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Over 4 years after its original planned release date, the PSP version of Gran Turismo has finally hit the streets. Featuring beautiful graphics and boasting an ample slate of cars, the game is well rounded and enjoyable.
Gran Turismo was originally titled “Gran Turismo 4 Mobile”, and was intended to be an early flagship title for the PSP. However, delays struck the game as development of Gran Turismo 5 began to overwhelm the developers.
The finished product features over 800 cars, including ones from Lamborgini and Bugatti for the first time in series history. All 35 tracks from the console version are included, with most being capable of being driven in reverse.
Unlike previous titles in the series, much more focus is placed on the completion of driving missions, which resemble the license examinations of its predecessors.
Like other Gran Turismo titles, there is no damage model in place, which means that there are no consequences for rubbing bumpers or crashing, except for how those actions affect one’s lap time and position.
The graphics are absolutely stunning for a portable title, with a full 60 frames per second and simulated anti-aliasing through a graphical trick that shifts the screen image back and forth by a single pixel each frame, creating the illusion of anti-aliasing which makes the game look far more attractive than previously thought possible with the PSP hardware.
A key feature for portable play is the multiplayer racing experience, and in this, the game excels. GT for PSP allows players to do Ad Hoc mode multiplayer racing, as well as play online through a free downloadable application for PS3 called “Adhoc Party for Playstation Portable.”
The multiplayer experience is further enhanced through the ability to trade cars with other players. With the game limiting which manufacturers one can buy cars from at a given time, this opens up possibilities for players to expand their collection with the help of friends.
On the downside, GT does not have one of the major hallmarks of the series: “Career Mode”, which enables players to advance to become a racing legend through skill, practice, and most importantly, fine tuning of their favorite cars.
For fans of the series, the inability to modify one’s vehicle is a crippling deficiency, and may be a deal breaker for anyone expecting a full-featured Gran Turismo. Much of the intensive effort that goes into playing the console versions of Gran Turismo is spent in upgrading, tuning and tweaking to create the perfect racing machine for the individual player.
However, the ultra-realistic racing mechanics the series prides itself on are still in play, and odds are if anyone has a favorite car, it’s probably in this game ready for them to ride through some of the toughest courses in the world.
If someone wants a full Gran Turismo experience, they’re probably better off sticking with their copy of Gran Turismo 4 for PS2 or Gran Turismo 5 Prologue for now. If they just want to have a very realistic racing experience on the go, then they certainly can’t do much better than Gran Turismo on PSP.
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