Current Headlines:

Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec Review

By Miles

When the Playstation 2 first debuted, one of the first demonstrations for it was Gran Turismo 2000. Originally just a demo of Playstation code (and textures) ported across to the system, it was touted as the Playstation 2 version of Gran Turismo 2. As development progressed however, it started to become clear this was no simple port job - the project expanded rapidly, until finally it was decided that instead this would be a full-blown sequel to the incredibly popular Playstation series. The game was thus dubbed "Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec", and hyped as a premier Playstation 2 title. This was to be the game to quieten the doubters of the power of the PS2 and its "emotion engine".

Thankfully, Sony have more than delivered on their promises. From its low-detail, low-texture beginnings, the game has morphed into a showcase of the potential of the Playstation 2. The graphics, sound, physics and gameplay all surpass any racing game before it, on any platform.

Gameplay

The game consists of 190 diverse cars, ranging from budget, front wheel-drive tin cans to full-blown F1 powerhouses. The level of detail on the cars is stunning and it is possible to make out every detail on your car - as you race your car it becomes dirty, and you can see a marked difference when you wash you car. You can even see the brake pads glow after heavy braking. The physics are also excellent, with the cars moving very realistically - you can see your car lean into corners and be pulled down as you break. The only caveat here is that because the cars are licensed, the car manufacturers vetoed the idea of including damage. This leads to lesser drivers "bumping" their way along the track, and coming away from head on collisions unscathed. It's a shame that this feature hasn't been included.

19 original tracks are included in the game (included a number from the previous GT games, completely revamped), as well as a further 17 tracks which are simply variations on these (e.g. reversed). Racing can occur at different times of day, and the lighting system models sunsets particularly well. It really does feel like you're racing around at dusk, with the sunlight obscuring your view as it streams out from behind a racing barrier or building. There is also wet racing, although there are no rain effects in game, and this is limited to just one Rally track.

The game has two main play modes - Arcade, and Gran Turismo. Arcade mode is consists of choosing a level of difficulty, selecting the track you want to race on, and then picking a car from the list of permitted ones for that track. Cars and tracks are unlocked as you complete racing and difficulty modes.

The real meat of the game is in the Gran Turismo mode. You start off with a small amount of cash, and from there you need to obtain your racing licences and win races. As you win more races, you win cars and money - thus building up your garage as you go. By the end of the game, it is not unusual to have 40+ cars sitting in your garage. However, for tournament events the car you win is a random one out of a selection of four. This can lead to much frustration when you win a car worth a measly $20,000 or so, when it was possible to win a car worth $1,000,000+.

There are 5 different leagues to work through in this mode: Beginner, Amateur, Professional, Endurance and Rally. Beginner, Amateur and Rally are probably the modes most people will get through - the game really kicks in for the hardcore gamers in the other two modes. Some races in the Endurance league take several hours to complete, which only the most dedicated of gamers will get through. It's not necessary to finish the game to enjoy it however, in fact there's even a movie when you reach the halfway point.For many people, especially the more casual gamers, this will probably be where their gaming ends. It's important to bear in mind though, that for a novice to reach that point of the game takes many hours of gameplay - probably in the order of 20-30 hours. Add to this the Arcade mode, and you're looking at a very deep, fun game for people of any ability. The nice thing about GT3 is you can fire it up for a quick race through the arcade mode - or you can spend hours upgraded and tuning your cars, and racing through the longer and more difficult tracks.

There is plenty you can do to your car too. For the non-technical minded there's the stock racing parts, which require no fiddling, but on the other side of the scale almost everything is customisable. All aspects of the suspension can be tweaked, as well as gear ratios, braking balance, and the LSD. Cars have a wide variety of modifications that can be bought for them, and a simple little 4-cylinder runabout car can be turned into a turbo-charged monster. Oil needs to be changed regularly, and if you want your car looking its best you can even get it washed. The other nice thing is the ability to by new wheels for your car, so you can customise it that little bit more.

The AI in the game is adequate, but not spectacular. Other drivers tend to stick to their racing lines, and do little to react when provoked. They do occasionally make mistakes, but in general are very predictable and little challenge. As you work your way up into the harder leagues, they do get harder, but a GT veteran will not have too much trouble with them. Tyre damage and the complexity of the courses is more likely to be the contributing factor to losing a racing than the AI.

Graphics

This game is simply the best looking racing title on the market, either on home consoles or in the arcade. It has great textures, incredible trackside detail, amazing car models, and some brilliant lighting and reflection effects. As you come out of a tunnel, for a moment everything is incredibly bright as your "eyes" adjust to the daytime. Light streams through the trees on the Deep Forest track. In third-person view mode, you can see the reflections of the other cars and trackside detail on your own car. On the wet tracks, the reflection effect on the road is nothing short of amazing, especially in replays. Never before has a racing game looked so real.

Replays are also a high point of the game - there are several different replay modes, and many different effects and camera angles used. At times, it appears as if the cars are real, and you're watching a real race. It really is that good.

However, the game is not without its flaws. Shimmering and the dreaded "jaggies" rear their ugly heads to tarnish an otherwise graphically flawless game. In some tracks the shimmering is barely noticeable; in others (particularly Seattle) it is at times unbearable. The jaggies (jagged lines) are not nearly as bad as on other Playstation 2 titles, but the game could definitely benefit from some form of anti-aliasing. Texture shimmer could be solved with simple mip-mapping, but PS2's small amount of VRAM was obviously too limiting to implement this.

Overall though, the graphics are top notch. They're unequalled on any platform (for the time being).

Sound

The sound of Gran Turismo 3 is a mixed bag. On one hand, the sound effects are amazing. As you switch between first person and third person view modes, the change in sound is amazing. You feel like you're actually there inside (or outside) the car, especially with a good sound set-up. The engines sound great, and the quality and variability of the sound really adds to the experience. Playing the game with the sound off was noticeably more difficult and less fun without being able to hear the feedback of your engine.

However, the sound track definitely leaves a lot to be desired. The songs either don't seem to fit the racing theme, or are just flat out boring. Even the title track in the introduction seems rather lacklustre. Unfortunately, it's not a patch on the sound track of the original game. It would seem that the PAL version was saddled with the inferior soundtrack, as the American one features artists like Apollo Four Forty, Papa Roach, and Snoop Dogg, to name a few.

Overall

Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec would have to be Playstation 2's first "killer app". After a less than stellar launch and quiet release

schedule, Sony has finally delivered the goods and given us a game that not only looks the part, but plays the part too. No other racing game quite matches the game's brilliant mix of graphics, sound, and game mechanics. Definitely a must-have title for any discerning Playstation 2 owner.

He who would leap high must take a long run.