Gran Turismo 5 Prologue

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue

When it comes to releasing driving games, Gran Turismo developer Polyphony Digital really do like to string things out a bit. Soon after the PlayStation 3 launched we were treated to a complimentary download of Gran Turismo HD, a kind of proof of concept demo of the developer’s forthcoming fifth game in the GT series. Then, towards the end of last year a drip feed of content found its way onto PSN allowing players to take some of the game’s cars for a quick spin.

Soon Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will arrive, the first proper, paid for introduction to the still-undated main attraction. The game will offer a selection of 37 cars pulled from 21 worldwide manufacturers and ten circuits (most of which sport reverse versions) to race them on. Prologue provides more than a simple demo’s worth of content with full fledged 16-cars-on-track arcade modes and substantial event and dealer races to partake in. Sporting many of the stand out features that the full Gran Turismo 5 game will present, Prologue gives a helpful insight into how Polyphony’s flagship title is developing and, on the whole, it’s good news.

Fans of fast paced, lightning quick menu navigation and straight to tarmac arcade racing games will, as ever, be disappointed with the Gran Turismo formula. After a 10 minute wait while the game dumps 6 gigabyte’s worth of assets onto your harddrive you must peruse the dealer’s showrooms before settling upon your first motor. The menu system is slick and beautiful but actually getting anything done requires wading through multiple levels of choice. Again, the emphasis is on simulation and, while every single car model has been meticulously and faithfully modelled to within an inch of its life it all takes a time to get set-up.

On track the game looks splendid with bright engaging visuals, a superb refresh rate and rich detailed backgrounds. It lacks the softness in lighting of, for example, Forza 2, but more than makes up for that with the series’ trademark specialty: replays. Post race you’re able to sit back and watch a beautifully edited and mesmerising footage of your race and this is as enjoyable as it ever was.

Sadly and inexplicably cars still don’t feature damage, so if you bump into a rival or crash into the side-barrier your ride will simply bounce off all shiny and new. This has always been an issue for the series. Historically it’s been claimed that car manufacturers insisted on it being this way but Forza and Project Gotham both feature official cars AND damage on Xbox 360.

With the promise of episodic content thanks to the game’s GT:TV mode, and 16-player online modes excitement is building for the UK release of Prologue (and, of course, the subsequent arrival of Gran Turismo 5 proper). With a force feedback wheel it remains one of the finest console racing sims albeit a cold, calculated and sometimes sterile one. But for gamers who like their racing games to have an element of train-spotting nerdyness, Prologue will surely be a must buy.