Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3) Review

Posted by Mark Salmela on 05.05.2008

Vitals

Genre	Racing
System	PlayStation 3
Release Date	04/15/2008

Often criticized for being a $40 demo, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is far more than just a demo. The first real taste of Gran Turismo on the PS3, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is truly a site to behold. Find out why in the full review.



Back in December 2006, Sony dropped PS3 users quite the Christmas present. Titled Gran Turismo HD, Sony was in the middle of attempting an odd experiment. Gran Turismo HD was going to be a demo that would slowly receive updates over time that would improve the game until they were satisfied with the product and would then release Gran Turismo 5. This was going to be a game that was fueled by micro-transactions, and G4 analyst Morgan Webb infamously claimed that with all of the micro-transactions GT5 would offer users would have to spend hundreds of dollars to unlock everything in the game. Thankfully the shit hit the fan and loyal fans of the series were outraged. After multiple complaints Sony dropped this stupid idea and went back to the traditional Gran Turismo formula that fans have come to love.

Now some people may be wondering why Sony is releasing this “demo” at $40 instead of just releasing GT5. Well the real reason is that GT5 is far from ready. The actual Gran Turismo 5 is still a full year away. But ever since Gran Turismo 3, Polyphony, the creators of the Gran Turismo series, has been releasing a Prologue title for the fans before they release the full game. This idea of a Prologue before the full title is nothing new. The only major difference is that Sony has never promoted a Prologue as a major title before, hence why so many people are confused about this title. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is far more than a demo. In fact when compared to the number of cars in games like Need for Speed, it can be argued that Gran Turismo 5 Prologue contains more content than those $60 games. While I personally would have preferred this title to come out for $29.99, GT5 Prologue packs a lot of bang for the buck at $40 and here’s why.


Graphics


This is the best looking video game ever.


Right from the introduction, you are in for a treat. They’ve always said that the next generation of consoles would bring photo realistic video games, and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is one of the first games to achieve this. I don’t think I’m exaggerating at all when I say that Gran Turismo 5 Prologue has the best graphics I’ve ever seen in a video game. Outputting at a full 1080p high definition, Gran Turismo is the definition of breathtaking. The amount of detail given to each car is incredible, and it more than justifies the long development time we’ve seen with this game. If you’re in the market for an HDTV, how well your TV displays GT5 Prologue should be the basis of your TV purchase. The lighting is perfect and realistic, as is the shading. New to the series is the in-car view, where the camera is positioned inside of the car right where your eyes would be if you were actually driving. While I still prefer the windshield view, this new in-car view is totally awesome.

Gran Turismo 5 runs at a full 60 frames per second during gameplay *30 FPS on a replay* and it shows. The game runs smooth as silk, and I’ve never felt more immersed into a video game than playing GT5 Prologue on my HDTV with the Logitech Driving Force Pro racing wheel with surround sound. While there are select load times between menus overall the game runs really well and I don’t mind the small load times *usually between 5 – 8 seconds*. The only complaint I can find in terms of graphics is a lack of detail on the grass. All of the surrounding areas such as mountains, people, and buildings look terrific, as do the cars and race tracks, but the grass could use more detail. Here’s hoping this small detail gets fixed in the full GT5, because otherwise this game is picture perfect. No other video game has captured the art of automobiles like Polyphony has.



Gameplay


The AI actually feels human now.


Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is Polyphony’s newest addition to the Gran Turismo franchise. The first thing you will notice upon starting the game is the lack of a license test, which I believe is a first for the series *not counting GTHD*. This in my opinion is a huge improvement, as I absolutely hated the driver’s license test. I want to learn the game and become better at it as I play it, not repeat the same lame task over and over again until the game decides I am good enough to play it.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue plays and feels exactly like a car would in real life. There is a reason why car companies love this game and actual professional drivers practice on Gran Turismo games. Polyphony has driving down to perfection, and any car you play as in GT5 Prologue will handle exactly like it would if you were to drive it in real life. While there are no major tuning options *saving it for GT5 in 2009*, there are minor performance tweaks that you can make when you beat some of the A level courses. Damage is also absent, as Polyphony says it will add in a damage pack sometime in summer of 2008. As of right now the cars still bounce off of walls *although more realistically now* and there is no major punishment for crashing other than looking stupid and obviously falling behind in the race.

There are 4 different classes of races, each containing 10 events within that class. Each race is unique, with different objectives such as a normal race, drifting, going from last to first, and even time trials. Each race has a select number of laps, as well as what type of car it lets into the race. You’ll need to buy several cars and earn over 1 million credits if you want to complete the entire single player, so you’ll be playing the single player of GT5 Prologue for a long time. The game is really fun, but it would be better if all of the cars didn’t cost so much.

One of the biggest additions to the game is the improved AI. In previous games the AI would often travel on a set path, and would often run into you if you were on their path. In GT5 Prologue the AI has seen a significant improvement, and the AI is now aware of your positioning. While on occasion the other cars will still run into you, the other drivers act more realistically and will often try to get out of your way if trying to pass you. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the AI is now human, and isn’t a robot driving along a set path, which is a huge improvement for GT.

