Gran Turismo 5 Review
- Posted November 27th, 2010 at 14:25 EDT by Steven Williamson
- 44 Comments
Review Score
- PSU Review Score
- 9.0
- Avg. user review score:
- 9.4
Summary
While GT5 could have done with more time, incredibly, to iron out a few of the kinks, there's so much quality on the track and so much to do off it that you'll easily forgive its shortcomings and revel in its successes -- of which there are many.
We like
- The massive roster of cars and how they all handle differently
- On the track, it's the ultimate racing sim with great driving physics
- The game modes. Career mode is addictive and rewarding and then, of course, you can jump online in 16 player races
We dislike
- The inconsistency of the graphics; some cars look excellent and others just look good. Same goes for the scenery
- The B-Spec mode. Does anyone really want to watch a race and just bark out orders to the driver? Still, it might grow on us
See PSU's review on Metacritic & GameRankings
In the five years that have passed since Gran Turismo 4 arrived on PlayStation 2, PSU Towers has experienced all sorts of life changing moments, from births and marriages to deaths and divorces. It really has been that long, hasn’t it? Inevitably, the long gap between GT4 and GT5, a life-time in the fast-moving world of videogames, breeds expectation, and as the release date drew near in the lead up to this latest iteration we couldn't help but wonder, along with many others, what exactly Polyphony Digital has done with its time and whether it has managed to create the ultimate racing sim that the fans demand. Well, the wait is over, almost. After an excruciating 45-minute install - they really do like to make us wait - we don't have to speculate any longer. Take that look of disbelief of your face for one second, because Gran Turismo 5 is a reality.
Over the years, many racing games have rather nonchalantly used the words ‘simulation’ and ‘customization’ to describe a realistic driving style on the tracks and the plethora of options at your fingertips, but most haven't delivered on either of those fronts in the same way that the Gran Turismo series has. Gran Turismo 5 is further proof of Polyphony Digital’s ambition to create an in-depth, technically astute, serious racing sim for those who love everything about cars. And though the extensive roster of 1000+ cars and the wealth of options available (not to mention the difficulty of trying to steer a car perfectly around a track) may be overwhelming for some - particularly those who usually get their kicks from arcade racers like Need For Speed - it will be unadulterated car porn for others.
The technological leap from PS2 to PS3 is a big one for Polyphony Digital but it's had a little bit of practice. Showcased in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue a couple of years ago, we've already seen how things have improved on the track, with sublime physics and realistic car handling, but the developer has now had even more time to polish things up and utilize the power of the PS3. Predictably - and reassuringly - the polygon count has been upped considerably and now the cars shine and shimmer in glorious HD. There’s now a track editor, a photo mode and plenty of familiar and new stuff to enjoy, including the 16 player-enabled online multiplayer mode. Though there are some aspects of GT5 that aren’t quite as fantastic as we hoped, such was our expectation, there's no doubt that Polyphony Digital has set a new standard among racing sims that’s going to take some beating.
Whether you’re flicking through the myriad of menus and sub-menus, or trawling through the used car market, visiting dealerships, or tweaking and tuning your vehicle, customizing your ride is part and parcel of the whole GT experience; and it's richer for it. You get a real kick from grinding through the career mode, earning credits and exp and improving your vehicles before taking the race online, but equally there's satisfaction to be had from unlocking various items and modes. Because you’re always reaching out to get to the next milestone or striving to get the next unlockable - whether it be a new special event to enter or whether you’re trying to earn just enough credits to purchase the car of your dream - it’s an addictive mechanic. And the further you throw yourself into GT5 the more rewarding it becomes as you get to learn the strengths and weaknesses of your cars and how to push them to their limits on their various courses.
The first thing that will strike you as soon as you start your first race is the quality of the graphics. Having already played on a few tracks at a Gran Turismo 5 preview event on a Sony Bravia 3D compatible T.V., it's clear that this could really be the game to help propel 3D gaming forward for Sony. Sadly we don’t own a 3D T.V., but we have reviewed GT5 on the beautiful Sony Bravia 37" Full HD 1080p LCD T.V. and it does look fabulous, mostly, thanks to the photo realistic backdrops and painstakingly created car models.
