AAA Shoot-out; why Gran Turismo 5 wins over any other game
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We have now come to the lastest entry in our special series of articles, and this is the big one.
Triple-A titles have become the norm these days on the PlayStation 3 and so it has become harder for gamers to pick that one title that overshadows the others.
In October we heard from two other writers on why they thought either Uncharted 2 or Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time is their “Most Wanted Game”.
This time around I will tell you why I think there is only one game that matters on the PlayStation 3 and all previous titles will fall short in comparison.
Join me as I put my case forward for why Gran Turismo 5 is my “Most Wanted Game” that’ll also set a new level of excitement for the racing genre.
So why will GT5 set hearts pacing and hands sweating?
The Gran Turismo series is one of the most successful in video game history, and since its introduction into the scene in 1997, over ten games have released totalling over 50 million sales.
Now of course we could just sit here and be in awe of that figure, but what it really means for us is this: The talented people at Polyphony Digital have so much experience with the franchise that they know exactly how to make a thrilling game and provide for the fans, even if they had their eyes closed.
The last major entry into the series, Gran Turismo 4, was released in 2005 and at the time it was the definitive racing game. It sported an average score of 89% at Metacritic, making it one of a few elite games that have ever performed so well across the board.
This isn't real life. This is Gran Turismo!
When Polyphony Digital leaped onto the PS3, they wanted to create the decisive racing game that no other company could come anywhere near to matching. So that’s why they released a free demo called Gran Turismo HD on the PlayStation Store to test the hardware and see what worked – and a lot did!
Then in 2008 came Gran Turismo 5: Prologue, a game that is certainly not a demo and is a good game in its own right – unlike what some people lead you to believe. You would really struggle to find another developer who would dedicate so much effort, money and time to get the most out of the PS3 and its unprecedented potential.
Thanks to the feedback from these games and all previous outings, Polyphony Digital is best placed to deliver the ultimate PlayStation 3 game. After listening to the thoughts of gamers everywhere, the developers have managed to develop a ton of new features and enhancements that are on their way in GT5.
NASCAR and WRC will be in the game
They include custom soundtracks that will let you be the DJ, giving you complete control over what tunes to belt out while you race in that shiny red Ferrari – or whatever car suits your tastes.
The new up-and-coming entry into the franchise will include nearly one thousand cars meaning there will be an uncountable number of vehicles to suit every personality. Around eighty courses with a variety of weather options will also allow gamers to explore lush environments from around the world and offer different challenges along the way.
Gran Turismo 5 will come with a new and improved GTTV that features progressive downloading and a new interface. This feature has played host in the past to series such as the award-winning Top Gear. Hardcore racing fans will need little more to fulfil their love of racing and fast cars than GT5!
Also for the first time in the series will be the inclusion of trophies, and the real driving simulator is easily the most suitable game for this feature – who in real life get’s awarded a trophy for achieving 100 head shots!?
But those are just some of the changes, and the biggest one of all that I have to brag about is damage!
If you have played any of the previous entries before, you will probably remember that the big issue with the games were that you could merely shove off your competitors off the track to overtake them, and rarely suffer any consequences as a result. It could also make the gameplay repetitive and predictable.
Admittedly this could be a problem for seeing where you're going
Damage has been evidently missing from the franchise and it’s the final puzzle piece that completes the series. We’re of course not just talking about physical damage either, because crashing into every barrier you can feast your eyes on will also largely affect the handling of your vehicle too.
Finally we come to the graphics: Can they look any better? The visuals look almost life like, and if you don’t believe me take a look at one of many screenshot comparisons available online.
Gran Turismo 5 has the potential to deliver the best graphics ever seen on any mass market product for both the console and PC, which combined with everything else the title has to offer, makes it the most realistic game of all time.
Unlike the other games we have discussed in this series of articles, you will not be strained to follow a storyline that you may have absolutely no interest in – none of the other titles offer so much freedom like GT5 does.
For me, you can’t go wrong with Gran Turismo 5: It offers so much more than any other game, with a team of developers who have had years of experience on the franchise, with a large chunk of that only on this title.
