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Playstation/Gaming Discussions => Gaming Discussion => Topic started by: rastalant on September 21, 2001, 04:30:38 PM

Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: rastalant on September 21, 2001, 04:30:38 PM
I was really looking forward to Bizarre Creation\'s latest racing effort, especially because the company\'s previous racer MSR brought so much new to the table in terms of racing conventions. The Kudos system, while imperfect, still made racing about technique as much as win or lose, something I really appreciated. The good thing is that if you\'ve played MSR for Dreamcast, you\'ll find the game instantly familiar. Unfortunately, the said could be said about the game\'s graphics, which left me less than impressed.

First, some facts. Modes for Project Gotham include Arcade, Challenge, Time Attack, Custom, Medal Pursuit, Kudos Challenge, and Multiplayer. All of your standard races are there, but features like the Medal Pursuit option give you specific times to beat for a lap in specific levels, with medals awards for meeting specific times. In the end however, it\'s all about the Kudos mode, a complex set of missions that have you competing in standard races, specific tasks, and missions like keeping a total top speed at the end of a race, all for the sake of those sacred Kudos. They\'re the racing equivalent of collecting gold coins in Mario, and are the key to unlocking all the cool things you\'ll find deep beneath PG\'s surface. You can even use your joker once a round to bet with, doubling your kudos if you beat a certain lap time in a race – it\'s like gambling on four wheels, something I\'m more than excited to try out.

The gameplay is filled with great details, and the cars still have the same heavy, centered feel of MSR, which depending on how you felt about that game, is a good or a bad thing. Still, it\'s the next step in Bizarre Creation\'s racing plans, and you can definitely feel that.

When the game starts to disappoint, at least at this point in development, is in the graphics. Yes, the cars are incredibly detailed, and I\'m still in love with being able to watch the drivers react to racing on the road, but the vehicles still don\'t come off as detailed as the anal, complex GTA for PS2. In terms of building, the architecture is pretty complex, throwing tons of buildings in a packed city, all with a clear draw distance. Those building, however, are mostly made of flat textures, and lack the touches of games like the upcoming Test Drive from Infogrames, or once again, GTA 3. Right now the combination of flat buildings, the sometimes simplistic texture details (such as the grass), and lack of Xbox\'s amazing lighting system keep the game from truly setting a visual spark at this point.

The good thing is that Gotham looks like an incredibly dense racer, and to judge it at this point after only an hour of play between a group of editors would be nothing less than cruel. Look for a more detailed breakdown of the title when we get a preview build in the office.

xbox.ign.com



Unfortunately, the said could be said about the game\'s graphics, which left me less than impressed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


So much for looking better than gt3.

:thepimp: :thepimp: :thepimp: :thepimp:
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: datamage on September 21, 2001, 04:47:29 PM
Something people don\'t seem to understand.

Textures don\'t make up for polygons. And this is one of the reasons why I didn\'t like MSR on the DC. Everything looked flat as hell,. and yes buildings are essentially squares, but they have depth and detail. They aren\'t \'flat.\' Oh well. Another game I didn\'t care about anyway. Why didn\'t they mention the framerate? (or did they? I kinda skimmed through it)

/ dm /
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: rastalant on September 21, 2001, 04:56:05 PM
I know last time I heard the framerate was like 20fps at e3.  So hopefully its better now,  I still think project gothem will be good since I liked msr on dc.:)
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: QuDDus on September 21, 2001, 04:59:04 PM
Well a lot of the annoying things in msr are supose to be fixed in this game. The game looks great.  I can\'t wait.
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: Halberto on September 21, 2001, 05:17:40 PM
I still can\'t see a racing game beating GT3 this generation.
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: Watchdog on September 21, 2001, 06:46:31 PM
I never really liked this series.
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: Tetrad on September 21, 2001, 07:10:09 PM
Quote
I never really liked this series.

Project Gothem isn\'t in a series its the first of its kind, I\'m assuming you were refering to MSR, the other racer they made.
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: Toxical on September 21, 2001, 07:21:22 PM
oh, well,
still got GT3 lol.
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: Watchdog on September 22, 2001, 07:09:40 AM
Yeah, for the DC.  Actually, I don\'t even like GT3.  Racers aren\'t my thing I guess.  I can say they are both fine games, but they don\'t appeal to me.  I prefer Mario Cart-esque games or car combat, but these sims or serious racing games bore me.
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: Tetrad on September 22, 2001, 09:25:40 AM
Im with you watchdog. The only racing games that have ever appealed is GT series but I suck at them so there goes passion, but mario cart... what a great game.
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: Falcon4 on September 22, 2001, 12:24:19 PM
wow, its running at 20 fps?? thats not good.. why does it seem that many x box games have been having trouble with framerates........ thats not good.

anyways i doubt a racer would even compare to gt3. people at teamxbox were talking about how much better PG is that GT3.

well i guess they are wrong.

too bad. they usually are.
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: datamage on September 22, 2001, 12:26:04 PM
Falcon,

Rasta said it was running @ 20fps @ e3. Doesn\'t mean it\'s running that poorly now. It sure as hell better not be.

