Gran Turismo 5 Prologue

Before Gran Turismo (GT) 5 released worldwide in 2010, the team at Polyphony Digital decided to give fans of the series a taste of what was to come. So in 2008, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (GT5P) raced onto PlayStation 3 consoles around the globe. Now when GT5P debuted in 2008, fans were asked to pay only $40 USD. This lower price tag compared to other racing games at the time led some to believe – and rightfully so – that the content included wouldn’t be enough to justify a purchase. What came to be true was that fans were treated to a wonderful racing experience at a budget price.

Realistic Racing at its Finest

Let’s start with the cars. The Gran Turismo series is known for their variety and breadth of cars after all. There are a total of 70+ cars within the game, ranging from BMW, to Ferrari, to Subaru. You won’t have access to all of these cars at the start as you’ll need to earn cash to purchase them.

Cash is earned while playing the game, so your garage will grow as your bank account does. Along with the cars, there are six tracks. While this may seem low at first glance, there are a few variations within those tracks that allow more replay value. For instance, you’ll be able to play Daytona’s oval or street track. This leads to around 10 total tracks. Each level is beautifully created and you may even find yourself stopping to enjoy the view, but that’s not what you came here for, is it?

The core audience of GT5P is most definitely racing simulation fans, and fans of those games will not be disappointed in how GT5P feels. While it can feel arcade-y compared to newer racing sims these days, it still feels great. Most notably when you experience understeer and oversteer while you take a sharp turn to overtake another racer. This feels very realistic and when released, was top of the line in terms of realism. Additionally, the game runs at a steady 60 frames per second. That means while racing, you’ll be able to see clearer as you eye your next move. You’ll also see a vast improvement from previous GT games in terms of the AI. No longer will they smash into the back of you as if you weren’t even there. Still, you shouldn’t find them too difficult if you’re able to master the mechanics.

Come for the Racing, Stay for the Views

One of the best parts of the GT series is also the graphical fidelity. Each new entry into the series ups the ante and GT5P is no different. I mentioned how great the tracks look, but the cars look even better. At the time of its release, the game was able to run in 1080p, making sure fans were able to appreciate every little detail. A wonderful new feature that takes advantage of this is the ability to drive in first person within the car’s interior. Little details such as a working speedometer and mirror add a nice touch of realism that racers should appreciate. This feature alone will give you the urge to purchase and jump into every car.

Taking GT Online

Another welcome addition to the game was the ability to play online in 16-player races. This is the first game in the fabled series to go online, making it quite a moment for fans in 2008. The experience was quite good, with leaderboards and new modes being added after the game’s release, most notably a two-player online race. As you race online, you’d earn cash just as you would in the single player modes, so it was worth playing if you were tired of beating up on the AI racers.

Pros

• Amazing graphics on the PS3 with impressive stages and cars
• Solid list of cars that total 70+
• Improved AI
• Addition of online play

Cons

• Shortened version of the now released GT5
• Online play is no longer supported
• Can feel arcade-y at this point in time compared to other racing sims