Customer Reviews

Gran Turismo 3 A-spec

5 star:		(423)
4 star:		(120)
3 star:		(30)
2 star:		(26)
1 star:		(29)

 

 

i love this game but, with that said, i want to get the bad stuff out of the way...

LESS CARS-many less...a lot of my favorites have gone the way of the dodo. 126 cars to start with, with a few more added later, is a lot, but when compared to four to five times that in gt2, it pales in comparison...

DUMB A.I.-sure the computer cars are a little more "intelligent" than before, but when a random car that had never been touched slams its brakes, effectively taking it out of the race, just to stop the player, then their is work to be done... besides this, all cars still follow a racing line, albeit not as religiously as before. a.i. could be better...

NO DAMAGE-understandably, the manufacturers will not allow the gt producers to portray their perfect cars as anything less than that(i.e. no scratches or dents in these work machines), but slamming a wall at 200km/h plus,(i have japanese version) will have repurcussions. i will gripe and gripe until this is corrected!

NO WORKING HEADLIGHTS-i will give my right eye for a left one that can see the road! why turn on the headlights at all? the street lights obviously do an adequate job! the headlights look pretty, but do nothing! yes this is a minor gripe, but simple physics is not too much to ask for! argh...

ok...with that out of the way, time for the good...

GRAPHICS-obviously being the first thing one will notice, the graphics are phenomonal! sure, the audience remains a cardboard cut-out and the rear- view mirror does not present all the fixins(very generic), but with these being the only flaws, this game is truly a sight to behold. the lighting is extremely impressive(i was actually blinded by the sun) and the textures are right on. i have read of texture lighting problems, but have yet to experience any. all the touches are in the right places. and the replays...beautiful!

MUSIC-again, sony got different bands for the soundtrack...like lenny kravitz, feeder, grand theft audio, overseer...it really keeps you motivated. although i do like the music in gt2 a bit better(one of the best video game soundtracks ever), this music was still right on!

MORE RACES-even more races including the gt2 rally races and some f-1 racing this time, the race options are amazing!

IMPROVED PHYSICS-not a very noticeable change, as gt2 had great physics, but a significant one at that. rear and mid engine cars do not flair as wildly out of control as in the past, and the new wet ground physics are great. the pinball action off the side rails remains, however...

running out of space, i realize there is a lot to say about this game, and it is an extremely enjoyable experience. granted, the time to make each car model limited the selection this time around, but there are still more cars than any other ps2 racer. try it out and see...especially if you have never played a gran turismo game...you are sure to enjoy!

[...] WHY NO PORSCHE?

there is porsche! its called RUF! Porsche (the name) is licensed to other game companies and locked up! Ferrari is not available due to tighter licensing and no "RUF" for ferrari to get round this.

FEW AMERICAN CARS?

because the game was made in Japan, by Japanese the emphasis is on japanese makes .. plus, in the GT world, the range, depth and ability of japanese racing cars is much greater than American cars.. even so they've added many european makes, and a decent range of US cars as well.

FEWER CARS THAN GT2?

Many cars in GT2 are just existing cars with a stripe added.. all of the GT3 cars are modelled with a much greater degree of accuracy and most have authentic recorded engine sounds. Polyphony Digital took seven times longer to add a single GT3 car than a single GT2 car due to this extra attention to detail.

MANY OF THE SAME TRACKS?

Yes, but redone in graphics that bring them alive. Given a choice of totally new tracks or old favorites from GT2 done to this level, the compromise of many old tracks and about five new ones is pretty good.

Ok my original review:

I've had the Japanese edition for some time. Its basically identical to the July 11th release US edition.. The game is a triumph.. the designers said in an interview that they hope gamers will get six months of use out of GT3, and I'd agree with that.. you can get to 100% complete faster, or you can never get anywhere near 100% complete and just dip in randomly for fun - either way there are well over 100 hours worth of play in here, much of it not released to you until you're ready.. Graphically GT3 is the best looking (and feeling) racer on all platforms, and looks to be unchallenged for the forseeable future.. there simply isnt anything even in development that will come close... Its worth buying a PS2 purely to play it.. the force feedback wheel adds to the experience (if you can find something to clamp it to!) as it imparts extra sensations you don't get with the analog dual shock.. Any magazine reviewing on a 5 or 10 point scale gives this game a perfect mark.. if you hate accurate racing simulations, then why are you reading these reviews? but if you enjoy looking at and using cars and racing against another (split screen) or against computer cars, or against your own best laps (ghost image), then you need to buy GT3 because there will not be another racing game that matches it for some time.