/ dm /
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: Falcon4 on September 22, 2001, 12:31:27 PM
i know it probably is better now, but halo has the same problem, the devs said that they could bring it up to 60fps with final hardware, but they couldnt.

i wonder what it is with x box\'s hardware that makes the devs have a hard time pushing their games past 30fps.

a racing game not at 60fps would not be good IMO.
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: Bossieman on September 22, 2001, 12:41:20 PM
Where are all the x-box fanboys now? The people that said PG would kill GT3! HELLO; WHERE ARE THEY?????????
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: rastalant on September 22, 2001, 01:41:40 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Falcon4
i know it probably is better now, but halo has the same problem, the devs said that they could bring it up to 60fps with final hardware, but they couldnt.

i wonder what it is with x box\'s hardware that makes the devs have a hard time pushing their games past 30fps.

a racing game not at 60fps would not be good IMO.



I know I heard the final game is "suppose" to run at 60fps, but they didn\'t say nothing about the framerate in the impressions of the xbox games so it makes you wonder.  I hope the framerate better than the e3 demo of PG.:thepimp: :thepimp:
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: Samwise on September 22, 2001, 11:50:53 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Bossieman
Where are all the x-box fanboys now?
Ssssh, keep quiet, Docwiz might hear you.
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: fastson on September 23, 2001, 05:28:29 AM
GT3 :D

Nuff said ;)
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: Evi on September 23, 2001, 12:37:59 PM
20 FPS is not racing, more like...waiting for the screen to catch up...:(  I did notice when I saw a movie of Project Gotham that the cars were amazing, but the textures on the surroundings flat sucked (no pun intended).
Title: rastalant
Post by: Evi on September 23, 2001, 12:39:32 PM
I thought the pic under your name was Ryu, and then after thinking for a while, I realized it was that guy from Streets of Rage 3...cool...;)
Title: Re: rastalant
Post by: rastalant on September 23, 2001, 02:05:45 PM
Quote
Originally posted by EviscerationX
I thought the pic under your name was Ryu, and then after thinking for a while, I realized it was that guy from Streets of Rage 3...cool...;)




It\'s good that you know your videogames.  Shiva rules.  One of the coolest characters ever.
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: Falcon4 on September 23, 2001, 03:28:14 PM
Quote
Originally posted by rastalant



I know I heard the final game is "suppose" to run at 60fps, but they didn\'t say nothing about the framerate in the impressions of the xbox games so it makes you wonder.  I hope the framerate better than the e3 demo of PG.:thepimp: :thepimp:


and it most likely will be.

i wonder what makes it so hard to do 60fps on the x box... is it a streaming problem? i dont know much bout programming so i wouldnt know.

it certainly must be in the hardware.
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: rastalant on September 23, 2001, 04:31:02 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Falcon4


and it most likely will be.

i wonder what makes it so hard to do 60fps on the x box... is it a streaming problem? i dont know much bout programming so i wouldnt know.

it certainly must be in the hardware.



I know I figured with the power of the xbox it could do 60fps with ease.  Well I guess I was wrong.:thepimp:
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: Evi on September 23, 2001, 07:11:15 PM
Quote
I know I figured with the power of the xbox it could do 60fps with ease. Well I guess I was wrong.
I\'m sure it\'s not the hardware.  The developers are just sucking with the programming.  I\'m sure Project Ego won\'t stagger in framerate...
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: rastalant on September 23, 2001, 07:29:13 PM
I know DOA3 seems to be at a constent 60fps with graphics like that.  So your right the hardware is good I guess maybe some developers need to get use to it or something.  Isn\'t Project Ego suppose to big an amazing rpg type game.  I think thats one of xbox killer app.  :thepimp:
Title: Project Gotham Impressions!!!!
Post by: Nu on September 23, 2001, 08:35:11 PM
S\'not really the developer\'s fault either. Most of them got their final dev. kits very late... Up to 3 months late.

Oh well, the 2nd gen software is gonna blow your minds. Trust me. ^_^;
Title: ..
Post by: Megiddo on September 24, 2001, 11:22:41 AM
Its quite obvious the xbox zealots are not privy to the facts...

It\'s quite clear this game was going to look FAR WORST than the god-like GT3 if you look at the gameplay movies..the game looks at about and sometimes even WORST than the DC version...

This game is laughable at best...Fits well with the xbox.