GT5 Prologue Preview
- Posted March 23rd, 2008 at 06:31 EDT by Eric Blattberg
- 16,131 views
- 32 Comments
We received a preview build of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue earlier this week and proceeded to download it over the course of nine excruciating hours. While none of the online elements of the title were available in this build, we gave the complete offline experience a lengthy test drive.
Even while navigating menus, it’s easy to see that Prologue oozes of quality. There are several disparities between the US build and the Japanese release (besides the fact that we can now understand what we’re selecting). Minor elements, like event menu, have been adjusted for the expanded audience. In addition, there is a bounty of purchasable cars that weren’t obtainable in the Japanese release that made their way into the US adaptation.
You’ve got enough credits in the beginning to acquire a single ride, so we opted to pick up a 2005 Volkswagen Golf GTI. We then worked our way up from class C to class A races, earning credits and purchasing scores of vehicles from different dealerships along the way. The six tracks (the US version includes the High Speed Ring track, which have been a staple in past Gran Turismo titles) were varied in difficulty and play style. We enjoyed the fairly laidback Daytona, where sly slipstreaming tactics were key to out-driving the competition. The London track almost resembled a tech demo; while the entire game is gorgeous, this particular track is meticulously detailed. It isn’t our favorite layout however, as that prestige goes to either the track seen in GT:HD, Eiger Nordwand, or the full Suzuka circuit. Both Fuji Speedway layouts felt a tad too forgiving, and as for the High Speed Ring, it’s still the same track that you know and love.
One of the massive distinctions of this build from Japan’s is the ability to tune your car to your liking. There are a plethora of categories, from power and weight to complex ones like front/rear torque distribution. Note though that we weren’t able to perform any adjustments until after we cleared the first set of races, class C.
The gem here is the offline multiplayer. This two player split-screen mode offers a chance for you to humiliate your friends on any of the game’s six adjustable courses. Each person can select their car (which must be previously owned) then proceed to adjust their amount of steering assist, level of traction control, tires, physics variety (Standard and the more realistic Professional) and so on. When racing split-screen, there’s absolutely no alteration in visual quality from the single-player game. The framerate lacks any drops whatsoever, though there aren’t 11 other cars racing, just the two. Regardless, the mode is both a technical achievement and a blast.
While we’ve loved playing this offline version of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, we’re greatly anticipating taking all its online features for a spin. We’ll have a full review for you when that time comes.
Comments
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zombieking36
- 10:18am GMT - March 23rd, 2008
- 4
Hey guys! Why don't you give us a link to download this, come on don't hold back on us!
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Acid-Hippie2007 |
Acid-Hippie2007- 10:41am GMT - March 23rd, 2008
- 5
Yeah, I agree this game looks amazing and I will probably get it. Hopefully this is a console seller, I think it will be anyway. Given most of the previous games titles past popularity and it going platinum already (One Milllion pre-orders ).
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AclayPS3
- 10:42am GMT - March 23rd, 2008
- 6
I already know I'm picking this up even it's the Prologue version. There are some full racing games that don't even have as much cars and content that GT5 Prologue will have. I just hope the full GT5 game can make it out in the U.S. at the end of 2008 and not 2009 like the U.K.
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1solidsnake |
solid1snake67- 11:56am GMT - March 23rd, 2008
- 7
it's weird how they are putting out a demo and MGS4 isn't but, MGS4 don't need one GT5 i am surprised at they they need one. it's probably because of a long wait but, hey i will get GT5 after it comes out. love that they have Ferraria in it.
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ScorpionT16 |
ScorpionT16- 2:45pm GMT - March 23rd, 2008
- 13
Love the GT series and i only owned two gmes for my ps2, Gt3 and 4 lol...nd i gt the ps2 launch day...finished them both including the 24hr endurnces...GT5 prologue is outstanding. Great job polphony!
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terminator12259 |
tacitassassin25- 6:43pm GMT - March 23rd, 2008
- 17
i cant wait for the full version of this game. it is goin to be amazing
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cyclindk
- 6:59pm GMT - March 23rd, 2008
- 18
One question, has anyone else noticed the sound of the tires screeching when going around corners and how it not only sounds completely unrealistic but aslo exactly the same for every car? Visuals are superb but when playing the HD Concept demo and watching/listening to the vids of Prologue the tires all have the same crappy sound...anyone else notice this, has it been changed/fixed?
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killzone-stealth |
killzone-stealth- 7:03pm GMT - March 23rd, 2008
- 19
I cant wait for this GT5P comes out ill be getting this games too,the visuals r real photorealistic damn amazing!!!!!!!!
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blueberry_buds
- 7:57pm GMT - March 23rd, 2008
- 20
i played the prologue download from PSN. i felt like i was watching some boring car race in the mountains..
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zarajoe
- 12:30am GMT - March 24th, 2008
- 22
Wow this game looks sooo good, I love that inside view. Still I'd rather wait for the full game to come out, and spend my money once on the full thing then spend extra money on this preview, if you could call GT5 Prologue that. Still this game looks like it will continue GT's of being almost a perfect driving game.
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Artanoma |
Phenonemera- 4:24am GMT - March 24th, 2008
- 23
I detest the fact that ppl consider this a demo, when in actuality it offers more than other supposed 'full' racing games (Sega Rally Revo, I'm looking at you). You could argue of course over the different types of racing on offer, but I digress (DiRT, anyone?)
I'm going to get this, no doubt. So see you lot online for some good racing.
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mustang750r |
MUSTANG750R- 5:18am GMT - March 24th, 2008
- 24
can't wait 4 this 1 anymore must have know
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allunroberts |
allunBOBRoberts- 7:37am GMT - March 24th, 2008
- 25
My question here is for the PSU editors / writer of the article.
Does GT5 Prologue have the ability for you to get extra credits from earlier version gt3 / gt4 ? GT4 had this ability does GT5?
Also , does GT5 have licenses to get if so how manyand difficulties encountered?
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iplayonlysony
- 3:20pm GMT - March 24th, 2008
- 27
Well I personally do not mind picking up both this and DIRT. I like the variety of these both.
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GunsOfLiberty |
GunsOfLiberty- 4:27pm GMT - March 24th, 2008
- 28
It looks great and i'm certain that it's a high standard title but I'm not that interested in getting it, the Prologue at least, but I still like Burnout Paradise better..
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staziak
- 8:48pm GMT - March 24th, 2008
- 30
LOL @ Fingal. I really hope Alti is being sarcastic. Even if he did happen to own any of the 76 cars from Prologue, or do laps around the Fuji Speedway in his "real world", I highly doubt anyone would get bored reliving it online with 16 other players, in sweet 1080P/60frames/dualshock3 tastiness.
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BlueRevolvuR |
BlueRevolvuR- 9:01pm GMT - March 26th, 2008
- 32
@blueberry_buds
I agree with you on the tire screeching sounding the same, but the only reason it may have been boring is because you weren't racing anyone.
P.S. I thought it was boring too.
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