Gran Turismo suits almost all tastes, and you don’t have to be a dedicated gamer to really enjoy the title.
And all of that is why I think Gran Turismo 5 will be the best game to pick up for the PlayStation 3 over the next few months!
Now it’s down to you to share your views on who’s right and who’s wrong so far in the comments below.
Seriously Apart from GT5s graphics (which are amazing!) ModNation wins over it.
ModNations realism combined with all the true to life cars really set it apart from GT5
I don’t think they are going for realism in ModNation, but you knew that right?
I am really looking forward to ModNation, I think it will be more fun to play than GT5.
Some interesting points there… my issue with GT was always that it felt progressively like a grind. Particularly in the later half of the game.
I love ARPGs because they marry the grind with a rewarding story. Sadly this element is missing from many driving games, meaning I usually fall away from them.
I’m notoriously fickle, and don’t often get to sit and game for any reasonable length of time. As such, disc-time is a real premium.
Don’t get me wrong; GT5 will be awesome, but will it get more play time than the likes of MW2 or Uncharted 2?
Not in my own ’station, I doubt.
Regarding the grind, I had the same issues with prologue. I reached a point where I needed to repeat the same races again and again to afford the car required to enter the other races. It kind of lost me at the point.
Still keeping an eye on GT5 though. I expect I will buy it as I am a bit of a graphics whore.
The Gran Turismo series has been slowly dying for me. Don’t get me wrong, I hope GT5 will insanely great, but since the extremely disappointing GT4 came out, there’s been three competing racers, that have all been better and had higher metacritic scores (even if they haven’t included as many cars).
GT Prologue is nicely polished, but graphics aside it feels like a game from 2005 rather than 2009, and in 2005 Gran Turismo 4 already felt highly dated.
I really loved the first two games – and I still play the original now and then for nostalgia’s sake (and the great soundtrack). I play Prologue now and then, but to be honest I enjoy the video sections far more than the game.
Having played Forza 3 I can’t see GT5 being a satisfying experience unless they more or less dump the toy engine in GT Prologue and go all-out sim like Forza. If the recent PSP game is anything to go by, I’d sadly have to say that Polyphony Digital have lost their magic touch. I really, really hope I’m proven wrong, though.
Regardless of how the game turns out, I’m sure it’ll sell enough for a sequel, even if sales for the series have dropped over the years.
I’m actually really enjoying the PSP GT – I think it could have benefited from better AI and a career mode, but the driving is a lot of fun, given the limitations of the controls on the handheld (no analogue acceleration/brake). The reviews to me seemed to mark it down for not having a console-like career mode, and paid scant attention to the actual gameplay, which for me is what gaming is all about. Easily the best driving game on PSP for me though.
As for the main GT series, I really enjoy the games, but it’d be nice to see:
- something more interesting in the career mode – it can get a bit grindy; and above all.
- better AI – this is where Polyphony have really fallen behind the pack.
- a better menu/interface – the menu/interface in every GT game so far, GT PSP included, is fairly clunky (driving’s brilliant, track design heaps of fun, physics spot-on, menus are slow and unwieldy – classic GT!)
Am interested to see what they do with damage, but if they want to keep it realistic, this could be a great learning experience for people – just like the shooter genre, there isn’t a driving game released on console yet that comes close to the effects of realistic damage. This isn’t that dumb though, as realistic damage saps fun fast, and is only for the hardest of core online drivers
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GT5 will be be the ultimate racing game, no doubt about it. The options in this game are infinite.
Whoelse, you forgot to mention multiplayer
although i’m probably looking forward to gow 3, this is probably my second most anticipated game. should blow away anything this year that’s for sure.
ps3 grand turismo 5 can you use the dpad steer thank you
I just find this title a little boring, but maybe because i had and grew up around fast cars, and if I really had the desire I still could drive them. Crazy driving and stunts that i cannot do in real life is more of an attraction. For the record i reloaded gt demo and burnout paradise. Hands down burnout was more exciting to me. Guess I am in the minority.
It’s all good Jock – the trick is to play what you enjoy, not what others say are great
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