Gran Turismo 5 (PS3) Review
Released: November 2010
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Platform: PlayStation 3
🏁 Overview
After years of hype and delays, Gran Turismo 5 roared onto the PS3 with sky-high expectations. As the first full GT title on the platform, it promised stunning visuals, a massive garage of cars, realistic driving physics, and deep customizationand for the most part, it delivered. While not without flaws, its a dream for racing simulation fans and a technical showcase for the PS3 era.
What Works
🚗 Massive Car Roster
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Over 1,000 cars, ranging from classic models to high-end supercars, tuners, rally cars, and even go-karts.
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Vehicles are split into Standard and Premium modelsonly Premiums have full interiors and damage modeling.
🛣 Tons of Tracks
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Includes 70+ track variations across iconic circuits like Nürburgring, Suzuka, and Laguna Seca, plus fantasy tracks and weather/time change support.
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Dynamic weather adds unpredictability and realism.
🎮 Deep Driving Physics
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The driving model is incredibly detailed, striking a great balance between simulation and accessibility (depending on your setup).
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Playing with a racing wheel elevates the experience tremendously.
🔧 Customization and Tuning
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Cars can be upgraded and tuned in-depth, with adjustable settings for suspension, aerodynamics, gear ratios, and more.
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Visual customization is limited, but performance tuning is where the game shines.
📸 Photo Mode & Replay System
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GT5 includes a surprisingly robust Photo Travel mode, allowing you to place your cars in real-world locations and snap high-quality shots.
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Replays are slickly presented and customizable for cinematic views.
📶 Online Play (at Launch)
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Up to 16 players online, with custom lobbies, car restrictions, and racing rules.
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Online features were solid but eventually shut down in 2014.
What Doesnt Work
😕 Standard vs. Premium Cars Divide
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The divide is jarringStandard cars lack detail, interiors, and often reuse old PS2-era models.
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Only ~200 of the 1,000+ cars are Premium with full features.
🌀 Long Load Times & UI
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Menus are slow, clunky, and confusing to navigate.
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Long install times and frequent patching at launch added to the frustration.
🏆 Career Mode Feels Grind-Heavy
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The GT Mode is deep but can feel grindy and repetitive, especially in the mid-to-late stages.
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Gating progression behind licenses and car restrictions slows the pace.
🗣 Weak Voiceovers and Presentation in Some Modes
📶 Online Servers Are Offline
🟢 Final Verdict: 8/10
Gran Turismo 5 was an ambitious and impressive leap for the franchise on the PS3. Its not perfectbetween inconsistent car models, slow menus, and grindy career progressionbut the core driving mechanics, car selection, and realism are hard to beat. For motorsport enthusiasts and collectors, it remains a standout in the GT lineage.
Pros:
Huge car selection (1,000+)
Realistic driving and tuning mechanics
Dynamic weather and day/night cycles
Deep single-player content
Stunning visuals (especially for Premium cars)
Cons:
Standard cars feel outdated
Menus and load times can be sluggish
Grindy progression system
Online servers are no longer active
Recommendation: If you love precision racing sims and want to experience the evolution of Gran Turismo, GT5 still offers a rewarding drive, especially for those with a steering wheel setup. It may not be as polished as later entries like GT6 or GT Sport, but it paved the wayand burned some serious rubber doing it.