Having got GT3 and a PS2 you can also look forward to amazing titles this year such as Devil May Cry, Metal Gear Solid 2, ICO, State of Emergency and many others.. after a drought of A grade titles since the PS2 release, there is a FLOOD coming your way...

Some special moments in GT3 racing for me: Racing at high speed in rally mode and not being able to see a thing due to the dust clouds from the car in front!

Finally getting all golds in two sets of racing license tests, after hours of practice and incremental improvements..

Controlling a high powered car on a wet track using gradual acceleration and braking..

Managing to lap at Monaco without hitting any walls..

Watching replays of innumerable close races.

Finally earning enough money to buy a top GT car..

It goes on and on really.. stop reading and get this game.. it won't change your life, but its brilliant value for money.

I literally have not bought another PS2 game since I've had GT3 for over 4 months. I've taken it out of the player maybe once or twice. It is the most realistic driving simulator I've ever tried.

Good points:
* Good selection of cars (and colors). Everything from econoboxes to muscle cars to sports cars to F1 and prototypes.
* Good selection of tracks, including city, race track and rally. Plus several real-world (the challenging Laguna Seca and Monaco tracks)
* Cars are customizable: add parts, fine-tune settings.
* Good custom wheel selection
* Realistic driving physics. Oversteer/understeer, wheelspin, weight shift, suspension mods, etc. behave as you'd expect.
* Great graphics
* Challenging
* 2-player battle and iLink (you can hook up several PS2's and compete)

Not-as-good points:
* AI cars hit you, each other and the walls, and can be annoying.
* Car selection emphasizes Japanese cars (not that they're bad, but I'd like to see more European)
* No damage model or rollover, so bouncing off walls has no effect
* Rally races aren't set up like real rallies (they're all head to head as opposed to beating a time)
* Only appearance change is wheel. I'd like to see custom graphics, paintjobs, bodywork, etc.

If you're looking for an arcade action game, this is not it. You'll likely be frustrated by the license tests which need lots of practice to get through. And most of the races require some level of license. But if you're looking for a challenge and to improve, the license tests will make you work for your skills, and enable you to beat some tough AI competition.

But even with a few problems, I give it 5 stars. I could probably get by without buying another game until GT4 comes out. Seriously, it's cheap. Buy it.

Gran Turismo 3 picks up right where GT2, its predecessor, left off. With improved car selection, more courses, and crisper graphics on the Play Station 2, it instantly became my favorite racing game. There is nothing better than being able to pick your vehicle of choice from any major automobile company. With choices from Hondas to BMWs your options are limitless. The fun doesn't stop here though. After you have chosen your vehicle and made a little cash from some races, you can even start modifying your car. You can buy basic performance parts like mufflers, and gradually work your way up to high powered turbochargers. No other racing game has ever been able to come close to this. It is up to you to squeeze every bit of horsepower you can out of your vehicle so you can at least try to hang with the fastest sports cars in the world. All of these modifying options do take time, so patience is certainly something to have when playing this game. This is just what comes along with the game that is known as the best racing simulator. There even is a car wash and wheel shop which really enables you to customize your ride. The game gets down to the exact specifications of each car as well. It lists the weight, ride height, performance specifications, etc. From graphics to game play, this game really has it all. It is so realistic you can almost smell the aroma of gasoline and burning rubber on the track.

I purchased this game a few months ago from Wally World(Wal-Mart), a GREAT deal in my opnion. When i got home and popped this into my PS2 one word came to my mom, DETAIL. Everything in this game is worked down to the water droplets flying up from the road to the sounds of the car's engines. One thing I liked about this game is that you had to work for what you recieved. In the beginning of the game you start out without much money, and no liscences. The liscense test's themselves are a pain, but you need them to proceed into the depths of the game. After you get your first liscense and bought your first car you can start racing, and eventually build your career until you win the "good" cars. I myself have recieve, as a reward, two F1 cars(secret cars within the game). When I won my first one i thought to myself, this is what gaming is all about. I dedicated my time and my skill and it paid off, it was one of my most relieveing moment in my gaming console career.
My final thought on this game is....if you want a game you can jsut rip off in a matter of hours, get something else, or rent this and play arcade mode, but if your the kind of person who has the patience and the dedication to proceed in a game, this is for you.

