Gran Turismo 5 review | Electricpig

The suffocating burden of expectation will ensure that racing fans will be especially critical of Gran Turismo 5’s minor failings. The inconsistency of the graphics engine is rather galling, and the neanderthal opposition AI hasn’t evolved since the first game was released.

Despite these irksome problems, even the most hardened critic must admit that Gran Turismo 5 is a truly extraordinary racer.

It’s as close to driving a high-performance sports car as many of us are ever likely to get, and the feature-packed career mode and garage of over 1,000 vehicles is certain to keep petrol-heads entertained for months to come.

It may not represent the quantum leap we’ve been led to expect – and it’s certainly not for everyone – but Gran Turismo 5 is nonetheless one of the best driving games available on the PlayStation 3.

[Game-ur]

There are hardcore games and casual games, and there are the very rare and hard to make simulator games, GT is non apologetic simulator racer, and the time it goes "arcade fun" is the time it dies.

[NewsForMe]

Sorry, GT5 cannot be considered a non apologetic simulator racer. A simulator would immediately throw you into a realistic and difficult racing experience. GT5 requires you to level up to unlock the more realistic and difficult options. GT5 is first and foremost a game, a great and varied racing game at that. PC has and always will do real simulation. If you're looking for pure simulation go there. If you're looking for a fun game continue what you're doing.

[Braxens]

How about just normal fun then?
This whole hardcore simulator excuse is getting pretty thin. Reviews keep saying the inconsistent graphics, the dumb AI, the barebones multiplayer and the weak damage are negatives but every ps3 fan runs to the arcade, casual, noob excuse like all those flaws don't matter.

[PirateThom]

People that have actually played the game for any length of time mention the leveling system for AI and damage, which means, obviously, reviewers aren't playing the game for any length of time. They may not be casual, but they're definitely not playing the game for more than a few hours.

[mike9077]

I know if the damage becomes better as you level up many review sites are gonna look pretty foolish. GT5 is a huge game and theres no way you can even finish this game within 2 weeks it would take you months just to finish a spec mode and thats only if your good at the game.

[Game-ur]

@Braxens
Fans who are actually playing don’t find any of these "problems", its called nitpicking and making things up.

And if you don’t find simulators fun then the game is simply not for you. I Don't like platformers but I don’t say Super Mario Galaxy 2 is bad.

[Braxens]

This is a SIMULATOR, not an RPG! In what real world does damage increase as you drive?? AI remains on rails though so don't even try that.
@game-ur. Making things up? All of them just decided to talk about the dumb on-rails AI? They won't even let you take close up pics of standard cars, why do you think that is so? And the damage, come on, leveling up damage is realistic now? Enough excuses guys, you sound paranoid
Even people here that have played it have said they hope they fix the bare multiplayer

[T9X69]

@Game-ur - Well of course, their huge fans of the game, they don't want to see those problems and when they come up, they call it nitpicking and that goes for any game period.

It's not like the sites chooses a reviewer that hates a specific genre and tells them to review it, which is why sites have more than one reviewer. It wouldn't make much sense to have someone review a simulator if they hate simulators. It would be like me reviewing a hack and slash game, I hate hack and slash games it wouldn't make much sense for me to review God of War 3 and say it's not that great of a game because I hate the genre.

[ryuzu]

^^ Look, if you simply bought and played GT5 like everyone else in the world, you'd be having a lot more fun now than trolling GT5 threads.

Damage is levelled for a simple GAMEPLAY reason - you start with limited cash, paying for repairs to your first few cars will put you in the poor house. If you want to play with damage just go online.

The AI is actually good this time round and certainly superior to for example F1 2010 which often praised.

Online works well and with an update due for the weekend I think this side of things will improve still more.

Reality is I've played about 25 hours of GT5 in 3 days. So far I've still barely scratched the surface of the game and only played online for about 3 of those hours.

It is GOTY - sadly, the reviewers posting this stuff have managed to play the game for about half of what I have and no surprise they've seen about 10% of what is in GT5.

If you're mildly interested in cars and driving, then this is an automatic purchase together with PS3 - if you're not, then why are you reading GT5 articles?

r.

[thief]

"In what real world does damage increase as you drive?"
refer to ryuzu's comment. Its not "increased", its switched on in stages after you reach a certain level.

[T9X69]

Not sure if you're talking to me or someone else, but I wanted to comment on one thing you posted.

"Damage is levelled for a simple GAMEPLAY reason - you start with limited cash, paying for repairs to your first few cars will put you in the poor house. If you want to play with damage just go online."

