| Title | : | Gran Turismo |
| Platforms | : | Sony PlayStation |
| Publisher | : | SCEA |
| Game Rating | : | 9.6 |
| Review by | : | Ken Gagne |
There are several kinds of racing games. There are those set in the future, such as Wipeout or F-Zero, or ones like Diddy Kong Racing, which have a kiddie appeal. For sheer realism and involving gameplay, nothing approaches that of Gran Turismo, from Sony for the PlayStation.
First-time players may be daunted by the game's complexity. The game is packaged with two hefty manuals, one each for gameplay and reference. All the minutia of racing and car enhancements are explained in detail. Those wishing to jump right in may do so with Turismo's Arcade Mode. Deeper gameplay is available in Simulation Mode.
In Simulation, gamers start with a small sum of cash with which to select a first car and begin their enterprise. There are three driving licenses to earn, each which makes available more challenging courses and cups. The victory money can be spent upgrading or buying new cars.
Sony's racing title has its strength in numbers: there are over 140 new, used, and hidden cars with which to race. These are available from manufacturers such as Mazda, Toyota, Chevrolet, and others. They carry their actual statistics like dimensions, horse power, and engine type; these characteristics come into play when racing and fine-tuning. The absence of names such as Ford, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz is lamentable, but livable.
The graphics are amazing where it counts. The car models are the most realistic ever seen in a racing game, be they on the road or in the showroom. Replays of races are shown from a variety of camera angles, made to look dramatic yet realistic. In sharp contrast to these fine displays are the courses and backgrounds. There are no spectacular waterfalls or other touches, as less realistic racers are prone to have. The sky, trees, and grass rush by in a pixelated mess (each individual square dot composing the picture is visible), and some distant objects appear quickly and close-by, rather than being scaled in from the horizon. Fortunately, the racing is too fast to notice these drawbacks often.
The soundtrack is rich but unvaried. The music is provided by rock bands such as Garbage and The Chemical Brothers. The number of visits to the track should demand a larger album, but the existing one is enjoyable. The continuous humming and screaming of engines (especially with a loud, surround-sound stereo) creates a true racetrack environment.
There is nothing to complain about in the control department. Turismo supports both the analog and rumbling capabilities of the Dual Shock controller. The rumbles are a bit too persistent at times, continuing through acceleration and simple curves. The game is perfectly suited to the analog control in both steering and speed, but gamers with digital pads will not suffer. Brakes, emergency brakes, and reverse gear will get a skilled racer out of any situation.
The license system of Turismo is innovative, but frustrating. The requirements for each test are strict, yet must be met prior to advancing to the big leagues. This forces the player to learn the necessary skills to succeed, but most gamers will not appreciate the reminder of real-life bureaucracy.
Turismo is quick to reward winners, but slow with losers. It is worthwhile to wade through the initial complexity and lack of progress, but some gamers may be deterred.
The eleven tracks and many combinations of cups and events are not the main source of Turismo's replay value. As cars are bought and customized, a gamer's garage will grow until he's the Jay Leno of the video game world. It's a thrill to take a specially-designed Camaro Z80 or Dodge Viper out to the tracks and watch the sun shine off its elegant curves and sleek form, coating the other cars in dust. Two people with their own custom cars can load and race them together against each other.
It is not a bad idea to devote an entire memory card to Turismo's data, as it can hog from 5 to 15 blocks of memory.
Gran Turismo is unmatched in its sense of realism. Fans of the real raceways will be able to understand the nuances of this PlayStation title immediately, while new racers will learn the ropes quickly. Best of all, it's a whole lot cheaper than the real thing.
This article is copyright (c) 1998, 2007 by Ken Gagne. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed without permission.
Original publication: Sentinel & Enterprise, 25-May-98