However, with ... (continued on next page)
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Comments
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tremblingwater
- 10:38am EST - November 27th, 2010
- 1
The B Spec mode is the only thing that i feel lets the game down. Apart from that i agree with the review, 9 is just right.
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badtzmarukaru
- 1:29pm EST - November 27th, 2010
- 8
Whoever says Grid is better than GT5 is definatly wrong. GT5 has graphic that exceed the other brands. ( Everyone looks for graphics, even if unconsciously) Racing, arguably is easier, but who wants to frustrate on driving over and over again? Tracks are great, but nothings perfect because no human is perfect. 9 is right because of the little things are missing. But +200 premium cars, thats almost more than your average racing game.
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Shadow77
- 1:35pm EST - November 27th, 2010
- 10
I've got the wheel, had it for a while now. I've got the game, picked it up on release day. I have no PS3, mine died four days before the game released. I have it boxed, but as the holidays are here I have yet to be able to get it in the mail and on the way for repairs.
I've looked forward to this game. I know it isn't going to live up to the hype. I still want to play it and I know I will enjoy it. No game is ever going to be perfect, I don't care how much time they spend on it.
Like everyone else, I could care less about B-spec mode. Waste of time. If they graphics are inconsistant like everyone says they are then they should have spend the extra time and space on those, instead of a wasted mode very few people are going to enjoy.
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M1B
- 1:39pm EST - November 27th, 2010
- 11
I like the B-Spec mode. It automatically nets you money when you're busy and don't have time to play. I usually put go into B-Spec when I got chores to do or when I have to go shovel snow. I think you actually get less money from B-Spec races, but it helpped me a lot in the early game. Now I got over 500K in credits *,*
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Jonnysd
- 2:05pm EST - November 27th, 2010
- 12
I'm very disappointed. The visual glitches are rudimentary game design flaws, period. It feels like I',m playing GT2 but with HD graphics. The handling of the cars is so unrealistic. Just because you can spin a car doesn't mean that it has a big realism factor at all. Forza 3 is arguably a far more enjoyable, polished and intuitive game. Forza 4 will totally blow this game away I suspect. I'd give it a 7/10
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M1B
- 2:22pm EST - November 27th, 2010
- 13
I'm glad you just registred today JUST to comment on this review, Jonnysd :)
Truth is...Forza doesn't sell too good in comparison to Gran Turismo. Each numbered GT game has sold over 10 million each. Heck, GT5 Prologue even sold more than Forza 3. All that matters in the end is who makes more money if you're going to try and compare two games.
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Hulious777
- 4:16pm EST - November 27th, 2010
- 14
People have there own opinion, whats up with some of you people and some bringing up stupid sales.
Anyways, I gave it a 8. What i hate is the loading screens, standards are crap and aren't worth keeping(sell them right away if i win one), not enough upgrades or customizing(brakes, nitrous, etc?), online music is louder than people with mics, performance damage is not even there, b spec is not good enough, to much at once to do, and...bugatti veyron is standard.
What i like, well too much to mention.Expectation were set high for me and they fell short of it but were close. A yes i compare it with forza series because you compare a top dog with another. Still playing the heck out it, level 18 in A spec right now. At least its not as bad as my ff13 expectation.
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M1B
- 5:39pm EST - November 27th, 2010
- 18
I don't think CoD Black Ops is the best selling game of all time though--not yet at least. It has the biggest launch, but I'm sure Super Mario Brothers is still up there. That game (SMB) I would agree with as the best game of all time. And the PS2 is still the best selling game of all time and I whole heartily agree that the PS2 is the BEST system.
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Hulious777
- 8:47pm EST - November 27th, 2010
- 20
@fightfan
Didn't mean that ,and don't point out the obvious. Never said sales were opinion.
