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Amazing Prologue for GT5...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 17
Date: April 16, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Beautiful Visuals?
Check
Full HD at 60FPS?
Check
16 Player Online?
Check
Damage?
Uhh get back to me this fall
New Nissan GTR?
Hell YEAH!!!

GT5 Prologue is an amazing entry into the PS3 era by Polyphony Digital and a MUST buy for any Gran Turismo fan. The cars feel right and the AI is much improved, but not perfect yet. Some cars still follow a line and will not move. The new in-car models are gorgeous and extremely detailed. With over 60 cars and 5 tracks, Prologue is a great game.

Sure many will say its a glorified demo not worth 40USD and for some that is true. It will not be worth it. But for car fans and especially GT fans you will not be disappointed. Sony has been proactive with updates for the game and it is possible that damage will be added this Fall.

So the verdict? Buy it if you enjoyed GT1-GT4 stop reading and buy. See you on the London track m8s!!

A passionate labor of love to give us the drive of our life.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 15 / 18
Date: April 24, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Wow. Trying to give Gran Turismo 5: Prologue a complete review is like trying to count the grains of sand on the beach in Ashikita, but I'll do my best.

Whether you are a new player of Gran Turismo or a long-time fan like myself, the only place to truly start is choosing the Gran Turismo TV option and watch the video "Beyond The Apex". I watched this video at least 4 times before I even started playing the game.

We get to meet Kazunori Yamauchi, Gran Turismo's creator. This man loved cars by age 8, and his love has developed into a lifelong dream of providing video gamers the perfect balance between car beauty, and car functionality.

But this is no easy task - for example, his development team took great pains to take 20-30,000 pictures of just ONE racetrack over a 2 month timeframe! Why? To make us feel like we're racing on the real thing.

Every curve in the road, every tire mark on the track, every dip of the car frame with acceleration and shifting is designed to give us all the sensations we would feel driving a car in the real world.

The game gets glowing reviews from Tanner Foust, a professional drifter and Rally car driver. It's one thing for a person like me who's never been on a racetrack, it's quite another when a professional driver says this is the type of game that encourages people to go out and buy a rear wheel drive car and try it for real!

Okay, so let's get on to the gameplay.

The online PS3 players can use the functions of News, Online Racing, and Online Rankings. The only thing sweeter than hosting a race with players from across the globe and winning a three lap race by a hair's breath, is seeing YOUR name at the top of the online rankings.

There are 71 cars to choose from, more than enough to whet our appetites until the full version of Gran Turismo 5 is released. This game gives us a lot of creative freedom: we can alter the AI difficulty, the active steering, the driving physics, braking, traction control, tires, and much more.

The graphics are, for lack of a better word, flawless. During the intro movie, a car is shown driving on a road with sunlight reflecting off the rear panels - the light is shown as patchwork through leaves on a passing tree. That level of detail is also in the gameplay itself.

There are 4 different viewpoints for driving the car: a player with the top-of-the-line racing wheel can choose three camera angles inside the car, while other players can choose the exterior camera to get a better overall view of the car's physics. As far as the controller options, we can choose the button setup ourselves. I was very impressed to see the controller schematic for not just one, but FIVE driving wheel simulators to choose from.

On the racetrack, we have a blue line to direct us on the best path to victory, which we can either follow or alter at our own risk. The path also shows us the optimal brake times, which is a fantastic feature for the novice and expert alike. We have rules to follow - The days of cutting across patches of sand to get ahead of our opponents are gone. There are penalties for hitting other cars, ramming cars off the track, using shortcuts and any boundary collisions.

So what are the shortcomings?

Well, the online portion does have limits. If the host player of a race has a slower internet connection, the race can end prematurely or the picture quality/gameplay is sacrified. Some players are extremely courteous, other players may resort to cheap schoolyard tactics which can ruin the overall racing experience.

The AI can be a little cruel on the racing circuit. We can't hit other cars, but if we're in the line of another car that drifts into us, we get penalized.

The emphasis on drifting is more prevalent in this iteration of Gran Turismo, and the art of drifting is not easy to master. The more casual player might find this aspect of racing very frustrating.

Younger gamers might get frustrated with the realism of the game's physics....this isn't Twisted Metal, after all. But hey, if Kazunori Yamauchi could love cars at age 8, then I guess anything is possible.

But the biggest shortcoming? This is only a prologue....the finished product will most likely not be released before 2009.

Anyone with a passionate love of cars probably has this game in their library already. The casual player can definitely give this game a rent, much as I did. Be prepared, though: Once you appreciate the fine art of drifting and racing with the precision of a heart surgeon, you won't be returning this rental on time. You'll be saving your pennies for a Dualshock Wireless Controller or a Gran Turismo Racing Wheel.

Gran Turismo has truly earned the title of "The Real Driving Simulator".

best GT ever, with caveats

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 12
Date: April 21, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is really thin on content for anyone who just came off Gran Turismo 4 or even Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec. So, if hundreds of cars, thousands of aftermarket parts, and dozens of tracks is mandatory then don't consider GT5 Prologue.

