Yes, it is excellent!
Firstly I'm no hard-core gamer, and have little experience of other platforms or games with which to compare, but what I can say about GT5 is:
1. It is great value at around £20. You get more than enough cars, circuits, and challenges to justify that price.
2. The graphics and sound quality are simply jaw-dropping. If like me you have a full-HD 1080p TV and surroundsound then you won't be disappointed with the visuals or sound. Amazing detail, amazing realism.
3. The replay mode is fantastic. After a race, you can watch yourself from the perspective of TV cameras following the race, including kerb-level shots (and as you whizz past, all the flowers at the road side bend over in the wind...)
A few quibbles though:
1. You can turn music on and off for races and replays, but you can't actually choose music, so you get a slightly bizarre mix of heavy rock, jazz, and elevator music. I've now turned it off for all but background.
2. The difficulty of the challenges varies widely. Some are really too easy, or allow you to 'cheat' by using a much more powerful car than the opposition, while others are well nigh inpossible, at least to my limited skills. In most cases you have to finish 3rd or higher; a couple are time trials, and a few require you to start at the back and overtake everyone on a single lap. I've done all of Level C, and all but one of Level B. The one I just can't get is a single-lap overtaking race using a Honda Integra Type R. No matter what I do I can't get higher than fourth, so can't get to Level A.
3. I'm using the Logitech Driving Force EX Steering Wheel and am having a few problems. I don't know if they are with the wheel or the game software, but:
3a. Sometimes at the start of a race, the steering kicks violently to one side, even though the wheel is in the straight-ahead position. This is random - sometimes it is fine.
3b. I can't get manual gear changing to work through the wheel.
3c. Sometimes the left-right arrows stop working when you are trying to select options. You can avoid this by pressing the buttons slowly, but it is annoying.
Overall, though well worth £20 and I'm looking forward to the full verson.
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