Gameguyer here with my comprehensive look at Gran Turismo 5 - the ultimate racing game on the PS3. Hooray I hear you cry! We have had so many announcements about this game's release its untrue.
The Gran Turismo 5 Release Date has now been confirmed as 2nd November 2010. STOP PRESS: IT HAS BEEN DELAYED AGAIN I have just seen that the game releae has been put back. Anyway, at the moment gamers have Gran Turismo 5 Prologue which, as the title suggests, is a prologue to the full game release. Sorry Xboxers but like God of War 3, it will only be available on the Playstation 3. It has ground breaking graphics which reduce the blur between game creativity and reality. The "Prologue" suffix was also used for the Gran Turismo 4 Prologue which was released one year before the full version of Gran Turismo 4. If you like racing simulation games, then this is one is shaping up to be the best ever despite the long wait!
Register for a copy at the Gran Turismo 5 offer
Watch my self made Gran Turismo 5 trailer on Youtube HERE
Graphics:
Developed by Polyphony Digital, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is a nice sampling of what current and new game players can expect to see in the full version of the game. Just to give you an idea just how realistic this game is, the developers obtained CAD data from the actual car manufacturers and each car is modelled to exact precision. They collaborated with major car manufacturers to replicate the exact driving behaviour of each car. The development team took great pains to take 30,000 pictures of just ONE racetrack over a 2 month time period to enhance the realism of the racing experience. And who knows what has been done since because it's taking an eternity for Polyphony to release this game. The final vehicle count for Gran Turismo 5 is over 1,000 cars and will feature 20 different locations and 70 different tracks.
Online gaming:
The Playstation is renowned for not taking full advantage of online gaming capability unike the Xbox 360. But Gran Turismo 5 attempts to break that mould with the ability to race up to 16 cars simultaneously online. All you need is a broadband connection and you are all set to pit your driving skills against fellow Gran Turismo wanna be champions worldwide. The main caveat with the online feature is that if the person who initiates the race has a slow internet connection then the visual quality is compromised or the game simply ends. Other than that it works well and is a welcome feature. Online support through the PlayStation Network also includes an open lobby, text/voice chat, private room, online photo album, online replay album, and the ability to export replays to YouTube.
Gameplay:
The "in-car view" is a new feature in this game that allows players to view the inside of their cars. Drivers get a realistic interior dashboard view, featuring full driver animation, reflecting rear-view mirrors, wing mirrors, real time inside lighting effects and working dashboard gauges. You can even look around the cockpit using the D- pad or any compatible PS3 steering wheel. Incidentally this is something that will be possible with the new Microsoft Kinect device used with the Forza driving game.
Make changes to the AI difficulty, braking, traction control, tyres etc. Cars can be driven from four different viewpoints - with 3 camera angles if you use a good quality compatible steering wheel and there are 5 driving wheel simulators to choose from.
Gran Turismo 5 will be the first Gran Turismo game in the series' history to display in an optional Stereoscopic-3D resolution. Also Go-Karting will also make its first ever appearance in any Gran Turismo game to date with its inclusion in GT5.
The difficult races are reported to be difficult. You have to progress your way from the back of a 16 car pack to win a race consisting of cars of similar performance to your own. The other cars never crash so you have to put in some effort to beat them.
Dealerships: where the player can buy a new car using his Event Race earned credits. Various models from world famous automakers are available for purchase in the showroom. Some automakers have their own Event race consisting of a one make race for a specific model. Brand related News are regularly provided through online updates.
Gran Turismo 5 car list
Cars will be available in two classes - premium and standard. The standard series will be kitted out with very rudimentary interiors and headlights. Cars in the premium class will have far more detailed interiors and exteriors and high and low beam headlights.
The car list is rumoured to be well over 1,000 but its not clear if this number will fid its way into the final game. Bugatti and Lamborghini car will be included for the 1st time after been originally part of Gran Turismo PSP. Also the new "gullwing" Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG are to be included. The new 458 manufactured by Ferrari is going to feature in the game as is the McLaren F1 road car. The Jaguar XJ13 race car was only a prototype and was never manufactured but will be included in the game as well as the Ford Mark IV and the Ferrari 330 P4. Surprisingly, electric cars are supposed to feature.
All in all, Gran Turismo 5 Prolog is shaping up to be one of the best game releases of 2010 and will hopefully give all gaming fans everything they look for in a driving simulation game. Roll on the Gran Turismo 5 Release Date!
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