Gran Turismo

Download Gran Turismo and experience the original iconic racing game that started it all. With an extensive roster of cars, realistic physics, and challenging courses, Gran Turismo set the standard for racing simulators. Can you master the tracks and prove your driving prowess? Play now!
a game by Sony Imagesoft, and SCEA
Genre: Racing
Platforms: Playstation, PSX
Editor Rating: 8.7/10, based on 7 reviews
User Rating: 8.3/10 - 8 votes
Rate this game:
See also: Console Games, Gran Turismo Series
Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo

First previewed Sony's Gran Turismo (the "Real Driving Simulator"), has finally been released in Japan. In its first month of availability, the game sold over 1 million copies, making it the hottest-selling game of the holiday season in japan. Much to our surprise, we've already received an early U.S. version of GT, complete with some minor "improvements," and needless to say--we're impressed.

Gran Turismo was developed by Polys Entertainment, the same folks who brought us the Motor Toon Grand Prix games. But while the Motor Toon games provided more of a cartoony, arcade-style racing experience, Gran Turismo is all about realism. So much so, in fact, that the japanese version of the game features over 145 real cars (no, that's not a typo) from such major names as Honda, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Aston Martin, Chevrolet and more. The U.S. version is likely to have less cars, due to licensing differences between )apan and the U.S., but the end total is still expected to be more than 100. In addition, you can customize and upgrade your cars to the nth degree in the Gran Turismo Mode, a feature that will undoubtedly win over any hard-core racing fan. The possibilities are truly endless, and chances are if you can do it to your car in real life, you can do it in GT. Heck, you can even get your car washed.

GT is split up into two main modes of play--Quick Arcade and Gran Turismo. The Quick Arcade Mode is (obviously) a more arcade-style mode, with Single Race, Time Attack and two-player Battle options. Doing well in the Single Race Mode will net you "Goodies" (like in Motor Toon) which open up some cool extras in the game. The heart of GT, however, lies in the aforementioned Gran Turismo Mode. You can buy (and sell) new and used cars (and rare special editions) at any of the manufacturers on the Central Map Screen. These cars can then be used in any of the various events (GT League, with four different Cups, Special Events, Time Trials and Spot Races) to race for cash. In order to participate in certain events though, you'll need one of three driver's licenses (each progressively more difficult to earn) which can be obtained by taking special driving exams that test your ability to corner, brake and more. Obviously, this is one racer that's going to keep you occupied for a good, long time.

Gran Turismo is due out in May, and will support Sony's new Dual Shock vibrating analog pad, which is likely to be released the same time as the game. If you're a racing fan, you owe it to yourself to check this out-GT is going to be the racing event of 1998.

  • MANUFACTURER - SCEI/Polys Ent.
  • THEME - Racing
  • NUMBER OF PLAYERS - 1 or 2

Download Gran Turismo

Playstation

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
PSX

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

Game Reviews

Overview

It is finally here! I have been hearing about the awesome Gran Turismo for months and after experiencing it first hand, I must confess that it is even better than I imagined. As everyone knows by now, racing is my new genre of choice and racing is what you get. The best part about it is that you have the control to make your car act, react, handle and drive like you want it to. That is right, you are not stuck with a car that can only be changed insignificantly. The choice is all yours.

Gran Turismo jumps out of the gate with 11 courses and over 100 cars to choose from. You can jump right into the arcade mode or you can hit the simulation mode where the game really shines. Great graphics, incredible replays, realist physics and some downright challenging gameplay make this game a keeper that you will not tire of for a long, long time.

Gameplay

It is quite obvious that I like this game. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that this may very well be the best racing game of all time. Yes, you read that correctly. This game is that good. People always ask me if I could buy just one game, what would it be? Up until now, I have had a tough time answering this question. Ask me now and without a hesitation I will tell you Gran Turismo.

Let's get to it. Like I said above, you can play this game in either an arcade mode or a simulation mode. The arcade mode lets you pick a car and track and race for fun. I suggest hitting this mode a few times before you try the simulation mode. This will give you some hands-on experience before you have to face the rigors of the simulation. This is also a great place to get the feel of the game and practice the different tracks. Aside from that, you will quickly find that the simulation mode is where it is at.

