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Platform Filters:   All Platforms  Xbox   GameCube   PlayStation 2   PC   Game Boy Advance   Site Sections:   Updates  News   Games   Publishers   Developers   Reviews   Previews   Release Dates   Editorials   Glossary   Contact Us		Review:       19th July 2001: Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec  It’s finally here! Is GT3 A-Spec the perfect racing game? The full review Posted by John Grothier - PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe There are some video game moments that will live with me forever. Docking my first ship in Elite, busting out of the city, and into a whole new world in Final Fantasy VII. Saving the Princess in Zelda, and buying my first car in Gran Turismo. Gran Turismo was first released in the USA and Europe in 1998. It enjoyed immediate success and was praised for its extreme realism and was the winner of many international awards, including the first BAFTA for Achievement in Programming. Now finally after what seems an eternity of waiting, devouring every screenshot and video released, Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec is finally here, and Sony really do have the killer app they needed. GT3 includes a slightly different car line up that in GT2 with over one hundred and fifty authentic vehicles; thirty new cars are available including Japanese, European and American models. Eighteen tracks, (thirty six tracks including variations), with five more new courses including Cote D’Azur, Swiss Alps and a drive through Tokyo central. An enhanced ‘Rally Mode’ that is good enough to be released in its own right, and a blistering new soundtrack featuring Ash and Feeder. After one of the best opening sequences I have ever seen, you are greeted with the main menu. Choose from Arcade mode or Gran Turismo mode. In Arcade mode you have the choice of six tracks. Once you finish first in all six you will unlock another area to race, making a total of thirty-four tracks to reach your goal. Select vehicles from four different classes or upload your own car from your garage in Gran Turismo mode. Arcade also offers Time Attack, Free Run, 2 Player Battle, and I-link for up to six players. Gran Turismo mode is where the real game begins. The object is simple; win races and spend the prize money to tune up your car, and eventually purchase new vehicles for your garage. You begin with just enough money to get a bottom of the range, class C car, gone are the days of buying a second hand car, and to participate in most of the big prize money races in GT3 you will need to own a licence. There are six different licences to obtain, Domestic A&B, International A&B, Special level, and a Rally licence. It is important to try to get both domestic licences early on; that way you can enter the more profitable races, and win a car or two. Getting a particular licence is hard work and can be frustrating, especially the later ones. My advice is- if you can’t complete it in the first five attempts, leave it for a while and try later on. Failure to take notice of this advice could lead to damage to expensive equipment, and relationship problems with your partner. Once you have received your licence save your game and then go and race! Selecting Go Race will give you five different leagues, events, and races. If you can win some of the beginner and amateur stages you will be awarded a car. These are best sold for cash to tune up your own car. After just a few hours play, you will own a decent vehicle, and have enough cash to tune it up so you can race in the big leagues. The Tune shop offers upgrades for your chosen vehicle; these are vital in order to beat your opponents. Choose from suspension, racing brakes, transmission upgrades, tyres and racing chips. When fitting these parts you will be shown what improvements these will make to your car. This is where the real magic begins – you will quickly become really quite attached to your car, and an enormous sense of achievement is reached upon winning with your souped-up beauty. There is also the option of testing your machine in speed and time trial, change wheels, paint colour, oil, and you can even wash your car! Racing is pure joy when using the pressure sensitive Dualshock 2 controller; it is extremely responsive and handles perfectly. You also have the option to drive using the GT force feedback steering wheel, which plugs into the USB port on your Playstation 2. The graphics in Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec are truly next generation, and fans of the original will whoop with delight seeing both old and new tracks in a glorious new light. It is so close to the real thing; the replay mode really does look like a television race. Particle effects are fantastic; dust and dirt kicks up, water sprays in the wet stages, heat shimmers off the bonnet; they look astounding and really will show off your PS2. Sound for each car is exactly right, authentic engine noises for each and every vehicle, and you can now also hear all the opponents car engines as you race. The soundtrack is inspired, but if you are a fan of S-Club-Steps you will be disappointed. The music here is hardcore with a touch of grunge. As well as Ash and Feeder, Overseer, Muse and Gran Theft Audio will pump you full of adrenaline as you race. Pity those poor Americans, in their version they have Snoop Dogg to drive to! The PAL conversion of GT3 A-Spec has a widescreen mode, a screen adjust option, but sadly has no 60htz refresh mode. The boarders are very small, however, and importantly it runs at a steady 60fps. All options are auto-loaded upon starting the game. Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec is a whisker away from perfection. Artificial intelligence has been improved, but is still quite recognisable from its predecessors, and of course there is no damage at the request of the car manufactures. However, these really are minor points and never spoil the overall game. GT3 A-Spec is the best looking, and most importantly, best playing racing game – on any system, and will be quite rightly responsible for selling truckloads of PS2’s. Believe me when I tell you, it will be a video game moment that will live with you forever. Drive it today! John Grothier             Latest Images:		Review Scores:    Graphics:   Sound:   Gameplay:   Length:   Overall: Click here for our Review Score Guidelines.  Review Summary:  Looks the best, plays the best, is the best racing game available for any system. If you have a PS2 this is a must have title, if you don’t own a PS2 go and get one, and pick up a copy of what will surly be an all time classic, you will be playing this for months and months to come. 150+ cars, 18 tracks (36 including variations) 1-6 players with I-link. GT force feedback steering wheel compatible.  Related Games:  Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec for PlayStation 2  11  Screenshots  1  Review Click here for All Game Information.
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