Gran Turismo 5 (PS3)

Whether you like GT5 or not will depend on several factors. There are fans of the various franchises out there (GT, Forza, Need for Speed), who will remain largely loyal to the franchise irrespective of the real qualities.More importantly, it will also depend on how much time you are prepared to invest in playing. If you are a novice to driving, or do so more casually, GT5 is very likely to frustrate. It takes time to unlock the some of the more interesting content and if you never played a driving sim (not of the arcadey type) before, there is a steep learning curve ahead. The cars will not drive for you and being left dead last until you learn to drive the cars properly will probably turn away the gamers who make their assessment in the first couple of hours. For that reason it is probably also not as 'child friendly' as some of the other franchises.Some of the early criticisms of the game have been addressed by now and the October 11th release of Spec 2 (free download) - coinciding with Forza Motorsport 4 (Xbox 360) - has addressed a number of the others. Loading speeds are a bit faster now and you can modify some of the car's settings during the loading process, making it a bit less annoying. It still does not load as fast as Gran Turismo 5 Prologue - Platinum Edition (PS3) but then again there is much more content included. You can save in game during the endurance races now, all cars have the option of an interior view, reviews cann be rewinded / FFd, physics are further improved, better support for steering wheels, etc.In terms of driving dynamics the game probably remains closest to being a real sim of all the games on PS3 at least. It does not offer as much in terms of driving aids as the others but then again, nor do most real world cars.In terms of cars, even the non-premium ones now offer an interior view, although that is pretty rudimentary. The graphics have also been bettered by Forza Motorsport 4 (Xbox 360) in the meantime and the car selection, while over 1000 strong, will still leave some player's wishes unfulfilled. Spec 2 brings some new choice in the form of the '11 NASCAR selection, as well as an(other) race GT-R and the October 18th DLC will offer another 15 cars, including an evolution of the Red Bull X car (X2011), and some race modified Japanese and American cars, as well as three new race karts. If the pace of updates continues and new cars get added (or existing ones switched to premium), I guess that the game will at least remain competitive in this aspect.You will also not be able to customize as freely as in the Forza franchise but most relevant stuff is possible and of course the setup possibilities are extremely varied.The new DLC will also bring Spa and two new cart tracks (driveable in both directions), with Spa probably being the real seller of the pack. Some tracks are still noticeably absent but the game is hardly a chore with the selection already in there. The hope for new tracks in further DLC packs is of course high.In terms of race options, the original A and B spec races have been very comprehensively supplemented by Seasonal events, with the rate of addition rising significantly in the meantime, and with most remaining there for good. If you race online, the possibilities in terms of race variety are of course almost unlimited.Damage is still not the game's strong point, even after all the updates. Again, you are probably more interested in driving rather than crashing and if you do it right, it need not come into it. Tyre wear is modelled adequately and for the most part that should suffice.In the end, it is a game that has frustrated many players (including GT fans) but I find that it still has a lot going for it. The driving is the closest to real life I have experienced on PS3 so far, and if you take the time to master this aspect, there is loads of satisfaction to be had. Until GT6, there is unlikely to be any driving sim better for PS3.

Spoiler Free:If your thinking of buying Gran Turismo 5 and haven't already then I suggest you get ordering it. Millions of people played the first instalment of the franchise back in 1992. The game offered users a chance to buy both new and second hand cars and develop them through a fairly advanced scheme, this created a new type of racing genre similar to what some have stated an `RPG' developed game.When Gran Turismo 2, 3 and 4 were released some of these features were lacking the game overall offered many additional elements but did not contain the fundamental necessities to increase game playing time and user experience. Polyphony digital then releases Gran Turismo 5 prologue, which I myself also purchased, based on what I have experience so far the full Gran Turismo game is non comparable. I was eager to buy this game when it was first released but believed the game wouldn't be to my greatest expectations. How wrong I was.Despite other negative reviews on here created by teenagers and various other gaming enthusiasts, let me assure you this game has raised the bar on all driving games. Project Gotham racing 3 for the Xbox proved highly entertaining and popular also selling many copies but has no way near the content Gran Turismo contains.If you loved the first Gran Turismo game then this game is for you:#Stunning breathtaking visuals with exceptionally realist sound effects and physic controls for carsEnhanced car sales showing a huge array of cars that players can buy before racing.#Tuning up section, highly advanced and individually based for each individual car and its specifications#Wide variety of music choices that can be customised for enjoy ability.#Repair aesthetics shop (GT Auto) to change the look and mechanics of the car replacing default/stock parts for increased performance bumpers spoilers and bonnets.#Huge selection of tracks, featuring Clubman stage 5 from the first instalment and the popular route 11 at night track.#Expansive exclusivity with Britain's popular Top Gear program containing several racing stages through the 8 track used in Surrey#A spec and B Spec modes designed to allow players to improve their credibility for their driving skills i.e. Experience points, the higher the number the better cars you can acquire and the more advanced the races you can take part in.#User interface; this game offers a very in-depth friendly user interface within the GT Mode (career mode) for navigating round the various sectors, from car importation when winning championships or for the license scheme which let me add is highly advancedThere is so much to the world of Gran Turismo, they deserve to know what we think and how they can improve the customer experience program, because believe me they'll be looking at reviews we write, let them know in my opinion this game is literally 10/10 however the fundamental element which concerns me and the only thing that concerns me is the loading times between matches. Due to the graphics, visual effects and the general complexity involved within a game of this calibre your looking at 20-30 seconds before you play the game, and that is offline.This review does not cover online play mode.