Before I go into the simulation mode, let me throw out a few words of caution. First, the game comes with two 65 page manuals. Usually when a game has that much documentation I run the other direction. In this case, the documentation does a great job of answering your questions and helping you in making some decisions. It also does a good job of helping you refine your driving techniques and even learn things about racing you may not have ever known. The second word of caution is that the simulation mode is not easy. You will definitely have your work cut out for you.

The simulation mode is where you should head after getting a few races under your belt on arcade mode. When you start a simulation, you really can't do much of anything. You have $10K in your bank account, no car and no drivers license. You can do one of two things - buy a used car (you don't have enough to buy a new one yet) or try and get your license so you can race. First let's take a look at buying a car. You have a number of auto manufacturers to choose from including Dodge, Chevrolet, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Honda/Acura, TVR and Astin Martin. You can go visit the dealer and check out the used car lots. Most dealers have a good selection of used cars that vary in make, model and year. It is up to you to pick the best used car so you can head out to the track and make some money.

Now that you have a car, you have to get your license before you can enter in any races. There are three different levels of licenses that you will need to get. Each level opens up certain races that you can enter. I suggest going for the B-class license first. It is fairly easy to obtain and it opens up the lower level races. The license is made up of 8 different tests that you have to perform in the car. The test and car will vary depending on the section of the test. After you get your B-class license, I suggest you go race for awhile before trying for the A-class license. Trust me, you will need all of the practice you can get before trying for this one. I finished all of the B-class races in first place so I naturally assumed that I would just rip through the A-class tests. Wrong! It took me nearly 3 controller throwing hours to pass. It is that hard. After you manage to get this one, you should race on the new races that open up. Once again, I finished in first place on all of the B-class races so I tried to get my International A-class license. No problem, right? Yeah, right. More hours...more controller throws... finally the license. I think you get the point. Getting the license is just as big of a part of the game as the races themselves.

Now let's talk about those races. When you get your car and license, it is off to the tracks. You can pick a number of different types of races. For example, you can race in a front wheel drive division where only front wheel drive cars can compete. There is a division where you can only race stock vehicles that have not been modified in any way. This is just a few examples and believe me, there are many more. Anyway, when you select a division to race in, you will compete in a pre-determined number of races to win that division. For example, if you choose the rear-wheel drive division, you will compete in three different races and the person with the highest number of race points (determined by finishing position) wins that division. If you win the division, you will receive a cash bonus and a new (or used) car. You will also get money by winning the pole position when qualifying and by placing high on the individual races.

Ok, so now you have won some cars and some cash, what are you going to do? You are going to take that cash and start tricking out your cars, that is what. This is where the game gets really in-depth and even more fun. It is up to you (and your bank roll) to decide which after market parts and accessories will give you the biggest bang for the buck. To give you and idea of how it works, my first car I bought was a '92 3000GT Twin Turbo. The stock car had something like 276 stock HP. Since that used up most of my money to buy, I had to win a few races running stock. As soon as my funds started to rise, I went to the shop and upgraded my turbo to a stage one turbo (gained around 100 hp). After doing this, my car started to really move. Unfortunately, the engine was too fast for the suspension and brakes so it was nearly impossible to keep on the road. After making more money, I bought a braking kit and changed out my stabilizers and such. To make a long story short, when I was finished, my little 3000 GT was over 900 HP and one bad-ass machine!

Another great part about this game is how realistic the car physics were. If you made changes to your car, they were definitely apparent when you hit the track. A lot of games let you customize minor settings but the end result is not nearly as dramatic. This was great but it was also one of my few little complaints. The problem was that you could adjust just about anything and everything on the car but you did not get any help on what the end result would be. For example, I do not have any clue how much down force I should use. I don't know what happens when I lower or raise my car. What that means is that you have to make one adjustment at a time and go test the car with the new setting. If you liked it, then great. If not, you would have to adjust it back. The point is that I was making these changes blind. I had no idea what the effect would be on the car.

