I was hoping it really would redeem GRID 2's lack of pro circuit track racing as many anticipated, and had it just added that with a graphics makeover and kept GRID or even GRID 2 car handling, it might have. What we got instead however is an abomination.
This is a failed attempt at a more sim-like experience. There's too many rev killers, the AI are still driving like maniacs (and very ineptly in corners), they still weave back and forth wildly in front of you, and the coding is still shit. The frame rate is fine, but they've yet to fix the problem of pauses every now and then on the track. It's enough to take me severely off my line or even hit the wall sometimes. Yet I can run max settings at 1080p with 4xAA and average 70 FPS and Min 56 in their bench.
Another way it fails to be more realistic is open wheel is actually the easiest, most forgiving. discipline. After experiencing the handling in other disciplines I held off doing any open wheel events until I got familiar with it. To my surprise the cars were WAY easier to drive. I expected less understeer, that's understandable, but they also grip better and even handle the bumps from the cray AI well with less momentum loss. Other than that it is very boring. There's too many micro slices of tracks being used, often with very unimpressive cars.
I knew Codies was going south when they dumped a lot of time and money into their trash titles like Operation Flashpoint and DiRT Showdown, while ignoring GRID for years, but when they start ruining what used to be their signature titles, it's time to wait for Steam sales or pass altogether.
I'm REALLY getting sick of crap sequels. Both This and Sniper Elite III just make me want to play the previous titles. For me, the best in those series were GRID and Sniper Elite V2. CodeDisasters is one of many dev teams that have lost their focus and more importantly, their touch with their own fanbase.
And the replays, OMG the crap replays. They haven't come CLOSE to how good the replays look in GRID. I don't even bother recording or even watching replays anymore. You get a better feeling of speed and adrenaline in GRID than either of it's sequels, and not just during a race but in watching the replays as well.
I could go on, but I'm bored even talking about this game. It's one of those titles that I have to force myself to go back to because it feels like the same thing over and over.