However, what's actually on the disc is almost perfect. The driving is excellent and the force feedback with a wheel is tremendous. The technology is great, with gorgeous lighting and the best looking cars I have seen in a game. The challenges are easily beatable depending on your skill, but I have tons of fun just trying to do hot lap and rise up in the rankings.

The only place I can really ding the game is in online play. There is no way to make a private lobby, and early races are plagued with people who play like its Burnout. But it's in there, and you can earn money for better cars quickly. A better online system would give the game a lot more replayability.

So, basically, the physics, look and feel, and feature set are all greatly improved over past games. It doesn't have much content but the core driving experience is as usual superb.

Long overdue GT game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 10
Date: April 17, 2008
Author: Amazon User

It took a good while but this game is definatley worth it. As a GT fan from since GT1, I might sound a bit fanboyish but any and all car nuts, racing nuts, need to have this game. At 1080P resolutions, this game is just simply stunning. Even looks fine at 720P. Sure their isn't damage modeling yet but it's supposed to come in a patch maybe in the late summer/fall timeframe. I never really cared too much for needing damage but at least when it gets damage modelling, it will "somewhat" control how the wacko drivers drive in online races.

Yes, it only has 71 cars, but that's one hell of a fantasy garage that most humans will ever be able to have, let alone drive. It has 5 tracks but with different variations. Short, full, reverse, etc. They finally got the engine sounds of the cars done right in all it's digital surround sound glory. Did I mention it's a beautiful game? Ahhh, the beauty of Blu ray.

I haven't tried the 16 player online aspects yet so...

Car tuning, you will get after certain class races.

GT-TV is great to have in the game for those times you just wanna check up on the motorsports world.

I got this game with the official GT steering wheel(had to drive 90 miles to get it,some Gamestops have it already), and I must say, this is about as close to driving the actual car as you are gonna get. Even better if you get the G25 wheel but that's too pricey for me.

All in all this game is a must have at just $40. This is what the GT fans have been waiting for. This game is truly vehicle art on your tv. If you have any passion for cars and a PS3, you need to get this ASAP. At least give it a try. You won't regret it.

I've played the Gran Trurismo 5 Prologue Demo

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 16
Date: April 15, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I've been playing the demo of GT5 Prologue since its début this past October around the time of the Tokyo Auto Show. It was very cool because as the unveiled cars in the real world, the game was doing the same thing in the virtual (i.e. GT-R, WRX-STi). The game plays extremely smooth. The A.I. is on top of you every step of the way. And with the new cockpit view, full force feed back, & complete surround sound - you fell like you are very much there. GT news updates and GT-TV round out the mix to give very compelling experience. This a definite must buy.

A beautiful game...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 8
Date: April 16, 2008
Author: Amazon User

If you have already played the demo, then you are already aware of the incredible physics engine and phenomenal audio/visuals (1080p60, LPCM 7.1)that GT5 Prologue has to offer. For those who have not, you are in for a real treat.

So what else has Polyphony Digital brought to the table:

-16 Player online - You have been waiting since you used Kai Xlink to bridge LAN games across the Internet on GT4 - you know you have ;) Now it is here for real!!!

-Future Content Updates - cars, games modes, GT-TV content

-Gran Tursimo TV - video on-demand content that bridges the gap into the world of motorsports

Of course the negative comments regarding the number of tracks and cars are valid to a degree, but Sony/Polyphony's lower price point and commitment to updates leading up to the release of GT5 proper should offset any apprehension that you have towards making this purchase.

If you are a Gran Turismo fan, then you already have the game, but if you are on the fence - GO GET IT!!! See you online at Suzuka!

Best Racing Franchise On PlayStation Returns In Full Form

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 12
Date: April 17, 2008
Author: Amazon User

So I must say that GT5:P is amazing. I have played it for about 12hours now (local Walmart put it out early on Tues for some reason even though it did not come out till 17Apr as far as I can tell) I was a huge fan of GT1 and 4 and 5 is even better than I could have ever imagined. I have no gripes about the single player game at all except that more tracks would have been nice but even then I still consider it a minor grievance at this time. If they provide download content like they say they will I am sure we will see more tracks in the future. Handling is crisp, just as we have come to expect from the GT franchise and the sound is clear and relevant as well as the visuals being stunning in 1080i (what my TV is capable of displaying).
Online play is very easy to get into. Matching is automatic and there is little to no lag from my experiences on my wireless G network. The controls are not quite as crisp as I would prefer but very easy to adjust to within a few laps. The only annoyance I have experienced is people like to use each other as a human brake going into turns and it is very frustrating because there is no penalty for them when they do so. I hope they patch in a 3-4 second speed reduction for people that do this. A minor concern really because the people that do this often usually don't get ahead in the game but it can really hurt your performance if they catch you just right and send you off your racing line and into a wall. Overall the online racing portion is highly competitive. Make sure to draft other players when racing online otherwise finishing in the top 5 is nearly impossible.
My only other recommendation is that if you are not planning on buying the steering wheel with force feedback at least pick up a dual shock 3 controller for the rumble feature. It adds an additional dimension to the race and tips you off earlier to when you risk losing control. I tried racing without the rumble to see the difference and without it you do not notice you losing control until you are already getting ready to slide. With the rumble you feel the vibration increase as you walk the line between control and losing control. Very awesome. I never realized how much I missed the vibration in games such as DiRT.
This game is a 10/10. If you like simulation racing you will be hard pressed to find a superior game on any console from any generation. If you are looking for an arcade racing experience you might want to look elsewhere. Burnout Paradise might be your best option for the PS3 or wait for Midnight Club: LA. If you like off-road/rally racing pick up DiRT instead.

