On track for fun

Gran Turismo is quite a unique beast. Even though this thoroughbred has continued to evolve and develop, it is also a game that has clung steadfastly to its roots as a more serious saloon racer for patient players.

Each instalment usually represents an improvement over previous games, while not delivering a reinvention of the wheel.

Indeed this makes sense; why try to radically alter something that has worked so well to date?

GT6 reflects this philosophy perfectly and so delivers a superb racing game that is entirely what fans of the series would expect. There are no major departures from form.

In other words, those of you who didn't like GT5's approach are unlikely to become fresh converts.

So what does this new game deliver? Well, as a last hurrah on the PS3, GT6 is easily the best racing game on the platform and this will most likely be a fitting epitaph. The cars flash by at impressive speeds, although visually the game doesn't look like it has made that much of a leap forward compared with its predecessor.

However, there are many different classes, tracks and races. Completists who want to sink their teeth into the lengthy career mode will find months of play awaiting them.

For those less motivated by the idea of a long haul, GT6 does let you instantly jump behind the wheel of some decent and enjoyable rides. That said, in career mode, the slower cars you begin with and the drudgery of licence challenges are still some things many digital drivers may rue. It certainly makes for a less-than-heart-pounding early experience with the game.

Still, with patience, you will find yourself progressing and driving faster, more desirable cars within hours, so the effort is worth it.

The driving experience is a solid one too. The tracks require real skill and, while some races do feel a little processional, your fellow competitors are more dynamic, intelligent and involved than they were in GT5.

On the downside, the game's collision physics, an issue which has long been a sore point, are still not as convincing as they could be. The damage model is too cosmetic and, as such, feels unrealistic.

Also, the game's financial reward system is very miserly. The GT6 "recession" means you have to do a lot more racing to earn enough money to afford some of the more expensive supercars.

Sometimes, you will need to keep repeating races just to earn enough so you can afford that exotic you have been hungering for. This feels like a bit of a grind, albeit one with a thrilling reward.

You can simply buy the cars you want with real cash using the PlayStation Network's online store but where is the fun in that?

On the plus side of the ledger, GT6 does have a variety of short, amusing mini-games you can play when you feel like a break.

You can knock over witch's hats, try go-karting, see how far you can go on a limited tank of fuel in the "eco" challenges, or even clown around with a space buggy on the Moon.

The game's crowning moment for many will be the much-hyped local content. Thankfully, it lives up to expectations as belting a V8 Supercar around Mt Panorama is easily a highlight.

The hallowed bitumen looks as good as we have seen it on the PlayStation 3. The kerbs are right where they should be, and sections like Conrod or the Dipper will deliver real thrills as you hurtle along just feet away from the hard concrete shoulders.

GT6 also really scores points is in the variety stakes. There are nearly 100 circuits and more than 1200 cars for you to drive. Not all of these are top-end race machines but the selection is vast.

The miserly constrictions of previous games are now gone as GT6 makes cars available in free drive mode right from the second you fire up the PS3. Annoyingly, the game still maintains the less than popular "standard" and "premium" cars for you to choose from.

GT6 cleverly ensures you use a variety of cars. You can't simply continue modifying cars until they can easily win every race as you could in GT5. Instead, the performance level of the slower cars is capped, so you have to experiment and diversify.

There are some brilliant, and a few oddball, vehicles as well. You get everything from high- performance weapons from Ferrari, to new electrics from Tesla and historical curiosities like the DMC DeLorean from Back to the Future.

There also are more American muscle cars and Euro weapons. We get local cars too, like the Holden Monaro and even a Ford V8 Supercar.

Online action is comprehensively catered for and this, coupled with the huge career mode, makes GT6 exceptional value. Better still, more serious racers will find that the race tuning options are incredible. Sadly, GT6 doesn't let you do much to change the visual feel of the cars. Fresh spoilers, different wheels and new colours are about all that you can fiddle with.

Driving in GT6 is familiar, yet satisfying. There is a need for skill and pinpoint precision and the cars handle very well indeed. The chassis' squirm about on the tyres, as you change direction or recover from a "moment", and your grip levels differ depending on the speed of corner entry in a way only serious sim fans will appreciate.

This game will test your skills and doesn't have any serious flaws in the physics model.

That said, some might feel the driving doesn't feel much different to GT5. Even so GT6 is a terrific game. If you want the best racing game ever to grace the PS3, this is it.

GRAN TURISMO 6
Platform: PS3
Distributor: Sony
Rating: 8/10