New cars can be bought in the dealership *chosen in the garage for use*, although most cars are way too expensive. The game runs on a system of credits for money, and money can be earned by participating in races both offline and on. Some of the most expensive cars can run upwards of a million credits, which at a rate of near 15,000 credits on average per race, means you’ll be driving for a long time if you want every car. Whether or not your car can compete in a certain race is indicated by a symbol on the left of the race title, as it will be grayed out if you cannot compete.

GT5 Prologue has upwards of 70 cars, including cars from Acura, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Citroen, Daihatsu, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Lancia, Lexus, Lotus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Renault, Subaru, Suzuki, TVR, Volkswagen, and more. While this is significantly less than GT4, this is more than several games currently out on the market that charge $60, so I won’t penalize the game here. Considering every car handles differently and feels incredibly realistic, I’ll wait for the several hundred cars promised in the full GT5 before I begin to penalize the lack of cars. There are 6 different tracks, with a select few having different layouts, bringing the course number to around 10. Every course in GT5 Prologue has been carefully planned and is incredibly fun to play on; even the base Daytona course is awesome in GT5 Prologue. London is probably the best example of the new lighting engine, and is the best to show off to friends *it’s also the hardest course*.


Sound


I am about to burn some serious rubber.


Gran Turismo has been referred to as “the real driving simulator” and for good reason. Everything in this title is both top notch and perfectly recreated. Polyphony has spared no expense in all of the major aspects of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue and that includes sound. In fact if everything didn’t sound perfectly natural and realistic I would have severely criticized this aspect of the game. But thankfully everything sounds perfect, and only adds to the immersion that you’re actually driving these cars. From the unique sounds of every individual car engine to the burning of the rubber as you make a critical turn, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue sounds beautifully. If you have surround sound, you’re in for a treat my friends.

As for the in-game music, there isn’t much. Then again most drivers don’t blast music while they’re in the middle of a race, so it’s acceptable. What little music they do have is rather soothing and alternative, which I like.


Lasting Appeal


What a sexy beast.


One of the biggest features in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is the online mode. Up to 16 players can race online on any of the tracks. Players can set a number of car limitations for the races just like in the single player mode, which is a good thing. While I have only competed in a handful of online races, I have experienced no lag or slowdown what-so-ever. There is one difference in the online mode where if a player spins out of control they can turn see-through where other players can pass through them. This only lasts for a second or two and can prevent a major wreck which can be a good thing if one player is trying to ruin the race for everyone. While I would probably left this feature out it did prevent a lot of frustration. Otherwise the online mode is very solid and will be what people spend the majority of their time on once they’ve completed the single player races. Also take note that players can earn credits from online races, so you can unlock the majority of the cars just through the online mode.



Fun Factor


I really like the menu system and presentation.


One of the big problems with simulators is that they just aren’t fun. And while I have had more fun in games like Motorstorm, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue can still be a blast to play. Matches can get hectic real quickly in the online mode, which is where the majority of time will be spent once the single player races are finished. There is a 2 player mode for friends, although Gran Turismo is typically a game that is played alone. Fans of racing games will have a blast with this one, just watch out as some of the courses are really hard *London for example*. Also, even though I prefer to drive automatic in real life, I highly recommend driving manual in GT5 Prologue. It adds to the realism *which makes the game more enjoyable*, and personally I perform much better *which is probably more realistic for racing*.

I also want to quickly mention the Gran Turismo TV and Gran Turismo News features, where players can watch new videos and collect news on racing events in real life as they occur. This is a feature that will be updated as time goes on. Right now players can watch the “Beyond the Apex” video, giving a history of the Gran Turismo games. It’s a really good watch for fans of the series. I own GT5 Prologue on disc, but I’m pretty sure people who downloaded the game can download the “Beyond the Apex” movie to watch, as there are plenty of other videos already up for download.


The 411


No other racing simulator on the market comes close to Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. That includes Forza 2.


Gran Turismo is one of the best selling franchises of all time. This game had over 1 million preorders in Europe alone. If you have ever played a previous Gran Turismo and liked it, you will love GT5 Prologue. While I would have enjoyed more courses, for $40 this game gets the job done. The online mode is fun, and the game plays flawlessly. The car damage add-on in the summer will make this game even better. If you own a home-theater, this game will make you feel as if it was all worth it. Both fun and beautiful, with a little more content this game would be perfect. Fans of the series will be playing each other online right up until the full release of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue next year.

Graphics	10.0	is no other video game on the market that comes close to looking this good. HDTVs have never looked so good.
Gameplay	8.5	For a racing simulator I found the gameplay to be near flawless. Polyphony knows what they are doing and anyone who loves racing games should pick this one up. I do expect more than 6 unique courses however.
Sound	9.5	Everything sounds terrific in this game. Car engines, tires, the sound of the air as you whiz by, it is all perfect. GT5 Prologue is a simulators dream.
Lasting Appeal	8.5	While there are only 70 cars, they all run flawlessly although they are too expensive. While the single player mode is fun, the online mode is terrific. For $40 GT5 Prologue more than wets the appetite for the full GT5 next year.
Fun Factor	9.0	While some people may not like simulators, GT5 Prologue improves on its predecessors and makes for a terrific pick up for fans of the series. I recommend every racing fan with a PS3 pick this title up.
Overall	9.1   [  Amazing ]

Screenshots
All 20 Gran Turismo 5: Prologue Screenshots