Why not just have the option to have damage on or off, or cosmetic only, similar to how Forza handles damage? What if someone wants more of a challenge instead of the game holding your hand until you reach a certain level. If a gamer wants a challenge, what's the point in making the game start on easy mode (if that is what you wish to call it) then turning into hard mode after a certain level, instead of having the option to start the game out in the most difficult way?

I'm not sure how many of you actually played Forza, but when I play, I turn off all the stupid assist, and make damage on full. Sure if I screw up I lose a portion of my payout to fix my car, but it also teaches me to be more careful and pay attention to what I'm doing, rather than playing bumper cars to hit 1st place.

EDIT: Wait....you just the game would basically be a challenge because it would put you in the poor house.....now it's just a challenge on it's own? I'm not stupid I can read lol. I don't have to own GT5 to read people comments on here that actually have the game. I've read from many people on this very site the game is really easy at the start, which is why I said, why not give the option to turn on things such as damage to add a challenge for people who want it?

[ryuzu]

^^ If you had played GT5 you would know 2 things

1) It's challenge is legendary even without damage and
2) GT series has always followed this structure.

It's like Princess Peach getting kidnapped in Mario, GT has this structure so that only the dedicated see the game through to completion.

It's what makes GT so great. Still wasting time on here isn't getting the 'ring challenges done! So you guys stay here and troll while bored - I'm off for some more wheel time :)

r.

PS : Wheels on 360 suck - no wheel = no play.

[hay]

@PirateThom: Exactly. It's amusing to see reviewers bashing the game they played for like 2, 3 hours, mentioning "issues" that are gone if you spend some quality time with it.
It isn't the first time, isn't last time, but it's obvious that reviews are written in really unprofessional manner.

GT5 is one of the very few games which are fresh during first hour or during 50th thanks to leveling system, improving damage, AI etc. But most reviewers can't get past that. They don't review this game for what it is and instead are just spewing BS(excluding reviewers who are gamers, 'cause everyone who stated such idiotic drawbacks can't be called a gamer).

@Game-ur: And exactly again. GT5 was made for racing sim fans mainly. It's incredibly accessible for beginners, learning curve is fantastic for people new to the genre, there's lots of things to do, and career is always fresh thanks to often switching cars, adjusting driving strategies etc.
It's incredibly well thought game with few questionable design choices and some flaws. But it's closest to perfection of all console sims.
But it's better to be ridiculous noob and brag. /s

And yeah, it's absurd that reviewers are calling games bad just because they don't like the platform, franchise or genre. It's so immature and narrow minded...

[infamousinfolite]

@T9X69

Think of it like this there are newcomers who are playing this game as now as we speak sure the idea of turning on damage is coool and all but most people would prob keep it off so the way it is set in GT5 is that these new comers get a feel for this game learning on how the game works as far as turning making the right moves to get to first place and some levels later the real action starts and the damage comes on as standard and wll probably not have the option of turning it off.

[NBT91]

It doesn't seem to be that way, I was just driving a Ferrari 512 and that damage was easily much more visible than any other premium car I have yet driven. Even then, it was sometimes getting small dents from huge smashes but just for clipping the AI was demolishing the front end completely >.> the damage needs work pure and simple.

[SeanRL]

Ok, guys here's what's happening. The trolls are saying the game sucks and it's a flop. The fanboys are bitter and are overlooking every bad part of the game in an attempt to save their precious game from even being questioned. You need to realize that this game does have it's flaws, and while some of them may not be enough to bring the game down to an 8/10, some are. Disagree, bubble me down but it won't matter, because I can enjoy GT5 for what it is; a fun racing game that has it's flaws and not the second coming of racing sim jesus.

[Kon_Artist]

i got in 12 hours in already :)

finally about to order a DFGT
people need to play this game for a long time to really understand it. its an amzing game

[snp]

And that's the 8th new account (ie. less than 2 days old) i've spotted created purely for trolling GT5 threads.

This is getting old.

[Kurt Russell]

Ignore them then? It's just text on a page, they're hardly writing on your eyelids are they?

[snp]

Thanks champ for the superior sage advice, but i'll speak when i want eh?

And if that's to point out extreme dills and how tiresome they are becoming monopolising GT5 threads - then that's what it is. You'll find we all see things differently (it's the way the world works, you see).

But if you've got a problem - take your own advice (after all, i'm hardly writing on 'your' eyelids am i?). Indeed, if you can't do that, then maybe you shouldn't be the one dishing out such advice. Here's your chance.

Sorry for mirroring the tone, but i really can't stand 'snarky/snearing'. Whether you're like that naturally and we simply clash, or if your just cultivating it for this forum as some sort of distinguishing 'hip shtick' (or whatever...) - it's immensely offputting.