My only other complaint was that the cars did not have a neutral. This was very annoying, especially in my 3000 GT because I had it hopped up so much that it had no low end acceleration. That means that if the car ever spun out and came to a dead stop, I was screwed because I could not rev up the engine and pop the clutch. If I had a neutral to get the RPM's up, it would have really helped me out. I just don't understand why they would go to such other lengths and not give you neutral.

Graphics

The best racing graphics to date. That is all there is to say. The replays are so incredibly realistic you will think you are watching the intro full motion video sequence. It was so cool to see your car looking exactly like the real car but it was you driving. The in-game graphics are not quite as detailed but you will definitely know what type of car is next to you. The tracks are all decent looking but the night races were a bit dark and it was hard to tell which direction the corner was turning.

Bottom Line

This is a game that all racing fans should own. Don't try to just play the arcade mode because it is the simulation mode that makes the game so great. It is not an easy game to play but once you get the hang of it, you will love it. I think the ability to customize the cars kept me playing just so I would see how the next upgrade would effect my ride. Stop reading this and go buy it now!

Overview

It is finally here! I have been hearing about the awesome Gran Turismo for months and after experiencing it first hand, I must confess that it is even better than I imagined. As everyone knows by now, racing is my new genre of choice and racing is what you get. The best part about it is that you have the control to make your car act, react, handle and drive like you want it to. That is right, you are not stuck with a car that can only be changed insignificantly. The choice is all yours.

Gran Turismo jumps out of the gate with 11 courses and over 100 cars to choose from. You can jump right into the arcade mode or you can hit the simulation mode where the game really shines. Great graphics, incredible replays, realist physics and some downright challenging gameplay make this game a keeper that you will not tire of for a long, long time.

Gameplay

It is quite obvious that I like this game. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that this may very well be the best racing game of all time. Yes, you read that correctly. This game is that good. People always ask me if I could buy just one game, what would it be? Up until now, I have had a tough time answering this question. Ask me now and without a hesitation I will tell you Gran Turismo

Let's get to it. Like I said above, you can play this game in either an arcade mode or a simulation mode. The arcade mode lets you pick a car and track and race for fun. I suggest hitting this mode a few times before you try the simulation mode. This will give you some hands-on experience before you have to face the rigors of the simulation. This is also a great place to get the feel of the game and practice the different tracks. Aside from that, you will quickly find that the simulation mode is where it is at.

Before I go into the simulation mode, let me throw out a few words of caution. First, the game comes with two 65 page manuals. Usually when a game has that much documentation I run the other direction. In this case, the documentation does a great job of answering your questions and helping you in making some decisions. It also does a good job of helping you refine your driving techniques and even learn things about racing you may not have ever known. The second word of caution is that the simulation mode is not easy. You will definitely have your work cut out for you.

The simulation mode is where you should head after getting a few races under your belt on arcade mode. When you start a simulation, you really can't do much of anything. You have $10K in your bank account, no car and no drivers license. You can do one of two things - buy a used car (you don't have enough to buy a new one yet) or try and get your license so you can race. First let's take a look at buying a car. You have a number of auto manufacturers to choose from including Dodge, Chevrolet, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Honda/Acura, TVR and Astin Martin. You can go visit the dealer and check out the used car lots. Most dealers have a good selection of used cars that vary in make, model and year. It is up to you to pick the best used car so you can head out to the track and make some money.

Now that you have a car, you have to get your license before you can enter in any races. There are three different levels of licenses that you will need to get. Each level opens up certain races that you can enter. I suggest going for the B-class license first. It is fairly easy to obtain and it opens up the lower level races. The license is made up of 8 different tests that you have to perform in the car. The test and car will vary depending on the section of the test. After you get your B-class license, I suggest you go race for awhile before trying for the A-class license. Trust me, you will need all of the practice you can get before trying for this one. I finished all of the B-class races in first place so I naturally assumed that I would just rip through the A-class tests. Wrong! It took me nearly 3 controller throwing hours to pass. It is that hard. After you manage to get this one, you should race on the new races that open up. Once again, I finished in first place on all of the B-class races so I tried to get my International A-class license. No problem, right? Yeah, right. More hours...more controller throws... finally the license. I think you get the point. Getting the license is just as big of a part of the game as the races themselves.

