Gran Turismo 5: Prologue

Soon after the PlayStation 3 launched, Polyphony Digital gave online users a bit of a Christmas present with a Gran Turismo concept package that was – as it turned out – an inkling of what would be unveiled with the fifth iteration of the fabled Gran Turismo series.  

Gran Turismo 5: Prologue is the debut of the vaunted car-racing franchise on the next-generation system. If you thought the game was stunning on the PS2 system, to borrow a phrase from Bachman-Turner Overdrive, “you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Stunning fails to capture the impressive visuals that wait in Prologue. Photorealism takes a huge step forward and while you cannot take your eyes from the road for very long, if you do manage the feat, you will be treated to shadows, lighting and environmental scenery that don’t raise the bar, they obliterate it.

For those who have yet to experience the grandeur of a GT title, this is a racing game, featuring tracks in various world locations, incredibly detailed cars and driving challenges. Because of the licensing with automotive manufacturers, when you crash, the car does not show physical damage. But when you are trying to win a race, against solid AI competition, a crash will rob you of time. And because the AI does not make many mistakes, dropping even a few seconds is not something you really want to do. That puts the onus firmly on driving well, reading the tracks, understanding drifting, braking, accelerating, car set-ups for the tracks (yes, you can manipulate the vehicle’s handling) and even how to bump to keep yourself on the course while perhaps knocking an opponent off the track.

GT5 offers several ways to play – the 2P Battle (a two-player split screen using cars purchased and in the garage), an event (career) mode, arcade mode and online. The career mode is set up in a series of challenges that have defining points – which amount to certain types of cars that can be used – in three classes: A, B, and C (the latter is in the entry class). You are required to complete all the challenges in one class before you can advance to the next class. Winning races earns you money, and money translates into a trip to the showrooms of a range of dealerships (from Aston Martin to concept cars, with stops in between to the likes of Jaguar and Ford) to purchase a new ride from the more than 60 available in the game.

The sound is what one would expect from such a game, but when it comes to the game’s graphics, they are unparalleled and run at 1080p. About the only time you can tell that you are looking at game assets is when a pit crew is shown, or you roar past a crowd. The people don’t look quite right, but the cars, the courses and the countryside or streets look incredible.

Using the new PS3 DUALSHOCK 3 controller made for a wonderful experience. The control scheme is not hard to understand, or to jump into the game and play. The controls are also responsive and in quick order players will realized that having the right car set-up is vital to success as you move through the game. Each car handles differently, but is true to the particular ‘breed.’ For example, the game has a rather sweet Mustang V8 GT 07 (a.k.a. the return of the American muscle car) that can be purchased. As an owner of an 07 Mustang, there were certain handling and acceleration expectations that were in place and GT5 nailed it.

In addition to the online elements, GT5 also has something known at GT TV, which is accessed online and is a ‘clearinghouse’ of motor-driven video.

Gran Turismo 5 is a challenging and visually impressive achievement that should not only please fans of the series but entice newcomers to give it a try. It has broad appeal, from older gamers to young, with a learning curve that is insignificant. Those who have waited for the franchise to hit the next-gen console should not be disappointed in the least.