Gran Turismo 5: Prologue is not a full game, nor is it a demo. With 71 cars, 6 tracks, and an online mode, it's hardly a demo, but is it worth buying?
As soon as you put the game in your PS3, you'll be prompted to install part of the game to your hard drive. The install takes up about 5,000 megabytes, but it reduces loading times to a minimum. As soon as you get to the main menu, called My Page, you'll be treated to Gran Turismo's signature smooth jazz. My Page is an interface much like that of the PS3's XMB. The first thing you need to do in the game is buy your first car. You have 30,000 credits to spend on a car of your choice. After you buy a car, you'll race through 4 classes of races: C, B, A, and S. The game offers stunningly realistic graphics and car performance. Polyphony Digital went to great lengths to make sure this is the most realistic racing simulator avaliable. The car handling is amazing; it feels as though you are driving a real car! The revamped game engine gives the car a sense of weight and power you just don't get playing other racing simulators. Also, the game has great sound. You'll want to turn your TV way up because the sound of the car engines is so authentic and realistic. There is a new in-car veiw too that's awesome. Also new to the Gran Turismo franchise is a feature called Gran Turismo TV. Here you can download videos and replay movies from the game, like the opening movie.
There are only six tracks in the game, and if you want to buy every car, you're going to have to replay each of them a lot. It's not such a bad thing though, because it's so much fun flying around the track in your favorite car. The game also offers an online mode. The options are few, but it's fun. I only experienced a hint of lag, and I have the slowest internet connection this side of France. The tracks, while beautiful, are still a little bland. It's understandable, considering how much polygons are needed to make the cars so beautiful. When you are driving behind a row of 15 cars, there is very minor slowdown in the game. It's very small, so most people won't even notice it. It's important to note that while there still isn't damage in the game, GT creator Kazunori Yamauchi has stated that damage should be coming this year, via a fall update. I also think it would be awesome if there were to be weather effects in the full game, like snow and rain. My fingers are crossed. Unfortunately, I cannot say how GT5: Prologue performs with a steering wheel, because I do not have one. I assume it plays great though.
So, GT5: Prologue is not a full game, but it's not a demo either. With 71 cars, it offers more vehicles to drive than some full games! If you are a Gran Turismo fan, this is a must buy. It only makes me more excited for the full Gran Turismo 5! Spring of next year can't come soon enough!