Gran Turismo HD (PS3)
- Publisher:
- SCEE
- Developer:
- Polyphony Digital
- Release Date:
- 24.12.2006
- Number of players:
- n/a
- Type:
- Car
- Reality Factor:
- Realistic
- Extra:
- Racing
- Age:
- Modern Times
1 movie
Gran Turismo HD Preview
Gran Turismo’s debut to the Playstation 3 comes in the form of free software. Free as in dumbed down and not actually a sequel to the series. And because GTHD isn’t a full game and is free (and was not meant to be part of the series formally), this will be a preview.
Speculation was that GTHD was a gift from Sony, a sort of PR move to sell more consoles. The Turismo team hasn’t stated otherwise, but they did say that 5 was not ready for the PS3 release.
Eight vehicles and one (reversible) map are open for gameplay, but more importantly the settings available make the driving literally however you like. Whether you choose a powerful car, one with front, rear, or four wheel drive, or just go commando, every drive is different. It’s also preferable to set the front and rear tires, traction control and stability management. Each of these different settings plays a pivotal role in how the car will maneuver on the track.
All of these settings mean that it may take awhile to find the right one for you or for the situation at hand. A timed race will require stability while a drifting race is better to drop stability control entirely and set the tires accordingly. Getting used to the changed settings isn’t too difficult, but finding the right ones are.
Speaking of drifting, the point system is odd for anyone unfamiliar with Gran Turismo titles. Whenever entering a drift, a broken bar appears on the screen which measures the point value earned for that specific drift. For one full bar, you earn around 500 points. It may as well be 50 points, because it is really nothing. Individual drifts can get thousands of points, so a couple hundred is really a joke. Why the numbers are so high is questionable.
The online ranking system is also quite strange, at least in its calculations. Completing certain races raised my rank, and others lowered it. This would be fine, except that progressing into the game shouldn’t lower scores ever. At one point, I was in top hundred, then the next race completed set me back 2000 ranks.
One feature that is simply to phenomenal to not talk about is the Replay Theater. Record any race you like after it’s over (no need to start or stop recording, the race automatically records and you can choose to save it afterwards) and watch it either in the game or from your PS3 menu screen. The camera angles and shots are really very cinematic and look like they are professionally done. It was enjoyable to watch a race, even a crappy one.
Good physics, excellent control, and difficult racing are all things that define Gran Turismo HD. If this teaser is still way off from what GT5 is planned to be, then Playstation 3 owners have been blessed to play this version. It’s a good taste of what’s to come.
Speculation was that GTHD was a gift from Sony, a sort of PR move to sell more consoles. The Turismo team hasn’t stated otherwise, but they did say that 5 was not ready for the PS3 release.
Eight vehicles and one (reversible) map are open for gameplay, but more importantly the settings available make the driving literally however you like. Whether you choose a powerful car, one with front, rear, or four wheel drive, or just go commando, every drive is different. It’s also preferable to set the front and rear tires, traction control and stability management. Each of these different settings plays a pivotal role in how the car will maneuver on the track.
All of these settings mean that it may take awhile to find the right one for you or for the situation at hand. A timed race will require stability while a drifting race is better to drop stability control entirely and set the tires accordingly. Getting used to the changed settings isn’t too difficult, but finding the right ones are.
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| Kicking up a bowl of dust is the only way to race | You can slowly drive through this turn…or you can murder it |
Speaking of drifting, the point system is odd for anyone unfamiliar with Gran Turismo titles. Whenever entering a drift, a broken bar appears on the screen which measures the point value earned for that specific drift. For one full bar, you earn around 500 points. It may as well be 50 points, because it is really nothing. Individual drifts can get thousands of points, so a couple hundred is really a joke. Why the numbers are so high is questionable.
The online ranking system is also quite strange, at least in its calculations. Completing certain races raised my rank, and others lowered it. This would be fine, except that progressing into the game shouldn’t lower scores ever. At one point, I was in top hundred, then the next race completed set me back 2000 ranks.
One feature that is simply to phenomenal to not talk about is the Replay Theater. Record any race you like after it’s over (no need to start or stop recording, the race automatically records and you can choose to save it afterwards) and watch it either in the game or from your PS3 menu screen. The camera angles and shots are really very cinematic and look like they are professionally done. It was enjoyable to watch a race, even a crappy one.
Good physics, excellent control, and difficult racing are all things that define Gran Turismo HD. If this teaser is still way off from what GT5 is planned to be, then Playstation 3 owners have been blessed to play this version. It’s a good taste of what’s to come.
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Drift replay trailer
Posted 10.04.07
Length 01:35 Views 1044
