Gran turismo 5 game informer review

Take a race-spec Toyota Castrol Toms Supra 97 around a rain-slicked Le Mans and it's like nothing you've ever seen as you rip down the Mulsanne head-first into a wall of spray, the lone windscreen wiper whipping fruitlessly across the slim window of your faultlessly modelled cockpit.

All wonderfully accurate, and for those who like wrestling with untamed machinery impossibly exhilarating. But others may understandably find it all a little daunting. Thankfully Polyphony has had the foresight to open up its superlative handling model to all-comers, and Gran Turismo 5 is more approachable than its predecessors thanks to some all-new assists that can make hurling around a pedigree GT car as carefree as driving one of the all-new karts.

With its handling model proudly restoring Gran Turismo upon the driving throne, it's now easier than ever to fall in love with its exhaustive garage - and this time out there's a lot to fall for. From the nimble karts with their willingness to be hurled around to the brace of contemporary WRC cars that simply demand to be thrown about, it's a list that's as long as it is lust-worthy.

But as ever it's just as easy to develop an unlikely love affair with those less than spectacular starting steeds, tuning them to within an inch of their lives until they're near un-drivable beasts. Customisation options, however, are limited, especially in the wake of Forza 3's more comprehensive efforts. Beneath the skin it's detailed enough with several layers of upgrades that can be applied, although, strangely, it's no longer possible to upgrade a car's brakes but beyond that there's little else that can be done; paint jobs are limited to either the body or wheels while bodywork options are few across both the standard and the premium cars.

Within Gran Turismo 5's 1, plus garage, there's a clear divide. Some of the cars are given the premium treatment, and these examples are often achingly beautiful, a fact that's heart-stoppingly clear in the game's photo mode.

Here it's easy to get carried away, pausing a replay then toying with the shutter speed and aperture, spending more time gawping at the cars than actually driving them. It's a level of care that hasn't been extended to the standard cars that form the bulk of Gran Turismo 5's car list. While they're far from unattractive, their PlayStation 2 heritage shows, with textures looking flat and comparatively lifeless, and the omission of a cockpit view and a blunted damage model gives them a distinctly second class flavor.

Thankfully it's not something that's notable in the heat of a high-speed battle, but when the game does show its standard class cars up close the difference can be jarring; edges are ragged and shadows sit uncomfortably, making them look awkward alongside their more polished brethren.

It's part of a visual inconsistency that runs throughout the game. At times, Gran Turismo 5 is genuinely jaw-dropping — indeed, it can be the kind of game that makes you want to drop your controller and grab some random passer-by just to show them what marvels it's capable of.

Madrid and Rome's street tracks are, like the returning London track introduced in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, uncanny recreations of their inspiration, and while Indianapolis and Daytona don't have the same dazzle they're told with a comparable authenticity.

Elsewhere, though, it's a sometimes uninspiring bunch. It's fair enough that the all-new Top Gear test track doesn't tickle the eyeballs — it is, after all, drawn from a featureless aerodrome sat bang in the middle of England's featureless Surrey — but the fictional Cape Ring displays a disappointing failure of imagination on Polyphony's part.

It's a labyrinth run through a desperately bland landscape that's only salvaged by its intriguing variety of corners. It feels like a primer for the nondescript tracks churned out by the Course Maker, which rather than being an editor of any kind would more amply be described as a track generator.

There's little control to the Course Maker's output beyond a set of seemingly arbitrary parameters, and anyone hoping to recreate their favourite stretch of tarmac will likely be left feeling deflated.

Still, it's a novel way to extend a track list which is already generous, even if the results are largely dull and lifeless. Gran Turismo 5's frontend is equally uninspired, though it's enlivened by the typical Japanese eccentricity lent by a sprinkling of light jazz piano.

An epic 8GB install slims down the bloated loading screens opt out of this and — quite smartly — the game will install content as you play through it though they still outstay their welcome, while menus are over elaborate and ill-designed.

That's not too much of a problem in the single player offering but it's something that does its best at obscuring an otherwise solid online offering. Racing online, once you get to it, is perfectly stable, handling up to sixteen cars with few issues.

