Is it a demo? It has a small percentage of what the final game will be. So in that sense Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is a demo. However, if all demos had this much in them, well, we probably would not be complaining about dropping 40 bones on them.
Polyphony Digital has been bringing us Gran Turismo games for 10 years now, and this is the first time we get online play. I would say its about time, but this developer is always late at bringing us the goods (damage modeling, or Gran Turismo for PSP anyone?).
The North American release of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is quite a bit better than what Japan got - Polyphony made the wait worth it. And by better I mean it has 34 more cars, one more track, two player split screen, drift trial, Quick Tune mode, Free Run mode, additional single player races, and a bunch of bug fixes. So, its not exactly a demo, it is an updateable demo. If you imported the Japanese version you can download Spec II from the game.
Is it worth getting this or waiting a year for Gran Turismo 5? Let me start off by saying that Gran Turismo is the reason I did not like the racing genre. Then Forza Motorsport came out and my buddy wanted to play it because he could drive his SAAB in it. So I got it so we had a game we could play together. I fell in love with Forza and Forza 2 is just as good if not better. Thus I started warming up to racing games again. So after saying that, yes, GT 5 Prologue is worth it for those who enjoy a good simulator.
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue tries to be more like Forza than like Gran Turismo 4 and earlier — a very good thing — the difficulty curve is much better. They have added more assists, there is a driving line, it even tells you how fast you should be when hitting the apex of a turn. It really helps make the game "friendlier." When you get better, you can turn the settings off. Driving games, even simulation driving games should be fun to play. Gran Turismo has been a very unfun experience for a lot of people. It is great to see that that has changed in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue.
The game is a graphical and audible showcase. It is what you want to show your friends or wife to prove the worth of the expensive PS3. It doesn't exactly blow me away graphically, but it has clean, crisp visuals and nice effects - the HDR is solid and not overdone. Tracks and environments seem a little too stale and sterile, however. Cars on the other hand are meticulously modeled inside and out. The new cockpit view is wonderful, though not revolutionary. The instrument panel in all the cars work, and the animation of the driver is realistic. It adds so much more to the experience.
Article comments
1 - Waldo
Damage modelling is a big issue for the GT series. however, I think that the final game will include this. However, if you go by the GT standard of realism, the first time you hit another car with any heavy force, you're out of the race (as in real life). Secondly, I've heard that some vehicle manufacturers are quite keen not to see their cars looking damaged (license agreement?). either way, GT5 will probably deliver the goods.
2 - SPM
If you actually want to see collisions and enjoy smashing into the rear end of GT-Rs in front of you and, then this game is NOT for you! GT5:P on-line mode sucks is because people ruin it by crashing into each other. Also, why did the author assume that people didn't have fun with the GT series? Because it's too realistic and may require practice? There are tons of people out there who know how to drive, and appreciate the difficulty of the REAL driving simulator known as Gran Turismo. This bias article mentions 'Forza' almost more than 'Gran Turismo'. I think this guy should stick to what he 'feels' is better, a boyish arcade racer called Forza.
3 - Ken Edwards
Wait a minute so you are defending the game not having damage modeling? That is all I need to say.
4 - nova
u say forza 'feels' better, and then 'spending many hours in both the gt and forza games' but by the sounds of it u have played forza alot more and therefore dont have the fair experience to judge properly which 'feels' better. i for one have never played forza and love th GT series which i have NEVER found boring or 'unfun' as you so intelligently put it and i can guarantee it has better physics and thus better 'feel'. i do not plan on playing forza partly because of the graphics and the fact that GT is there anyway. in my inexperienced opinion i think i enjoyed PGR4 more than i would forza.
5 - Ken Edwards
How long has Forza been out? A couple years now, it is not an old franchise. GT has been out for 10 years now, I have played the GT series for a considerably longer amount of time.
I was going to ask if you have even played either Forza games, but you have already answered that for me.
I just love the blind devotion that fanboys have.
6 - gorky
Since I'm actually old enough to have a driver's license, and have driven cars of different types (i.e. RWD,FWD,4WD) GT is not a REAL driving simulator. Forza isn't either, but for my money its closer than GT is. GT has never handled drift properly, and has always failed miserably at low speed handling. Directly comparing performance in GT or Forza vs real life in the case of a car I do have lots of experience in (Mini Cooper S) Forza comes closer.. and since I can't stand any steering wheels i've tried, the 360 controller gives much better control because you can modulate the throttle and brake, so for me Forza2 takes the console simulator cake. Oh, and I've played every GT for what its worth...
7 - Hal Stuhl
First off, this game is well made. Although after playing it once, I was very disappointed with the results. They start by giving you $35,000 to purchase a car. I purchased the Mazda and was happy with it. But it is not fast enough to win a race, the turning is sloppy on this game as well. When you drift into the sand, its is very hard to gain back the traction and get back on course I am not going to return it because I will play it again and try to become better, but for now it totally sucks.