Now let's talk about those races. When you get your car and license, it is off to the tracks. You can pick a number of different types of races. For example, you can race in a front wheel drive division where only front wheel drive cars can compete. There is a division where you can only race stock vehicles that have not been modified in any way. This is just a few examples and believe me, there are many more. Anyway, when you select a division to race in, you will compete in a pre-determined number of races to win that division. For example, if you choose the rear-wheel drive division, you will compete in three different races and the person with the highest number of race points (determined by finishing position) wins that division. If you win the division, you will receive a cash bonus and a new (or used) car. You will also get money by winning the pole position when qualifying and by placing high on the individual races.

Ok, so now you have won some cars and some cash, what are you going to do? You are going to take that cash and start tricking out your cars, that is what. This is where the game gets really in-depth and even more fun. It is up to you (and your bank roll) to decide which after market parts and accessories will give you the biggest bang for the buck. To give you and idea of how it works, my first car I bought was a '92 3000GT Twin Turbo. The stock car had something like 276 stock HP. Since that used up most of my money to buy, I had to win a few races running stock. As soon as my funds started to rise, I went to the shop and upgraded my turbo to a stage one turbo (gained around 100 hp). After doing this, my car started to really move. Unfortunately, the engine was too fast for the suspension and brakes so it was nearly impossible to keep on the road. After making more money, I bought a braking kit and changed out my stabilizers and such. To make a long story short, when I was finished, my little 3000 GT was over 900 HP and one bad-ass machine!

Another great part about this game is how realistic the car physics were. If you made changes to your car, they were definitely apparent when you hit the track. A lot of games let you customize minor settings but the end result is not nearly as dramatic. This was great but it was also one of my few little complaints. The problem was that you could adjust just about anything and everything on the car but you did not get any help on what the end result would be. For example, I do not have any clue how much down force I should use. I don't know what happens when I lower or raise my car. What that means is that you have to make one adjustment at a time and go test the car with the new setting. If you liked it, then great. If not, you would have to adjust it back. The point is that I was making these changes blind. I had no idea what the effect would be on the car.

My only other complaint was that the cars did not have a neutral. This was very annoying, especially in my 3000 GT because I had it hopped up so much that it had no low end acceleration. That means that if the car ever spun out and came to a dead stop, I was screwed because I could not rev up the engine and pop the clutch. If I had a neutral to get the RPM's up, it would have really helped me out. I just don't understand why they would go to such other lengths and not give you neutral.

Graphics

The best racing graphics to date. That is all there is to say. The replays are so incredibly realistic you will think you are watching the intro full motion video sequence. It was so cool to see your car looking exactly like the real car but it was you driving. The in-game graphics are not quite as detailed but you will definitely know what type of car is next to you. The tracks are all decent looking but the night races were a bit dark and it was hard to tell which direction the corner was turning.

Bottom Line

This is a game that all racing fans should own. Don't try to just play the arcade mode because it is the simulation mode that makes the game so great. It is not an easy game to play but once you get the hang of it, you will love it. I think the ability to customize the cars kept me playing just so I would see how the next upgrade would effect my ride. Stop reading this and go buy it now!

At the recent Tokyo Game Show, Sony unveiled their brand-new racing game, GT Gran Turismo. Billed as a "Real Driving Simulator." Gran Turismo is more than just your average racer. In addition to sporting several tracks and a variety of real cars (like a Mazda RX-7, a Toyota Castroll Supra GT, a Nissan R32 Skyline GTS25 Type S and literally dozens more), Gran Turismo allows you to take part in many unconventional tasks that you wouldn't expect to find in a racer. Tasks like obtaining a driver's license, buying and customizing cars (whether they be new, used or special-order cars) plus even going to the car wash to get your car washed! Talk about innovation! In addition to all of these features, Gran Turismo sports a GT League Mode (with racing championships in four different Cups), a nifty Two-player Mode, a Special Event Mode and, of course, Time Trials.

