By all accounts, Gran Turismo 5 is going to be something of a milestone for Sony and the PlayStation 3. Last year’s impressive outing on the PSP might have delivered in terms of car count and sheer track variety, but the lack of a structured, familiar career mode meant that it was only ever going to issue bite sized aperitifs as opposed to the three course dinner. Thankfully, GT 5 is heading our way in just a few weeks and it’s the real deal, coming with a complete Gran Turismo mode in addition to everything else we’d be right to expect for something building off the foundations of the last Prologue.
TheSixthAxis recently got the chance to have extensive hands-on with the game, and it’s fair to say that the magic is still there. Yes, Polyphony’s flagship title offers a precise, engineered take on car handling but it’s exactly what fans have come to appreciate -without the smoke and mirrors of motion blur, exaggerated grip and offputting camera shake so often used in other games the handling in Gran Turismo has to stand up on its own – and it most certainly does. The physics, refined further from Prologue (and still offering a ‘professional’ mode for the hardcore) are a delight, driving as close to reality as possible.
The trick with GT 5 is the driving feels right. It’s difficult to explain (and trickier still to portray to the player without a proper force feedback wheel) but it’s as if you can sense the contact between tyre and track, the driving model so sublime and yet so intricate that each corner needs less repetitive learning and more instinct. It’s as if there’s enough data here – hidden nicely behind the 1080p, 60 frames per second graphics – that the handling of each car is just assumed to be as accurate as possible without the player ever questioning the game. A safe assumption, I’m sure.
But what about those graphics? Well, it’s still clearly Gran Turismo but there’re big improvements – the textures are pixel sharp, the lighting more reactive (the night and day transition is lovely) and the tracks sculpted with an eye for detail rarely seen across GT’s competition. The Nürburgring, the focus of most of my time with the build, looks wonderful and the on-track graffiti a particular highlight. I’ve also spent time with the ever popular Tokyo-based Route 246, the city course showing off some wonderful trackside modeling and the chance to really take in the varied scenery, the sun beaming through the trees.
I’m impressed. Gran Turismo 5 might have been a long time coming (and the final build is still teasingly just out of reach) but I’m confident this is going to smash everything else in its path. The driving is exquisite, the visuals smooth and detailed and naturally the cars themselves are the stars of the show. From WRC class hatchbacks to race-class JGTC vehicles, everything looked, drove and sounded exactly as I’d want them them too. It’s always stated that Gran Turismo is the real driving simlulator – and this year PlayStation 3 owners are going to have something rather special on their consoles.
We’ll be back with more soon.
Dazbobaby
Does it feel different to GT:P?
GT:P looked like you were driving a car, but felt like you were drivng a bus. Has the handling changed at all?
Danza Di Fuoco E Ghiaccio
Each car would’ve been different to handle?
3shirts
I don’t think anything could stop me from getting this game. I love GT, I am complete addict and since I got a Logitech wheel, even Prologue has had me hooked again.
Playing GT5 in my funky egg-chair with my wheel on its wheelstandpro and 5.1 echoing around me is an experience for which I cannot wait.
I’ve even booked release day and the following Monday off work which is pretty sad for a 28 year old man but I don’t care. This will be awesome
Kronik76
Hey, I booked the time off too and I’m 34 ;-)
3shirts
Thanks, I feel a bit better now.
Add me (JackDusty) and we can have some launch day fun. Alternatively, join the TSA meet that is scheduled for release day evening
ScaffGTP
Snap and I’m 40
Gadbury
30 here, just got back from two weeks holiday and Friday 5th is about to be booked off…!
Danza Di Fuoco E Ghiaccio
Erm… 18
3shirts
Got time from skateboarding and mugging old ladies?
[/jealousy] *puts down Daily Mail*
TSBonyman
Sweet mother of gorgeous!*drools*
Scythegpd
What were you guys doing? Actual racing or was it time-trial or point to point stuff?
The reason I ask is this: The worst thing about Gran Turismo has IMO always been its godawful AI. Even GT5: Prologue had the most abysmal AI. It’s always frustrated me that what you race against is a bunch of zombie cars that go “This is the racing line … I’m following the racing line … I’m turning into you because you’re on the racing line … I’m following this line …” and so on and so forth.
Have they made any improvements to the AI so that they actually *gasp* respond to you and what you’re doing, actively moving away from the racing line to consider that your car might be there trying to perform an overtaking manouveror even *horror* trying to overtake other cars)? Or are they still the same old on rails scalectrix style cars that only know 1 route and drive around in procession? I mean even races like NFS and Burnout now have opposition that actually react to you and each other, surely it’s not beyond Polyphony at this stage (although it certainly was in GT3, 4 and Prologue) to have opposition that follow more than 1 line and try overtake others?
Danza Di Fuoco E Ghiaccio
There was a video showing a cars dodgeing a car going the wrong way.
Scythegpd
Cheers. At work ATM so can’t view videos and would probably have forgotten about this by the time I got home.
Danza Di Fuoco E Ghiaccio
I just remember it being from GT planet that is all
nofi
“What were you guys doing? Actual racing or was it time-trial or point to point stuff?”
Racing. More soon.
dee
Cant see it on my ps3 browser.link anyone?(pls)
heedbaw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsUx767_RlA
Think it’s one of the videos that’s up on store. Have seen it before, but it does look sweet.
Danlord
I was at the Expo on Friday with a bunch of my friends and I managed to play GT5 on the wheel, in 2D by controller and in 3D with the controller!
It was absolutely amazing. It never dissapointed me at all, and it even had damage to some cars. I tried the Toscana Rally Track with the Citroen Rally Car and I must say, these new driving physics are perfect and really complement rallying not just tarmac racing. The cars definately felt different as I’d driven the Enzo and the Citroen GT with a controller and noticed differences in the way I raced around the track. The 3D is just epic, I love 3D but this is the reason to get a 3DTV for anyone, everything just appearing right in front of you, nothing too exaggerate and was just amazing. I can’t wait until its here!
cam the man
Good video, the particle effects are the best I’ve seen in a video game.
Roll on November 5th.
Kennykazey
Two questions:
1. Can you see a distinct difference between the premium cars and the non-premium ones? (I find it annoying that some cars get more attention than others as I fear that will make the game look somewhat patched together.)
2. Can you race any type of car against any other type of car on any type of track? (‘Cause that would create some awesome splitscreen races.)
monkeyspoon
I played GT5 at the Eurogamer expo and it makes Forza 3 look like a spectrum game.
hol
Cannot wait! Just need a decent wheel now ;)
3shirts
Argos have the Driving Force GT for £79