Just did my first couple of laps and first impressions are positive (more positive than i expected from footage i had seen). I'm playing on PS3. Graphics are servicable (not the best though) and smooth, controls take a bit of getting used to but i'm adopting quite fast. Menu layout and navigating seems a bit more complicated than it should have been.
But the gameplay definately clicks with me. If the tracks are varied enough, then i can see this becoming quite addictive.
Is drifting introduced later in the game? First cars don't drift in corners but that one rally car in the tutorial did. Or is it dependant on the car?
Yeah, depends on car/surface.
So, there's quite a lot to this game. Been playing for a bit, got something close to 40 medals (out of 134?) and seen quite a few tracks now. The tracks definitely get better later in terms of visuals, you actually get dusk and dawn type lighting like in the big Motorstorms, and like its big brethren, it does make them look a lot nicer. And there are some neat light effects from festive colored lights to laser-shows. Bottom line, on the PS3 at least, the game looks a lot nicer than I expected. No idea yet what the Vita version will be like, but I'll have them side by side tomorrow hopefully and if the graphics are mostly identical then some levels could look pretty great on that screen.
Types of racing is overtaking (usually have to overtake 10 as quick as possible), time trials, and races (8 player). It's cool you can see your own best time as well as the target times in all types. Races unlock much like Pacific Rift - get enough medals, and one of the four zones will unlock more races. About 25% in, I'm already struggling to get golds, and sometimes even bronze - have to definitely learn the tracks, and can't just full-throttle through everything. Some tracks can have you turn your car around pretty easily and ruin your chances of winning, so have to be careful here and there.
Actual driving is pretty good. Have to get used to the camera a bit, but it's part of learning the track and there are four different camera modes (haven't tried them, just the default one). I currently drive traditional RC controls, but looks like point controls (alternative controls) may be easier. It's great that they are there for the split-screen multiplayer, as that will make it more accessible for others.
I had no friends yet playing, so instead I get constant updates of random people online beating the crap out of my times. Great.
The playground seems fun to mess around in. More impressions later.
EDIT: PS3 version supports custom soundtracks (the press ps-button / play anything variety)