The cut-scenes, story, characters etc. are pretty much useless and mostly a giant stupid waste of time and resources. If only the races were loading during this time...
Other than that, the game is absolutely amazing. The track design is fantastic, the new controls are better than every other MS games, you can feel the weight differences between each vehicles and classes, counter-steering is even more amazing than before thanks to weight transfer & suspension ... and I personally think the music fits pretty well with the action. The track design evolution is also executed reeeeaally well as the tracks change over two days (maybe more, I'm halfway through it) of earthquakes and storms.
Graphically awesome as well, even though some things definitely looked better in Pacific Rift. Cars look a little less detailed, the fire effects are meh, explosions are also meh, so are the trees/vegetation and so are the water effects... the lighting engine is definitely more advanced in Apocalypse, but the results are a mixed bag IMO. Particles are all over the place, everything animates, everything has physical reactions etc. it definitely look AMAZINGLY detailed and jaw dropping in motion.
Textures are also a mixed bag since less real-life textures were used so it looks a bit inconsistent and a bit more cartoony overall.
Edit: Futureshop was the only store that had the game today and there were about 5 of them .... sad!