27 February,2011 07:48 AM IST | | Kaushal Bhatt
PS3
Single player/ Multiplayer
Rs 2,499
It's finally here. After 45 years of testing and re-testing, the hugely anticipated Gran Turismo 5 (GT5) has hit the shelves. Thankfully, all that reworking hasn't been a waste of time, because GT5 is brilliant. Easily the best driving title available on PS3, what separates GT5 from most of its competition is the vast difference in the handling of one car from the next.
With over 1,000 cars available to unlock or purchase, it'll certainly be a while before you've mastered them all. There are 71 different tracks in all, spread over 26 different locationsu00a0-- varying from the N rburgring and Monza to the Suzuka Circuit and Indianapolis Speedway. Visually, GT5 is a truly stunning game, particularly when the top of the range cars are flying around tracks at breakneck speed.
That point does lead on to possibly the only serious complaint regarding the game, and that's that some of the cheaper vehicles are pretty disappointing. Firstly, they're nowhere near as detailed as those at the top end of the spectrum, and secondly, a vast number of the more basic cars inexplicably don't contain indoor viewpoints. But it's only a minor concern and one you'll quickly forget about when you're throwing a Lamborghini Gallardo around the Daytona Speedway track.
The career mode is suitably well paced with A-spec events on five difficulty levels and nine different competitions per difficulty level. All are beautifully rendered and provide a proper challenge with the reward of some pretty impressive cars for completion.
What makes GT5 the most enjoyable driving game around is simply the difficulty curve and the vast differences in the cars you drive. That said, if you put the hours (and yes I do mean hours...) in, then you'll get the rewards. If you're a fan of racing titles, look no further.
Quick Take
Graphics: Amazing
Overall gameplay: Great
Worth it? Yes
Final Rating: 4.8 out of 5