[callahan09]

The whole idea is that in the lower levels, the game treats you like you're a beginner. As you do well, you level up, the game treats you differently. In this game, when you damage your vehicle, it stays damaged until you get it repaired. It has drastic effects. You're not supposed to be damaging your car, and damaging it has consequences. Which is why they don't introduce damage in the beginner series or amateur series. The opposition AI also gets more intelligent and aggressive and skilled as you level up and join in on the higher-ranked series'.

[MonkeyBoy92]

I agree I think the levelling system makes sense, considering that there are a lot of newbies to this series. It would be foolish for PD to make it insanely hard from the off go, it would put people of and be extremely overwhelming. I don't see why people are complaining, if your a long term fan your going to love it and play it so much that you would be competing with the higher levelled difficultly within a few days, whereas new players get a nice learning curve into a fabulous game series. They have to allow for a different generation of gamers after all

[Acquiescence]

who?

[buffig]

I aknowledge many of the criticisms levelled at GT5 and I'm not going to try and defend the quality of standard cars or the ropey shadows or even the sub standard damage. What I will say is that where it matters, where it truly counts, GT5 is the most impressive driving game I've ever played. I don't mean the best arcade racer or crash simulator or best motion blur generator. When it comes down to the sheer pleasure of driving and maintaining these vehicles there is absoltely nothing that comes close. It could have ratings of 70% across the board and it would make no difference to how I personally feel about it.

[Shazz]

So what 4/5 is bad now lmao Seriously sum people who are laughing at scores like this and then mentioning forza should go look and see how many 4/5 and 9/10 forza got

[Kurt Russell]

You just laughed at the scores, then mentioned Forza.

[Shazz]

i think you will find im laughing at fact people are acting as if 4 out 5 reviews are bad

[AceofStaves]

I just started playing GT5 yesterday, and graphics hiccups aside, the driving is fantastic. This is my first racing title since the original 'Pole Position' (not counting a few laps in 'Mario Kart') and I'm having a blast.

Scores between 8 and 9 are what this game merits, since no title is perfect. But it's amazingly fun, the sense of actually having to drive a car instead of just whizzing around a track.

For that alone, PD deserves my thanks.

[wissam]

anther good score.

[infamousinfolite]

Here's my intake of the game: yes while driving some standard cars (having seen any on premium) i've seen noticeable screening tearing but your so focus on making it to first place and doing everything else like tuning your car, taking photos, testing out your car's performance, and many other things that it's hardly ever a deal breaker for you.

Great game IMO very addicting no other game has been this addicting to me... ever!

[joeorc]

ok than here you go

it's pretty simple
Forza 3 is the definitive racing game of this generation

on the same token

GT5 is the definitive racing simulator of this generation

how do you like them apple's

kind of goes with that IGN review that many seem to cling to:

10/10 for a simulator , but for a game its a 5/10 ..

there you go

if you want that IGN review to mean what they say..that sure why not i will accept what he stated. as long as you accept that GT5 is not only the real driving simulator..but get this is also the definitive racing simulator of this generation

sure as the guy's over @ Turn 10 claimed:

the definitive racing game of this generation

is Forza 3..

OK i have no problem with that.

you want that Moniker you got it

What must irk some is GT5 even when reviewer's give it a disapointed review still considers GT5 the real driving simulator a 10/10 as a simulator...smile cannot get better than a 10 any other Racing simulator's getting a 10?

OH but Forza 3 is

"Forza 3 is the definitive racing game of this generation"

so good for Forza 3 it's the best racing game this generation.

not the Best Racing simulator no that Title Goes to GT5 of course but you cannot win them all Turn 10.

congradulations on a great game by the way Turn 10.

lets see if Forza 4 gets graded on the GT5 Simulator scale...because that is what GT5 was graded on the FORZA 3 SCALE.

so no Prebaked scripted Damage it must be done all by physic's for Forza 4 if it's not , will they subtract a point on
FORZA 4?

[jneul]

review $$ bags are tasty for forza 3 reviewers lol

[joeorc]

let both Forza 3 an GT5 submit their final builds to:

say:

car an driver!

an lets see who would come on top..I think we already know the answer to that one.

hey here is a real review for you:

no what PD an Sony need to do
IS take GT out of the game section and put is squarely in the area where is belongs with real driver's and real people who would review it like it would be anyway...

http://www.caranddriver.com...

oh wait a min..there ya go

because more an more of these Game reviewers did not even take the time to unlock the advanced damage or AI further in the game that GT5 has.

WHEN SOME REVIEW SITES SAID 10 PAGES they would not be lieing, this is just 10 page review on PD alone imagine if they did the review of GT5.