Great Game for a Great Price

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: April 16, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I have been playing video games since the first playstation came out and I was never much into the Gran Turismo series...until I downloaded the GT5P demo from Japan back in October. Ive been playing that demo over and over and cant get enough. Now that I have the actual GT5P game, I realize that this is going to keep me busy till the full GT5 game comes out. Even if your not a car fanatic, you should still check this game out, its alot of fun to play.

Amazing Game, Definatly worth it!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: April 19, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game is much better than what other reviews say it is.
First of all the Graphics are sometimes too good to be true.
This is so much better than the conecpt version if you played it.
So heres a nice and short detailed review.
When you start up the game you need to install the game(5 min)no biggie
After that its all amazing.
The menu is really nice and simple
You get to see your car in the back while you are in the menu.
Realtime weather for differnt places in the world. Dont know why but its good to know
Buy your car then you start racing.
Races have good gameplay there not boring
The inside view of the car is impecable.
You can play online imediatly of you wanted to.
It has a semi-story with a beginner and intermediate and expert mode
Pros:
*Graphics look real
*its $40
*Sounds real
*Gameplay if fun
*Online(no lag)And you get to get in the games fast
*Easy to get into
*Two player splitscreen
*Gran turismo TV(pretty fun to watch)
*SoundTrack
Cons*
Its a prolugue which means you dont get the full story but you do get full gameplay.
No customization
Its pretty limited but the limitation doesnt feel make it feel like a demo. Its done right thats why it isnt a demo.
Highly recommend though especially for Gran Turismo fans and people who havent really picked up racing games.
This one is one you dont want to miss.

GT5 P Is for Fans Only, the Rest Are not Welcome!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: April 21, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Introduction:

We all know how GT series has been set up for over 10 years: stunning graphics, sound, tracks, and etc. But, what matters after all is that this is not a Ridge-Racer type of game. So, if you expect to handle the turns by just easing off the gas and drifting, you'd better not buy this game.

Purpose:

This game is designed for people, who love cars and care about the beauty and details of them for real life experience. The producer's passion is to bring the cars to our lives as like we are really driving them. When you go to GTTV and see what those people do to make things as nicely as possible, you will realize that something like Forza will be no match for such a huge franchise with this amount of effort put into it.

Graphics and Sound:

Nothing to say. Certainly, show the capability of PS3 to its maximum limits. The cars and environment, literally, are photo-realistic, meaning you are there and you feel it. Same goes with sound. And, by sound, I mean engine sounds and soundtracks. No match has ever come any close to achieve what GT has in this category.

Gameplay:

This is a GRAN TURISMO! That means, you cannot beat the game in 2 hours like you do in NFS or Ridge Racer. As a professional race driver, you need to suffer to get to where you want to be. So, do not complain about the fact that you need money to purchase the cars. This is why GT is called a "real driving simulator". Have patience and enjoy the ride along!

AI:

These critics say why the AI drivers always drive on the racing line? That question simply proves that they are not into racing at all because if you watch a Touring Race Championship or F1 Championship on TV, you will see that all drivers will always drive on the racing line to optimize their cornering, unless there is traffic or accident on the line should they not drive on it. That is the same case in GT5 P. The AI will always drive on the racing line to optimize its cornering, like in reality, unless there is some sort of block ; in that case it will not drive on the racing line. The real racing games must carry the real racing actuality and skills. So, if you think the AI drivers are driving unusually, you do not know racing. You'd better, first, watch some F1 or other races on TV.

Online:

It is true that those people that do not know racing assume that GT5 P is demolition-race type of racing game and run into you and grant you a very painful experience in guardrails, but this is just a prologue version. They may make the races in GT5, where you will do qualification laps, ghost racing, and grid position starting. These improvements can, however, be made to Prologue now.

GTTV:

This is an amazing feature. How come nobody ever notes that? They show you how the cars are tested and put in the game. What kind of racing game has such a feature?

Damage Modeling:

What the heck is the point of damage modeling about which every single person complains? Why would you want to see a beautifully crafted car be smashed and totaled? Are you a car fan or a demolition racer? Do you prefer to see how a GT-R gets smashed and totaled by going to back of a Ferrari F40, or do you rather want to see how the car handles in the real life? I mean, there is a trade-off. A professional racer would want to see how a GT-R drives in the real life than to want it to be totaled and see the debris of crash on the track.

Conclusion:

This game, certainly, is worth the buck! But, if you are looking into arcade type of racing with crazy things happen like Twisted Metal, you are better off playing other racing games...anything, but GT5 P.

GT5 will be always a top seller, as usual, dominating the market!

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