Options are admittedly limited with no way to deviate from straight-up racing, but when the handling's as good as Gran Turismo 5's it's hard to find complaint. It also has room for a few quirks of its own - there's an option to allow false starts, which can lend those first moments on the grid a unique tension, while a player wall that can host updates of up to characters shows that Polyphony has at least one eye on wider online social developments. There are other positives too.

I wouldn't take any of them too seriously This game will be amazing, it will sell well and fans and those missing the MBMS-Zealot gene will love it. What does MBMS mean? Last time I'd checked that's a very very good score. But this don't add up halo odst got a 9. But idc tho cause I'm sure as helll know ima enjoy this classic game. Anyone worried?

Yeah, all you need to know is that it's Gran Turismo. I'm playing it now and I am loving it. If you love Gran Turismo, you will love this.

I'm worried. Worried that I didn't preorder and they might not have stock during lunch :P. Batsmoke you may be right in your trolling ways. People who have never played a Gran Turismo game may be disappointed because they were expecting more action and crashes.

Although you are not accounting for the over 10 million GT fans that are going to love this game because it's true to the series. Sadly i have to wait till after college, thinking of skipping Film class just to pick this up.

Pretty much sums it up Pirate. No way is the game a fail, If you love GT games you will most likely love this. I have to wait till Saturday : My Girlfriend preordered it but I aint seeing her till then.. And when I do see her We have to go to some family bullshit which gives me an even longer delay Baaaad times. If you're a car enthusiast you will love GT5. If you're a 15 year old fan kid who doesn't know a damn thing about cars, you will love Forza 3's rewind.

Exactly and it's not just 15 year olds Racing enthusiasts can be any age. I fell in love with this game when it first released in I think the same can be true for people of any age who have a true love of cars. Now the people who think putting a loud muffler on a Honda with hp can stick with Forza. I was around 15 when I played GT3 a-spec and I didn't whine and complain about how hard it was but todays kidz with tha textin' and tha jelloooooo bill cosby.

I'm a car enthusiast and I hate GT5 and Forza 3. I prefer real driving to either of the horribly unrealistic simulators. Current video games just can not do justice to actual racing, which is why I prefer arcade racers to simulators. The insecurity on show is ridiculous. Let the game do the talking, we don't need you here attempting to patronise Forza fans.

GT5 is good, but seriously, you don't have to use rewind option if you don't want to. Just slam straight into a wall with all helper turn off and see if you can continue on racing. Seriously dude, don't need more trash talking back and forth. Both game are good racing sim.

And i don't think you are anymore mature then the 15 year old kid either. If you are around 30 or so, you definetly need to grow up faster man. I'm 4 hours into the game and that's the score I would give it so far. I've seen some 8. Anything below that is disgustingly unfair and reveals double standards considering the free pass that seems to be conceded to other franchises.

The fact is that GT5 isn't a game for your average gamer and not everyone will like it. It's a game for car lovers. That is a great review, games are rarely perfect so I think a 9. You obviously don't get Gameinformer in the mail. They hand out 9's like it's nothing. Not saying not one of those games deserves those scores, but a high score from GI isn't really saying much. Unless they gave it a 10, because i can't think of a game off the top of my head Gameinformer gave a 10 to.

Cloudberry - You would be correct, I just checked. My main point, is when he said this "games are rarely perfect" So if he's assuming the game is or nearly perfect because of the 9, he might be disappointed as GI hands out 9's a lot. God of War III is the most epic thing ever made. It deserved 10's across the board. Sackdude You just owned this idiot T9X So I guess if GI gives out 9 nice crazy and Forza 3 only was able to get an 8. Right T9X69? That IS your logic here with your trolling right?

Dead Rising 2 got a 9. If I remember correctly. I dont think you know this, but Just wanted to let you know. It's a shame GI started being more strict with their reviews earlier this year. They didn't give Heavy Rain or Mass Effect 2 10's either. What the frick?!? Heavy Rain was given 9. The process was so time-intensive to begin with, that that's why not every car was made premium in the first place.

And what is that going to cost gamers, if anything? Does the split between standard and premium cars worth enough to you guys that you'd be willing to pay for it if necessary? Join Sign In. Post Tweet Email. Follow Us. Upgrading Gran Turismo 5. Share Facebook Post.