Reviews// Gran Turismo 5 Prologue

Other new features include an in-cockpit view that gives you a full view of each car’s dashboard and effectively puts the camera at the eye position of the driver. This has been done really well, and it’s already become my default viewpoint. It feels a lot closer to driving a car than any of the other views, which either give the impression that you’re controlling an RC car or driving while perched on the bumper; it also offers the greatest sense of acceleration. Top marks to Yamauchi’s people for this new camera job, because it actually enhances the gameplay.

Another ‘new’ feature is Dual Shock 3 compatibility. Yep, OK, this is a bit of a joke – but at least the rumble-free Gran Turismo HD Concept demo can now be forgotten about. Playing GT without some kind of force feedback is like driving an auto – it’s morally wrong.

In the Japanese version of Prologue (which was released last week and which I’ve been glued to ever since to bring you this report) the new Gran Turismo TV mode is stocked with four hi-def bits of car coverage to begin with, including a Tokyo Motor Show recap, and more programmes are being added every few days. It’s not a game-changing feature, but the TV mode will definitely appeal to petrolheads.

The online features of the game are due to arrive via a PSN update on Christmas Day, which is impeccable timing. There will be 16-player online races which, assuming there’s no major lag, could potentially reinvent Gran Turismo and begin to shift the series’ focus away from the depth of its single-player game.

Japanese players will have had a fortnight to get to grips with Prologue by that point, so we’ll all get to the multiplayer game after an equal education – I’m really looking forward to taking my Ferrari F430 around Suzuka against Japan’s finest, as I’ve been confident since Yu Suzuki’s mighty Ferrari F355 Challenge that I have Suzuka well and truly nailed. Japan, you’d better keep looking in your rear-view mirror!

SPOnG score: 81%
Conclusion
[b][i]By nature it’s no heavyweight, but Gran Turismo 5 Prologue shows the series moving forward, which is great news. We’re still waiting for the online features, but if they live up to their potential, Prologue will get a lot of playtime over Christmas.

Playing Prologue has rekindled my interest in Gran Turismo 5, which was probably Sony’s main motivation for releasing this – to keep everyone aware of the progress Polyphony Digital is making. View it as a luxury purchase for GT fans, though, not as a full-fledged game with the depth of Ridge Racer 7. [/i][/b]