Finally started the damn game. Been too busy with shit it took me this long. Anyways this is already a slam dunk in my eyes, I can tell just from 3 hours of playthrough that the devs did exactly what they set out to do here: Make a new TXR, don't change what doesn't need to be changed and modernize everything for current standards.
The handling is nice and snappy, but perhaps it's too easy, at least compared to the challenging learning curve I went against in TXR 3, it could be that I got used to how the series plays, or they had to dumb it down sadly, not a big deal though as long as the cars driving is fun, which it it.
The selection this time is very good, they managed to get Hondas in which is absolutely amazing. They don't have as many cars as TXR 3, not nearly, but honestly, I don't care too much about having too many cars where I won't drive most of them, we'll see how the game goes as I play more but so far no complaints from me about the car selection.
The soundtrack is an absolute jam, consisting of a mix of new and remade tracks, they knocked it out the park here.
The visuals and overall presentation is clean and superb, modernized just in the right way.
The only problem I faced, which is actually a big one: so apparently the early access period of the game, they didn't have gauges for oil and water temperature like is the case in TXR 3, but they added that feature later on, and while doing that, the geniuses forgot to (or decided not to) also add upgrade parts for the radiator and cooling systems of the cars, so right now if you have those gauges on, all cars just overheat after a few races with no way (that I'm aware of so far) to cool it down other than just drive it at civilian speeds.
This is honestly a best case scenario for a "PS2-style game comeback" as people are calling it online.
Finally, I'm now influenced to go touch up my Kia Forte shitbox in real life and give it a little flair, nothing crazy or expensive, but it could be cool I reckon, if I don't end up changing my mind.