with your wireless adapter and Live kit, Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbert Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Another change is the car handling. I don't know if its just because the three cars in the demo are all supercharged fancy things, and I'm more used to the slower cars in PGR, but they are all seriously twitchy; As Buck says, that sounds just like the really powered cars in PGR, they were super twitchy too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Monkey Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Two words. Live Nurburgring Pass or wait on this? I don't think so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam P Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Don't forget to pick up that can of "luck" with your wireless adapter and Live kit, Sam I won't need it. Be sure to wave in my rear view mirror. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam P Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Originally posted by Beer Monkey@Oct 30 2003, 03:00 PM Two words. Live Nurburgring Pass or wait on this? I don't think so. You need one more. Live Nurburgring Nordschleife Im not a big fan of the new circuit. :? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Originally posted by Sam P@Oct 30 2003, 03:00 PM Don't forget to pick up that can of "luck" with your wireless adapter and Live kit, Sam I won't need it. Be sure to wave in my rear view mirror. NE1469 This is what you'll see on my license plate, but you'll probably want to get a look at it at the beginning of the race since it'll be hard to see when I'm putting you a lap down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robot Monkey Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Damn your eyes, Buck, that was my license plate in the original PGR! I guess I'll have to settle for OOK in the new one. -j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Originally posted by Robot Monkey@Oct 30 2003, 03:35 PM Damn your eyes, Buck, that was my license plate in the original PGR! NE1469 was actually the license plate on my first car :green: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robot Monkey Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Well, I'm gonna use NE1469 anyway. If you have a problem with it your mom can contact me. -j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whooter Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Originally posted by Robot Monkey@Oct 30 2003, 04:16 PM Well, I'm gonna use NE1469 anyway. If you have a problem with it your mom can contact me. -j :lmfao: I'm using TI3VOM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Originally posted by Robot Monkey@Oct 30 2003, 04:16 PM Well, I'm gonna use NE1469 anyway. If you have a problem with it your mom can contact me. -j :lmfao: :lmfao: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyjaw Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 So why would Buck's Mom care if you were born in Nebraska on January 4th 1969? OK that was bad...I apologize in advance I'm definitely buying this, maybe they'll let me apply my licence plate backward so you can read it after you pass me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robot Monkey Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 What this game needs is an ESPN Football-style crib -- I mean Garage -- so I can unlock fuzzy dice, stuffed animals, new paint schemes, wheels, curb feelers and so on for online play. That would be stylin'. -j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainl Posted October 31, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2003 Originally posted by Buck@Oct 30 2003, 07:35 PM I don't know if its just because the three cars in the demo are all supercharged fancy things, and I'm more used to the slower cars in PGR, but they are all seriously twitchy; full throttle with anything like a serious turn and you'll be facing backwards very easily, and over-correcting is a constant problem. It was like this in the first PGR, IMO. For example, take a F50 out on a twisty stretch of road after driving a WRX for about 20 minutes and you're going to be sliding that F50 all over the place until you come to grips with the handling. Well, I tried it again last night, after playing PGR for a bit too, and yeah - its not really much different to the Porche and co in PGR. Its just that, due to my general rubbishness I tended to stick to FWD or 4WD cars. Its certainly something you can get the hang of, just that in order to show off the speed they gave us lots of fast rear-driven monsters. I can't really tell on the aliasing front, because neither game offends me there; I'm running on an LCD screen, so the 480i is getting scaled to 768p internally, which wiped out jaggies as it goes. I might be hooking it back up to the main widescreen TV for Saturday, though, and if I do I'll comment on them then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry the Clown Posted October 31, 2003 Report Share Posted October 31, 2003 I might be hooking it back up to the main widescreen TV for Saturday, though, and if I do I'll comment on them then. Whatever the monitor, I'm itching to give the demo a try when I pop over. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainl Posted October 31, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2003 Depending on how long a cat-5 cable I can find, I'll see what I can do. Its a lot easier to do two-player in the living room, and tinny monitor speakers are no match for 5.1 from the main system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam P Posted November 4, 2003 Report Share Posted November 4, 2003 Hoo boy. I was assembling all the PGR2 promo displays at E.B. over the weekend and I'm having alot of trouble waiting. Must.... Have.... PGR2.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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