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Gran Turismo 5 Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Gran Turismo 5 Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

The Wait is Over

Gran Turismo 5 is out. No more delays, pushbacks, or excuses. The release is enough to get any serious automotive gaming fan excited, and by the time this review is published, I am nearly certain that die-hard automotive fans will have already picked up and played this title. But for those of you who aren’t willing to brave the midnight launch or who are wondering what all the hype is about, I’ll let you in on a little secret: Gran Turismo 5 is amazing. If you are on the fence about this title, or favor another automotive brand, it’s time to put away your prejudices and get ready for an awesome experience.

Gran Turismo 5 Screenshot

Gran Turismo 5, at its heart, is exactly what fans expect it to be. The game’s racing credentials are as solid as they have ever been, and racing around the track with your ride of choice is at once incredibly challenging but deeply enjoyable. The simulation-style mechanics have been re-tooled for Gran Turismo 5, and you can tell that a lot of work went into the minutia of each car. Driving a VW Golf around the High Speed Loop and driving around the Rome location track with a tuned Ferrari California are two completely different experiences with their own unique set of challenges. The Golf is a low-level car, and you’ll be able to speed up at a reasonable rate, but keeping up with the competition and controlling your turns will be where the game’s difficulty ramps up. And although you may believe that the better the car, the smoother your ride will be, Gran Turismo 5 makes sure the challenge stays constant, as high performance cars can be difficult to navigate through hairpin turns. Each car in the game feels different to drive, and with the game’s 1,000+ garage, the gameplay never gets stale. There is constantly a new experience waiting for you as you unlock more cars for your personal garage.

In addition to the massive garage, the game also features tuning options. While the breadth of the tuning options isn’t all that deep, you can replace basic parts like shocks and tires, as well as swap out drivetrains and chassis. Each car has three levels of customization for each area, and the development for each car is unfortunately linear. Still, saving up the cash to tune up your favorite car is a rewarding experience, and you’ll see a difference in performance after every tune-up.

Gran Turismo 5 Screenshot

Let’s shift gears for a moment (pun intended) and talk about the actual gameplay. The game’s main mode, GT Mode, includes every mode you’ll need (except for arcade mode and local co-op) and includes a plethora of modes that will keep you busy for months. The primary mode is the A-spec racing mode, which gives players a chance to enter tournaments, win prizes, and increase their driver rank. Although there is no over-arching structure to the A-spec mode, this works in the game’s favor, as you can play to your strengths by playing tracks that are optimized for your cars as you unlock them.

Unfortunately, the game’s secondary mode, B-spec, is not nearly as impressive. The idea behind B-spec is solid: you play as a driving coach leading an up-and-coming driver to victory by helping them get through the toughest courses. However, the interface you use to interact with your driver leaves much to be desired. You can communicate with your driver using a series of commands, but the experience never goes deeper than telling your driver to speed up, slow down, or pass other cars. This mode wavers wildly between being far too easy and impossibly hard, and it is hard to pinpoint where a potential coach might be going wrong, as the limited interface options don’t give you much room to play around.

Gran Turismo 5 Screenshot

B-spec may be a big disappointment, but the good news is that it is the only real sore spot in the game. The game’s special modes section is a huge triumph and gives the game some real variety. Special modes include everything from a kart racing simulator (no blue shells here!) to a NASCAR driving school. One of the most-touted special modes is the Top Gear challenge mode, which is based on the hit BBC TV show. Fans of the show will instantly recognize the show’s irreverent attitude, and if you want to participate in a race that only includes VW buses, this mode will be your best bet.

Gran Turismo 5 Screenshot

The experience of playing the game online can be a little tough to navigate at first, as the game uses a complex menu system that allows you to create lobbies, design races, and invite friends in what is surely the most customizable online experience ever. Want to run through a thirty-lap ultra-race through the streets of London? You can do that. Want to do two laps through the High Speed Ring on karts? You can do that too. There is plenty of depth to the online mode, and once you get the hang of the system (there is a bit of a learning curve), you’ll be creating and participating in races with ease. The game’s online component also features a social networking system that allows you to leave messages for friends on a public “wall” and invite people to your personal GT space.

The game’s structure encourages an almost obsessive amount of commitment, as there are more than one-thousand cars to purchase and tune, as well as plenty of challenges and special events to participate in. The game includes enough content that you’ll be busy for quite some time. And of course that doesn’t even include the game’s license modes (which serve as a sort of advanced training) and the arcade mode.

Gran Turismo 5 doesn’t only play well, it also looks great. Fans have come to expect amazing things from the visuals in the Gran Turismo series, and Gran Turismo 5 pushes the game to its graphical limit. Photo-realistic cars, tracks, and weather effects are everywhere in the game, and it is certainly the best-looking game I have ever seen on the PlayStation 3. The only caveat to the visual quality is that the game does not include any realistic crash physics. Though there is some minimal damage included in the game, don’t expect to see any bumpers dragging or windows breaking when you hit another car. The game still includes the infamous “bounce” mechanic that fans complained about in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, and if you are looking for realistic crashes, you are better off sticking to a franchise like Burnout or Need for Speed.

Gran Turismo 5 Screenshot

However, if you are looking for a quality simulator that pushes the genre forward, then Gran Turismo 5 is your game. With a plethora of modes, amazing visuals, and enough cars to make even the most committed gearhead swoon, there is plenty to love about Gran Turismo 5. I’ll admit that I was disappointed by certain aspects of the game, but overall, this package is certainly something that every automotive enthusiast needs to experience. Gran Turismo 5 sets the bar high for the genre overall, and with its detailed approach to core mechanics and commitment to creating the best simulation in video games, it’s easy to see why Gran Turismo is the gold standard in the automotive genre. Though some missteps were made with some of the modes, the game is a tight package that begs not only to be played, but obsessed over.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.8 Graphics
Every single frame of this game looks perfect. Detailed cars, tracks, and even menus give this game a great look. Crash physics are disappointing, however. 5.0 Control
Gran Turismo sticks to its hardcore simulation roots here, to grand effect. No matter whether you are using a wheel or your controller, Gran Turismo feels wonderful. 5.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Car sound effects are perfectly captured and the custom soundtrack ensures this game never sounds boring. 4.7 Play Value
Though GT Mode offers incredible play variety (including an immersive online experience) The B-Spec missions leave a lot to be desired, and the track editor isn’t as robust as it could have been. Still, the package is robust and you’ll be building your garage for months to come. 4.8 Overall Rating – Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • Build a dream collection from over 1,000 of the world’s most exciting cars, from exotic imports to muscle cars and performance supercars, to customize, race, and upgrade.
  • Travel the world to experience a wealth of real and fictional road, rally, NASCAR, drift and kart courses, and use the new Course Maker feature to create your own personal proving grounds.
  • Expand the Gran Turismo experience with deep and robust online community features, and challenge friends in the new custom race room system with voice chat for the ultimate track day.
  • Challenge and hone your driving skills in the A-Spec career mode as you complete a wealth of racing events spanning all racing styles.
  • Become a team coach and train AI drivers to be the best of the best as you guide them through a variety of racing events in the B-Spec career mode.
  • The most advanced Gran Turismo yet, featuring unrivaled graphics and a true-to-life driving feel.

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