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acecombat2011
- 10:05pm EST - November 27th, 2010
- 24
I had high hopes for this game and while it may technically be a masterpiece it is not fun to me in the same way that F1 2010 is or the new Need For Speed game. Obsiously this a more serious game but it lacks in the fun department in a sobering and stale manner. There is no euphoria playing this game. F1 2010 is a better looking game and a better playing game, it is an exciting game to play. F1 2010 is as close to a simulator as I want I guess, after trying all 3 games. If you try it I bet you would prefer it to GT5 as well. I was dissapointed in the graphics GT5 brought to the table, as they clearly spent too much time on the cars and not enough time on the environment, in my opinion. I was at least hoping that the clinical playing style would be complemented by killer graphics, but the graphics are not great in my opinion, at all, considering the hype. I only have a PS3 and its cool that this game is out there for the purists, but for me its just boring.
While not a direct competitor in theory you have to compare GT5 to Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit due to the release dates and the fact they are vying for online racing dominance with one another. I think Need For Speed is one of the best racing games I've ever played and while its not a simulator at all it looks great, plays great, and most of all is about ten times as fun to play as GT5. Hot Pursuit is just a far superior game and juggling between Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit and F1 2010 is a more enjoyable experience than playing Gran Turismo 5. I think I may be the first person to trade this game in tomorrow. What do you think I'll get for it at Gamestop.
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honomaru
- 10:56pm EST - November 27th, 2010
- 25
So far I am not taking anyone's comment who hasnt played any other GT (which is most of you) seriously. You people are sheep who jump on the hype train even if the genre doesnt apply to you, and your lives are jokes. lol. that being said from what ive seen this game is far from perfect. I bought it and played just a bit and am loving it. Cant wait to get deeper into it, especially the formula races. I like it much more than i like forza however the one thing forza does better is the sense of speed it gives you. Some of the cars in GT feel a bit sluggish, and I wish they'd add maybe a little motion blur or SOMETHING to make it feel like your foot is actually ON the gas. Aside from that no further gripes with the game as of yet.
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Fightfan
- 12:03am EST - November 28th, 2010
- 26
@25
Obviously, you're a liar. If you've owned every GT since the psx, you'd know that "some cars" always feel sluggish. It's always been like that for every GT. You're definitely a one-dimensional gamer who thinks everyone else only plays one genre of videogames. Your perception of your life is the actual joke. Fail.
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honomaru
- 2:33am EST - November 28th, 2010
- 28
@26 And even worse if you'd actually read my comment instead of writing that insipid garbage in your reply, you'd have read that I also have forza. It's been years since the last REAL Gran Turismo (i didnt buy prologue and it was the ONLY one i didnt buy so your assumption was FAIL) and since Forza actually does a great job emphasizing speed in its game, it made me forget how behind Gran turismo is in that respect. Playing GT5 reminded me of that. I wouldv'e went as far as to say that in my comment but I didnt think some idiot would actually implore me to do so. Also I never implied that I believed everyone only plays one genre. My comment was specifically for those pretending as though they were long time fans and the others who wanted to try the game because it was hyped up and who came here only to express gratuitous loathing of the game as though they actually had expectations to be met. Chances are they dont even know anything about cars let alone racing games or how Gran Tursimo plays. Now jump on someone elses crotch you loser. :) EPIC FAIL! (P.S "Your perception of your life is the actual joke" <----------- That made absolutely no sense) Next time don't assume...you azz.
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Very_Silver_Owns
- 5:26am EST - November 29th, 2010
- 33
'' It feels like I',m playing GT2 but with HD graphics. ''
I have to agree with that it is just GT2 with the ps3 engine but GT2 was good so...
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Nakatomi Uk |
Nakatomi_Uk- 8:49am EST - November 29th, 2010
- 34
Perfect score and a great honest review I think, I agree with most of it there's nothing special with the graphics to be honest sometimes I feel as if I am playing GT3 or 4 on PS3 but with a little more eye candy. Some of the cars look alright and I have yet to notice a car that sticks out the most I just wonder if all this 3D crap really wasted space to make the cars better I would have liked to maybe race 12 cars on screen to up a little more world view.
