Gran Turismo 5 (PlayStation 3)

Gran Turismo 5 is the sixth iteration of Sony’s flagship racing franchise developed by Polyphony Digital. The game is the sequel to the PS2 title Gran Turismo 4 and the full version of Gran Turismo 5: Prologue.

GT5 comes equipped with many new features and enhancements. The game includes more than 1,000 licensed cars for players to use and more than 20 tracks. 200 of these cars are known as premium models, which have fully rendered interior designs and fully fledged mechanical and body damage. For the first time, the Gran Turismo series includes the famous car brands of Ferrari, Bugatti, and Lamborghini. Special events allow players to participate in racing events like NASCAR, WRC, Super GT, and even kart-racing. Players can learn how to race on the Daytona International Speedway by NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon or even be taught how to successfully navigate the complex Nürburgring racetrack. A-Spec and B-Spec game modes return as the main single-player modes. In A-Spec, players can race through a series of different events in which they need certain cars in order to participate in. The series begin in the easy Beginner levels where races can take 5 minutes all the way up to the Endurance levels where races can range from 3 to 24 hours. In the B-Spec mode, players become the race crew chief and tell their driver to do things such as slow the pace while driving or overtake an opponent.

The game includes an all new vehicle physics and graphics engine which allows for cars to show real-time damage and wear. Damage modeling is increased as the player gains levels in the A-Spec game mode. Graphical enhancements include smoke from tires, sparks, skid-marks, and dirt collecting on the cars (which can be washed at the car wash). Dynamic weather makes its first appearance felt with the ability to race not only in the pouring rain but also in a blanket of white-covered snow. This is paired up with a day and night cycle that can be seen in the longer races. Your cars in the game can also be upgraded at the Tuning Shop. Things like weight reduction, turbo kits, and a fully customizable transmission can all be installed to improve a car.

Players can join up with friends and play in the new online mode. Using cars that have been unlocked, the player can race in a public lobby of up to 16 players or create their own private lobby of up to 32. You can also share photos that you have taken in the Photo Mode with friends and let them drive your personally tuned cars in their own game. Tracks created in the Course Maker can also be shared.

Added in patch 1.05, Seasonal Races are a series of special races that are added to on a bi-weekly basis. Some are one-make races with strict tuning limits, while others are time and drift trials that pit the player against the rest of the world. A special Online Dealership has a selection of uncommon standard cars which is updated along with the Seasonal Races, and is usually a good place to find a car for them. As of patch 1.10 Seasonal Races also reward helmets and racing suits that can be equipped by the player or B-Spec drivers to change their look.