Gran Turismo PSP is a simulation style racing game that follows very closely to the formula set by its predecessors, but does make some much needed changes for the transition to PSP. As a series, Gran Turismo has always been known for its realistic simulation of driving and pushing a system to the limit of its graphical capabilities, and Gran Turismo PSP does exactly that. The game is divided into three main modes: Time Trial, Drift Trial, and Race. The time trial mode is just your standard “drive as fast as you can” mode. Drift mode is set on tracks that feature a non-standard terrain, such as dirt, snow, mud, etc. and rewards the player for drifting around corners and down hills without colliding with anything. Race mode is where the game really shines, with tough AI opponents and challenging courses making it even harder to be the first to the finish line.
All of these modes reward the player with money that can be used to purchase one of the hundreds of cars available. Each of these cars have varying horsepower, handling, durability, top speed, and more. This makes each car a unique driving experience, requiring the player the choose the right car for different situations and track conditions. The cars that are available to the player change every in-game day, which sometimes made it frustrating when trying to buy a specific car. Not only do the brands of cars change, but so do the models. One day there could be a 350z in the Nissan section and the next a Skyline GT-R. It helped keep the number of cars in the game bearable but was also frustrating sometimes.
One area that Gran Turismo has always excelled at was the detail put into each track, no matter how small. The track list of GT PSP is huge and varies greatly, making sure that there is a track for every type of person. I found the terrain altered courses to be the most fun, allowing me to slide around corners leaving my opponents in the dust. The sense of speed seemed to get lost on the bigger tracks, losing some of the realism that Gran Turismo is famous for. My biggest compaint with the courses, was the fact that they didn’t seem finished enough. There are lines that make it seem as if the course geometry isn’t stitched together all the way.
The way that the cars handle is some of the best that I have ever seen on the PSP, with realistic cornering and active damage effects. I felt really immersed in the game. While there are many different camera views available, I found the “front of car” viewpoint to be the only playable one. The others were either too fake or made the car feel out of place on the screen.
