Gran Turismo 5

Published by: Bill (R&D, SpecialEffect) on 30th Nov 2010 | View all blogs by Bill (R&D, SpecialEffect)

PS3 - Polyphony Digital/Sony

Offering a smorgasbord of racing styles, cars and tracks at the level of quality we have come to expect from the series, it seems GT5 was worth the long patient wait.

Whether you want to race Fiat 500's, Supercars or even Go Karts, GT5 is likely to have something to offer every level of racer.

With fully customisable controls, button and joystick layouts can be tailored to an individuals preffered configuration. For instance, when played with automatic transmission, all of the controls need to race can be mapped to one of the thumbsticks, ideal for one handed gameplay.

In 'Arcade Mode' there are four types of racing. Single Race (1 player), Time Trial (1 player), Drift Trial (single player) or 2 player split screen. In Single Race mode different difficulty levels are offed (Beginner, Intermediate or Proffesional). Various track types are available, from simple speedway rings to complex city streets and off road snow or dirt covered challenges. There is even the option to design your own tracks.

Once you have chosen a location for your race you can then choose your wheels. Again variety is offered, with cars ranging from the previously mentioned 1968 Fiat 500 with a top speed of around 50 mph (with the wind behind it) to the Zonda R with more than 10 times the power.

'GT Mode' offers what could be referred to as a career mode. In this you compete up through levels of competitions winning credit as you go in order to buy faster cars. Interesting 'Special Events' are also available, such as racing a VW camper around the Top Gear Test Track or attending an AMG Driving Academy.

Gran Turismo 5 offers a wide range of driving challenges and experiences to drivers of all levels. The fully customisable button remapping option is at a level which will hopefully be seen as standard practice in a not too distant future, leading the way and taking a large step in the right direction for game accessibility.