Review for Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec

Well, this is my first game review so bear that in mind . As a veteran of all the Gran Turismo games I am well versed in what makes this such an interesting series. In a word "physics". The Sony game is the first to push the real feel. Unlike Ridge Race V which feels like some floaty computor thing that represents little of what hartdcore racers would consider interesting.

The graphics on this game are second to none. It dethroned Dreamcasts 24 hr Le Mans which breifly held the crown for new level graphics (and is still no slouch even now). Forshadowed by a taste of "hi res" in a section the very first Gran Turismo this out does it as expected. Highlights, shadow , wheel detail are all inhanced by this games refined shader. Truly worthy work.

The cars. Here is where it gets touchy. Very frustrating. This is obviously a Japanese game. How many versions of the Trueno Sprinter or Mitsubishi Lancer do you need ? Apparenty tons according to our happy pals across the sea. Other useless cars include the Vitz, the Clio and a host of other grocery wagons not worth mentioning. Look, we can drive those cars, why would anyone want a simulation of them. Not to slam the current economy car being produced overseas but it creates a huge yawn factor. Huge. The data storage is wasted on these cars totally.Limited space should be used for cars we all want to drive. There are great cars in the game but, on to the next section to explain.

Gameplay. If you played the other two GTs then you must be tire of retaking these liecenc tests. What is this ? Again ? What a waste of time. At least GT 2 let you preload your data so you could get right to the track. This doesn't. I just whipped through and took bronzes or silvers because I couldn't stand the idea of competing to compete AGAIN. Boring because if after all the races if you don't already know how to take a line in a corner you are already dead. Now after you have taken your minimal starting dollars and bought the cheapest car so you can get minor upgrade. Slowly. Fine you say but by the time you get to the professional level be prepare because each race will be twenty minutes. Not only that but most are a series stringing 5 to 10 races together and you MUST do them to complete that level. And NO saves so you can do a few of the series at a time. NONE! . At 22 minutes a shot that is 110 minutes for just a 5 race series. Add to that the F1 has over 73 laps in just one of the races and it's the Cote du Zure, an incredibly slow twisty track. Can you say "GAMESHARK". Here in America where attention defecit is a fact of life this game stands alone as pushing the edge of insanity. Feeling a little scared yet ? Oh, you ain't seen nothing yet baby. The next set of onroad races , the Endurance races run 3 hours or more , each . And there is a ton of them. A ton. Ten or more. I can say without fear of contradiction that few will survive this game. I did, but regret resisting my constant urge to cheat. It made me sick of the game and hate each and every track with a passion.

Prize cars. So what you say, you win cars right ? Well till you hit the professional levels expect a lot of dogs. A lot. Your only joy will be selling them as fast as the button will click. Then the other horror. Like trading cards cars are inconsistantly rotated in the prize section. You may get the same crapola Clio 200 times before you get a good car. To top that it will take winning a 5 race series to find that out . Ouch. Did I pay for this game or did I just become it's slave ? I feel the chains even now. All I wanted was the GT 40. thats all. Forget it bud you are gonna get the Lancer VII again . AGGGH!!!!! What Gran Turismo did for Japanese car awareness, GT3 undoes. It makes you hate Japanese cars and tracks around the world.

Computer drivers, are they aggressive ? Yeah and they can and will knock you out of the way. Unlike real drivers they will hit you with no reguard for damage. This makes what was real about Gran Turismo 3 , unreal. What were they thinking ?

No race mods. Unlike the previous games this one will not allow you to upgrade the normal cars bodies . They will always be normal looking , but you can change wheels, oh, after you have opened up the limited selection by winning levels. The race versions are far up in the levels. Far up. The hot ones are locked but they show you just to tease you with what you will never own. The spinning wheel of prize hand outs will make that fact.

I hate attacking this game. Hate it. No wonder they took so long to get it out. The joy that comes with trying out the race monsters is completely ruined by a game that beleves it has the right to make you repeat tracks over and over, play for untold hours till you can hardly bear the sight of it . While the physics are somewhat improved and the graphics kicked up I have to say that GT 3 is an absolute failure in gameplay. Sad.

Like a date that looks great but turns out to be the most shallow person you ever met, this game has found a way to turn joy into sadness. GT3 gets a hard earned C+

Webby's comment - Thanks for the excellent review

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