A Review of Gran Turismo 5

About three years ago, I played the Gran Turismo 5 Prologue in a family member’s basement.  It was set up in full glory – with the official wheel and all.  After five minutes experiencing the game’s limited circuits and cars, I was hooked.  That year for my birthday, my wife generously got me the greatest birthday gift I’ve ever received – a PS3, a wheel, the GT5 Prologue.  I unlocked every attribute of the game in three weeks – including the $2,000,000 Ferrari F2007…

This obsession, followed by generous gift, followed by more obsession was all done on the expectation that Gran Turismo 5 would come out – the full edition – and my life as a gamer, racer and car enthusiast could then be complete.

Then 2008 went by… 2009… Then Spring 2010… Summer… Fall… And FINALLY my Merry Christmas was here.

And now here I sit – it’s January in Chicago.  It’s cold outside and warm in my house, yet I’m here writing a blog no one may read rather than gripping my force-feedback wheel with a shit-eating grin on my face.  Why? Because Gran Turismo 5 is not what I hoped it would be…

Now, let’s be clear – we’re dealing with (arguably) the greatest racing sim of all time.  A BAD review of this game is like a bad review of the London Philharmonic.  But after all of this waiting, the marketing, the promos, the videos and the licenses we endured since 2007, it’s only fair our expectations were set so high.  I’m not going to go through every aspect of the game but wanted to share some of my insights as a racer, a game developer and a fan that have been nagging me.

THE DEPTH

With 71 tracks and over 1,000 cars some could argue GT5′s depth is its biggest strength (and I’d probably agree).  But what Polyphony Digital has done wrong in this area is the practical side of enjoying this game the way they want you to enjoy it.  Thought was not put into the menuing system of GT5 as I continually find myself frustrated at load screen, after menu, after load screen.  Something as simple as shortcut to buy the car you need for an event, from the event is missing.  I understand they want you to take your time, enjoying the sights, sounds and feel of the game, but I find myself choosing bed over the agony of waiting for the next event and that can’t be good.

THE PROLOGUE

The Prologue primed my pump for GT5 at an amazing $25 price point.  I was able to experience the product’s brilliance – it’s graphics, physics and appreciation for the automobile.  But part of me expected that upon playing the full version I’d some how experience this even more – better graphics? Better physics?  In reality, the Prologue was not a lesser experience – it truly was Gran Turismo 5 (minus DEPTH!).  Though the Prologue pacified frustrated fans and kept the brand somewhat alive for three years, I believe it ultimately cannibalized the driving sim experience of the full product.

THE DETAIL

It’s possible I’ve spent more time admiring the details of this game than I have actually playing it.  The photo mode, for instance, is one of the most precise and amazing features I’ve ever experienced in a video game.  But you tell me?  Is it good or bad that I’ve spent more time worrying about shutter speeds and the sheen of dust on my car than mastering the challenges and championships?

I’ve spent a lot of time ranting about what I don’t like about Gran Turismo 5 but going back to my orchestral example – imagine these items as a few out-of-tune violinists among an arrangement that moves you to tears.  Only the brilliance of this game will leave your eyes not filled with tears, but bone dry because you’re afraid to blink.  It goes without saying that the physics, realism, graphics and soul in this game is worth its price of admission whether you bought the Prologue or not.  The online component is robust and alive, though I can’t help but feel you’re getting cheated by 12-year olds trading optimal setups on some internet geek-share site.  But hey, the depth in the main game will distract me away from the online component for oh… about 413 days or so…

So with that said, I am giving Gran Turismo a 3.5 rating – which translated to words means “exceedingly above average and short of its own expectations.”

Am I wrong?  I’d love to hear your thoughts on the game!

Below, check out a photo gallery from a fellow racing fanatic on Twitter, Doug Patterson (@xorpheous).  These are just some of his amazing shots from in the game.  Getting great pics is pretty easy but Doug’s photos are head over heels better than most.  Nice work, Doug and thanks for letting me show off your pics!