When I went to the store and saw the other racing games for the PS2, I just said to myself, wait for GT3. Because I knew that GT3 was going to be the best. This game has the most realistic graphics. The cars look VERY real. Especially in the replay mode. You can see heat waves coming off of the ground, real time reflections coming off of the cars, the backgrounds are really GOOD and they actually have real world locations(my Dad came in when I was playing the Rome level and he said he was in the same exact street I just drove in), and see what it's like going 130 mph! But one thing you may notice is that you don't get ANY car damage at all. You can hit all the cars as much as you like, but you bounce off them like bumper cars. I guess they did this because the car companies didn't want their cars to look bad.

They call this a "realistic driving simulator" and it is....kinda. See, I asked REAL drivers to play this game and they said it wasn't, even when they played on the steering wheel. See, the thing is, each car has it's OWN FEEL to it. So not every car handles the same...just like in real life. And also, you can hear the differnt engine sounds each car makes.

Some people might not like this game because of the control...and I admit, it takes a while to get used to. This isn't arcade style driving, it's a simulator. That means you can't go 130 around a corner, you're going to have to slow down when going in, and then accerlate while going out.

In the game, there are two modes, a simulator mode and an arcade mode. In the sim. mode, this is where you have to make a living on racing. You start out with a certain amount of money, buy a car, and let the racing begin. When you win, you get more money. With this money, you can buy parts for your car, and believe me, you can just about buy almost anything you can buy....engine, shocks, breaks, tires, seats....and more. You can also get a NEW car, and get a car wash. What you can also do is test out your car. In the arcade mode, you are given some cars, and a certain amount of levels. You get more levels by getting 1st place in each level. But just because it's an arcade mode doesn't mean the control is differnt. One thing I like about the control is that it uses the pressure sensitivity on the dual shock 2. The harder you press, the faster you go.

The soundtrack is also nice, and the game has a nice replay mode after each race, which you can also custimize for your own taste. One of the games faults that you may notice is the weak AI. That doesn't mean you'll win easily it just that when the race starts, all the cars immedatly go into a single file line. But the game doesn't cheat on you, at least I haven't noticed any cheating. But this game will take a long time to fully complete. You can finish the arcade mode pretty quickly but the sim. mode is the core of the game.

You don't have to be a hardcore racing fan to appreciate this game and have fun. This is also a great game to show off your PS2 with, and it's certainly the best looking game out for the system right now. Just don't expect it to be very easy and jumps, and catching big air like in Crazy Taxi.

You've heard plenty of other people say it, but this is one outstanding game. Not only is the game chock full of eye candy, but it has an almost dizzying array of cars and modifications for the cars.

Perhaps the most amazing thing is how different the cars feel from one another. Powering around the Seattle circuit in a heavily upgraded 600 horsepower Mustang SVT Cobra is entirely a different experience from mincing your way through traffic in a Mazda Miatta.

Force feedback and sound are put to good use throughout the game to give you a feel for what you're driving over and how your tires are gripping the road. The subtle feedback really goes a long way to recreating the driving experience.

Finally, little touches throughout really set this game apart; as you kick in the retros breaking late into a hard corner you'll see your disc brakes glow yellow hot. Watching the race replays you'll see your suspension work overtime as you rocket over curbs and through gravel traps. You'll see headlights glinting off of wet road surfaces and cameras flash in the grand stands as you scream by.

Truly the most impressive racing game to date for any system. Don't miss this one!

First off, I try hard to beat every game I get. Unfortunately, Gran Turismo 3 is so huge that I might never complete every objective. Whether you like it or not, GT3 will require a lot of patience. If you are easily bored, then try the Arcade Mode and jump into a race with a buddy. If you are a hardcore gamer than play Simulation Mode and race your way to the top (and watch out for those Endurance Races!).

GT3 has all of the world's top manufacturers. It literally has hundreds of cars of all varieties, detailed from the engine to the brake lights. This game uses true to life racing stradegies. If you need help, the 45 page instruction booklet will not only help your motor skills in GT3, but in real life too! This game is highly recommended!

