Gran Turismo is one of those franchises that gamers either get, or they don't. Perhaps it is the emphasis on a true racing "simulation" experience, or perhaps it is the fact that the game has so much depth that it fails to capture a player's short attention span. However, automobile enthusiasts have been singing the praises of Gran Turismo for years in regard to the level of painstaking recreation of showcase vehicles and the extensive library of autos that each title provides. Gran Turismo 5 is no exception to this rule with an exhaustive vehicle catalogue, and a renewed dedication to being one of the most realistic (see difficult) racing sims available.
It is obvious that GT5 tries for variety in all things racing. GT5 runs the gamut from freestyle racing events to Nascar, Formula 1, rally races and more and it does so with an exceptional amount of dedication to respecting the mechanics of each racing technique. In this regard, GT5 delivers what hardcore fans of the series crave in terms of involvement. However, as a casual gamer approaches this title, much of this nuance is lost. Sony's exclusive title is perhaps the least accessible racing title on the Playstation 3 console, or on any console for that matter. That is not to say that the game is bad or too difficult to attempt, but it is definitely geared for more seasoned fans of the series in general.
GT5 makes players throw out the notion that it is a game at all, but rather a glimpse into the more complicated world of racing in general. There are some areas that have been smoothed out to make upgrading easier, but the driving mechanics of the title really force some critical thinking from players. There are ways to exploit upgrades or to out muscle AI opponents, but in the end, a player's success is measured by the level of commitment that he or she has put into mastering what would seem like simple controls and a complicated vehicle selection process. Every vehicle in this title carries a very true to life set of racing credentials and a unique physics subset that makes it handle in a realistic fashion. By this standard, racing a 1969 model year American muscle car feels light years different from driving a '69 Euro sports car, and rightly so. In this regard, GT5 forces a level of careful dedication that casual players won't appreciate.
In many ways, GT5 may disappoint a majority of players who pick it up, but Polyphony studios has done something with this title that could help to save the video game industry as a whole if more developers followed the same standard of devotion. By making a game that stratifies itself from other general public titles, Polyphony is discouraging gamers from making such wanton decisions about purchasing their title if they don't want to make such a complicated commitment. If games within the shooter genre were developed in a way that forced players to make such involved decisions, it would likely alienate much of the horde-like following that has grown surrounding it. However, it would also insure that a higher quality of clientele would build around the genre. With all of the issues currently plaguing the gaming industry from hacking to game mechanic exploitation, players are ultimately more satisfied with a product that weeds out less favorable and exploitative abusers.
Gran Turismo 5 is a high quality product in every regard, but it is also a title that aspires to something higher than video game status. As a result, it leaves the interests of some gaming fans by the roadside, but this isn't a negative criticism by any means. Instead, the standards by which GTA5 was crafted should set a lofty example for the rest of the gaming industry which has grown somewhat stale by comparison. As other titles become more focused on driving up profits and driving down difficulty, those of the same ilk as GTA 5 will save the spirit of diversity that video games used to strive for.
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