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.
3shirts
Does anyone know much about the customisation options on GT?
Is there any physical modding available? It’s not a big deal but I’d like to see some basic bodykit options, like sticking the BTCC kit to your Astra or the Rally arches and wing on your C4.
I think it was GT2 that had this as one of the upgrade options and it was cool
discharge
What I’ve not seen in any of the gameplay videos is the pit stops, does anyone know if GT5 will have a fully animated pit crew?
3shirts
What does the Xbox version look like ;)
Sorry, should bait the fanboys
gazzagb
Sounds great, did you try the Top Gear track?
Loxstokk
Cant wait to get my hands on this. Essentially the reason I bought a PS3, although I’ve been pleasantly surprised by stunners such as U2, KZ2, GOW3 et al…
I can see this game shifting consoles, quite a few ‘older’ gamers (older than me, im 27) who aren’t really interested in playing computer games now, are still really interested when I mention GT5. A few of them remember playing the earlier games a decade ago. Some just love cars…
aerobes
Sounds like everything I’d hoped and looks absolutely astonishing. Thanks for the update, nofi.
It’s tantalisingly close now. :)
BalramRules
gt5 lookz absolutely beautiful
freezebug2
Oh sweet Jesus that is an impressive trailer, I have said that I’m sick of these teasers but that was just…well..sublime. Gimme gimme gimme.
solidsteven
is it okay is i say gt5 ftw
please not this is my opinion and i’m not trying to wind every fanboy up
solidsteven
if i say man i need to proof read my comments