Graphics: 10/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Sound: 10/10
Control: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
Overall: 9.2/10

1-2 Players
Memory Card - Minimum 256k
Digital Control
Analog Control
Vibration Function
Pressure Sensitive

First, let me offer a critique for people who haven't yet played this game and are interested in it. While GT3 has a robust Arcade Mode component, this game is really aimed at people who are seriously interested in, and love, auto racing. You cannot accomplish much in GT3 by just mashing the accelerator and pointing the car. This fact will frustrate some to the degree that it addicts others. This is almost as real as it gets in a racing game; this is not a fantasy racing game where cars function in a Universe ruled not by the physics of Newton but by those of a Saturday morning cartoon.
The game's physics engine is astonishing. Every car feels different. Those who claim otherwise do not know what a car feels like. The downside to this, for some, is that you absolutely must know how to set up a car, depending on track, type of race, and your personal driving style. There is no "one" right set-up for any given car. You have to learn how you drive, and then set your car up accordingly. Again, for some, frustration, for the rest of us, heaven.
You must also pass licensing tests to compete at higher levels of the game. I have passed them all, with no cheating, and I assure you, you will need to skills polished by the tests to have fun at each new level.
The graphics are stunning. Clearly, Sony realized so much customer satisfaction would derive from being able to replay the results of your efforts and look so good.
Sadly, the game's AI sucks raw eggs, especially compared with the game I constantly compare GT3 with, F! Championship Season 2000. The one good thing about GT3's AI is that the other cars make mistakes, and do not drive like RoboCars all the time. The bad thing is, they seem oblivious to the presence of your own vehicle. These are, for the most part, fendered cars, so some bumping and shoving goes with the competition. I accept that, when fighting for position-but not when I'm lapping a guy repeatedly. The other guy can be five laps down, and he still fights you for the best line, even when you are already occupying it. The good news is that the AI sets the competition at appropriate levels throughout the game. The guys at the higher levels are going pretty quickly, and you have to have some talent to beat them.
There is no destruction from contact, let alone impact. Here, the F1 game is far more realistic; in F1 Champ Season, your car falls apart if you sneeze on it. I understand the manufacturers that licensed Sony to use their vehicles stipulated they wanted no crash realism, lest their cars look bad. I can live with that.
I'll end this segment by saying I am completely addicted to this game. Selecting your cars, tuning them, then setting them up before the race is, in my opinion, 80 percent of the battle for victory. This is a game that rewards doing your homework. How you feel about that statement will probably determine whether or not you love this game.
Now, for people who are playing the game:
I've got both the Super and Rally licenses, so I feel I can say this: Some of the tests are needlessly sadistic, especially when you flunk for knocking over a rubber cone or brushing a railing. This happens in real racing all the time. Having said that, they are all passable. Some of them took me over 100 tries; and who in his right mind turns off traction control on a racing car, like they do in the tests? If you persist, and understand that each test is trying to teach you something, you will learn what the lesson is and pass the test.
The tire wear simulation when you hit the IB license level throws you for a loop at first. There is a whole lot the game's documentation neglects to tell you. When your tires get worn, pull into the pits, and the game will automatically reset your tires to "new," which also means "cold." You will have to learn (1) how to drive to conserve your tires, (2) how to drive on cold tires, and (3) how to keep going fast on worn tires. The best strategy is to start on very hard tires. For a car of any kind of power, and a race more than 3 laps, you are really only going to use racing tire levels 2, 3 and 4, and 4 only rarely. Ideally, choose a hardness that will let you run the whole race without pitting, but without the tires going completely off. If some cars seem considerably faster than you at the start, and your hardware is on a par with them, they are almost certainly on softer tires, and will fall back into your clutches.

Therefore, if you are going to plan to pit, take advantage of qualifying to find out, you know, WHERE THE PIT ENTRANCE IS! You don't want to have to be hunting for the pits when you need to stop.
I have also found that cranking in all the downforce a car has helps with the tire and handling situations. Find the downforce settings on your Car Settings menu. Most street stock cars don't have this option, but all the racing cars do.

Graphics: 10/10 This game has awesome graphics! If you're looking for a PS2 game with great graphics, this is it!

Music: 10/10 The music matches with the game, however if you don't like rock or rap you won't like the music.

Sound/Visual Effects: 9/10 The sound effects and visual effects are well done, but I wish that when you crashed on a wall you could see the damage.

Gameplay: 10/10 This is not just a racing game, it's a driving sim game! From getting a driver's license to even washing your car, this game will offer hours of enjoyment.

Overall: I'm giving this game 5/5 stars. This game is a must-have for your PS2 game collection.