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Khrono
- 2:56pm EST - November 29th, 2010
- 35
That was a good and thorough review PSU. I have to agree on all fronts. I actually picked it up this morning and have been playing it all day. I was going to wait until after the holidays to pick it up because I'm a little short on change with all the christmas shopping, but this is GT so I couldn't wait. I actually think spec b is an interesting addition. I always thought it would be cool to oversee the management of a race team, and this provides an interesting way to do that. My only real gripe is they should have included more WRC cars and events instead of Nascar.
What blows me away is all the people talking smack about the fact that it isn't really a game, but a simulator. Why would somebody expect anything less? If you ever played the other GT's its was a similar sort of deal. Sure it might not be up to par with some of the PC's simulators in regards to realism, but it's really close, and miles away from anything else on any of the consoles. If you truly love cars, and motorsports of any kind this will be a dream come true for you. If your just looking to kill some time playing bumper cars, maybe this isn't for you. Then again, that should have been obvious from the get go.
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SZRT_Ice
- 3:22pm EST - November 29th, 2010
- 36
Understand this. GT5 is a "Racing RPG". The game picks up as u work, gain experience, and start to understand it. Damage is unlocked depending on your driver level as stated in post 22, and since rookies will crash alot, it's a good thing because you have to pay for damages yourself! (Thus creating better/more careful racers). Although in the later part of the game $ is not hard 2 come by, an $80,000 chassis overhaul to a noob would be impossible. Likewise, as you progress, cars get better, and you unlock parts that make your cars MUCH faster. And although it's not on every car, there IS body-kits, rims, and aero parts for many cars (such as the Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV), andtuning is indepth, from ride height, toe in/out camber, spring rate, gear ratio, brake balance, down force, and lots more! The photo mode is incredible,online is superb (it's a social network, like a car fans facebook), and you can even create your own lounge (lobby) where you can just cruise, do hot laps, or just drift around! Hit the track, have an epic run & save the replay. It car pokémon and we're the car poké masters... GT since GT1 is also a learning tool... Drive well in GT, drive great everywhere else. The license tests use real life tactics. These tips have molded me into a much better driver/racer. GT is for anyone who is willing to face the challenge of becoming a better racer. Period. Awesome game. 9.5 from me.
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ForzaTurismo
- 2:02pm EST - November 30th, 2010
- 38
Don't care what these trolls think.
I was actually surprise this game was selling so good until I bought it over the weekend. Found my new racing game. It's got a lot more content than FM3 and the more racing I can do with his game, the better.
Buy it if you're a racing fan and ignore all the grunting from the trolls here. They have warts o.o
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Artanoma
- 4:03am EST - December 3rd, 2010
- 40
B-Spec mode was present in Gran Turismo 4, and I found it a rather efficient way of grinding for credits. Granted, you don't get as much money as you do compared to doing the races yourself, but it can be a hard slog to get all the money that you perceive you need.
I wouldn't say it's a bad thing, because it affords gamers an opportunity to get credits with less effort. If I'm not mistaken, you can fast-forward the time to make the races go by faster. The key is to concentrate your resources on what I would call a 'cash-cow' race, souping up one car to obliterate the field on horsepower and handling, and to set a conservative strategy that ensures your driver won't crash and ruin his race. It might be considered 'cheating' for some, but it's a different way to get credits in the game.
The game looks fabulous, and I await my turn to have a nice sit-down session with it,
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t_boy_o
- 4:00pm EST - December 4th, 2010
- 41
At first i was a litttle dissapointed with gran turismo but as i started to put more time into the game i saw where it really shone and how much effort Polyphony put into it, on the whole it is one of the beston the ps3 and xbox users should be upset it has not been realsed on their platform
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EL_CUCUY562
- 1:18pm EST - December 20th, 2010
- 42
I just got this game last night, and i jizzed a little! awsome! This game will pull me away from the COD games!
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