Perhaps best of all, Gran Turismo is the first game to fully support Sony's new Dual Shock A Analog Pad that was recently released in Japan. In addition to the dual analog support of the pad (like our U.S. version has), the Dual Shock adds not one, but two-sided rumbling capabilities without the need for any batteries. Sweet!

Sony's revving its engines overseas with Gran Turismo, an extremely cool racing game headed to the U.S., hopefully gassed with all the features and licenses that made it such a huge hit in Japan. The overseas version we played had a crazy amount of big-time car brands, from Honda and Nissan to Mazda and Mitsubishi, along with various scenarios like Arcade, Two-Player Battle, and, of course, Gran Turismo. Other features include time trials, 10-plus tracks, and the ability to buy and sell cars as you earn money from races. We don't know if any features will be changed in the translation, hut when Gran Turismo finally speeds into the States, it has the potential to be one of the year's top racing games.

Gran Turismo soared to the top of the standings in Japan, and if Sony stays on track, the U.S. conversion will finish well ahead of the pack in the states, too. This extremely promising racing game overflows with the most cars ever, sporting tons of real-life models from top manufacturers like Aston Martin, Honda, Toyota, and several others. The game's 10-plus tracks keep the racing intense with well-designed, challenging courses. In our hands-on testing, Gran Turismo's realistic, action-packed gameplay really rocked, especially in the lightning-fast first-person view (like Ridge Racer). Drivers must race smartly, setting up tight turns and braking correctly, but the action never hit that frustrating point of too much realism. There's plenty of NASCAR-style contact, and bumping fenders is a fine way to get ahead.

Visually, Turismo dazzles with killer car models and well-drawn tracks that show little signs of draw-in. But the game scores even higher marks for depth. Beyond the Quick Race mode, the Gran Turismo mode will captivate players with a long series of championships and events, a vastly detailed system for buying, trading, and maintaining cars, and driver's license tests to reach the later levels. Racing fans should definitely start salivating for this one.

Effortlessly dusting the competition, Gran Turismo flashes past the finish line with slick controls and stellar gameplay. It's easily the best of the PlayStation's realistic racing games.

Starting off in the garage, Turismo scores big with 166 real-life cars, ranging from the lowly Honda Civic to the high-end dream machines like the Corvette, Viper, and Toyota Castrol Supra. The excellent selection of tracks delivers plenty of variety, and Turismo performs like a winner with no draw-in, speedy load times, and blazing-fast action.

But gameplay is where Turismo really rocks. A fast, pick-up-and-play Arcade mode, along with topnotch two-player splitscreen racing, positions Tur-ismo at the pack for casual racing fans. And Hardcore racers who delve into the amazing Sim mode will uncover impressive depth. It's almost like fantasy league racing--you test for licenses, participate in a wide array of events, buy and maintain as many cars as you can afford, and even upgrade their performances with a vast multitude of parts.

Need for Speed III may have more flash, but Turismo's got more game. It's one of the must-buy titles of this summer.

ProTips:

  • When shopping for your first car, the Toyota Supra's an affordable choice that performs well.
  • On the Deep Forest track, if you set up wide for the last turn before the finish, you can slice through without braking.
  • More so than in most other racing games, it's crucial to finish braking before the turn. If you don't, you'll have to fight off a skid the whole way through.
  • Feel free to bump opponents. The best way to pass is to take the inside line on a turn and run them off the track.

Graphics

Turismo easily captures the pole with lightning-fast action, awesome-looking cars, and cool instant replays. Only the tracks come up a tad short: Although there's no drawin and plenty of challenge, they lack the glitzy polish of Need for Speed Ill's courses.

Control

The unparalleled handling, realism, and playability of Turismo's silky-smooth controls will floor you. Better yet, the gorgeous responsiveness of the Dual Shock Analog controller makes springing for Sony's newest peripheral an easy decision.

Sound

Turismo's sounds have a good day at the track with solid in-race effects and decent tunes. An announcer or commentator would've been icing on the cake, though.

Fun Factor

Never before has a racing game gotten so many things right. Turismo rockets to the top with unbelievable depth, raucous arcade action, challenging sim gameplay, and more cars than a mall parking lot. It's worth every penny.

Snapshots and Media

Playstation Screenshots