Product Description

Get ready for the drive of your life in Gran Turismo 3 A-spec, the most impressive racing game around! Race against your friends in two-player mode Shadows and lighting are so realistic they'll amaze you, and the control is absolutely exquisite Viciously fast and exciting racing action awaits you, in Gran Turismo 3!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1791 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Sony
• Model: 711719710226
• Released on: 2006-06-15
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Platform: PlayStation2
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds

Features

• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Genre: Driving

Amazon.com Review
The PlayStation2 takes the Gran Turismo franchise to new heights in the third edition of the venerable racing series. The graphics are sure to grab you--the cars and tracks are awe inspiring, and there are some incredible lighting effects. This game is much more than eye candy, though.

The gameplay in Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec is the same as its predecessors; fans of the previous games will feel right at home, while newcomers will be able to pick things up easily. There are more than 150 cars from which to choose, and plenty of tracks upon which to race them. Arcade mode works well for a quick fix, while simulation mode provides outstanding replay value. The sound effects are impressive--each engine has a unique sound, and tire screeches from different cars sound noticeably different. The soundtrack is a good mix of original compositions and a wide variety of recording artists, including Motley Crue, Raekwon, Jimi Hendrix, and Snoop Dogg.

One minor flaw with the game is its relatively predictable artificial intelligence. Computer-controlled cars follow distinct lines, and you'll be able to pick up the patterns after a few races. Considering how far the graphics have come since the original Gran Turismo, it's disappointing that the AI hasn't progressed similarly. Despite this, GT3 remains an outstanding game. Few games offer its combination of high quality and immense variety. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• Incredible graphics
• Excellent physics and controls
• Great soundtrack

• Predictable AI
• No Porsche or Ferrari licenses

Amazon.com Product Description
The third title of the Gran Turismo series takes full advantage of the new PlayStation2 game engine, which is capable of rendering about 20 million polygons per second--roughly 10 times the number of total polygons of the series' previous installment, Gran Turismo 2. Real-time lighting forces your eyes to adjust to changing conditions, such as when a car rounds a turn and the sun comes out from behind a building to cause glare on the windshield. This makes the game harder, but more realistic. Heat rises off the ground and mist swirls around vehicles as they make their way across the racetrack.

Gran Turismo 3 also features more than 100 distinct cars, each with different statistics, including the Subaru Impreza Rally, Dodge Viper GTS-R, and Mazda's RX-7 RS. Computer-controlled opponents benefit from enhanced artificial intelligence; they don't act like baby ducks following their mother, but instead respond to other cars, the course, and the conditions in much the same way that real drivers would. Pressure a car, and it will pressure you back; cut one off in the early part of the race, and expect to receive similar treatment down the course. They don't drive perfectly, either; some will spin out and make other mistakes over the course of a race.

GameSpot Review
When the PlayStation2 was announced, the first title Sony officially mentioned for the system was Gran Turismo 3. If you have played Gran Turismo 2, then you already know what to expect from the gameplay, since GT3 is basically an enhanced version of it at this point.

Graphically, Gran Turismo 3 is turning out to be stunning. In the latest playable version, high-resolution textures are starting to be implemented, but some areas still need work (for example, the crowds). The smoke effects caused by skidding now appear to be finished, and they add a nice sense of realism to the game. Lighting in the game is also coming along real nice. Shadows caused by buildings blocking the sunlight (which is a nice effect in itself) allow for a completely different driving experience, compared with Gran Turismo 3. As you move in and out of the sunlight's path as you race by buildings, your eyes are forced to quickly adjust to the lighting - just as in real life driving - making the game more difficult.

The replays in the game are unlike anything ever seen before. It's breathtaking to see the heat rising off the road as a pack of cars comes from the edge of the horizon and zooms past you. As for the physics, what you found in Gran Turismo 2 is basically what you find in Gran Turismo 3. If there is any difference to be mentioned, the cars appear to be a bit more "springy."

Of particular note is that the game will benefit from the Dual Shock 2's analog-sensitive buttons. Take acceleration, for example: The harder you press the gas button, the faster the car will go similar to the way a real gas pedal behaves, or like the shoulder buttons on Namco's neGcon controller. Needless to say, this is extremely cool, especially considering the fact that the buttons don't feel any different to the touch from the buttons on the standard Dual Shock controller.

Sony has said that Gran Turismo 3 won't just be a graphically improved version of GT2, so it will be interesting to see what the company adds to the game before it's released to make good on that statement.--Dave Toole--Copyright © 2000 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited.

Customer Reviews

Best in series.
This was my favorite racing game of all time until I played Project Gotham Racing 3, but that's another review. The graphics are great and still hold up to this day. The soundtrack is pretty good, and the car related sounds effects are good for the most part. The race tracks are all great and diverse. This a simulator so the physics engine is pretty realistic, but not to the extent of gran turismo 4 where it gets to the point where its not even fun. The game packs quite a challenge so be prepared. The car selection is immense and they are all very customizable. You can play this game for hours on end, its the best game in the gran turismo series plain and simple, and a contender for the best racing game ever depending on your playing style preferences. If you love racing games you probably already own this, but if not, go and pick it up now for cheap.

UTTERLY BORING, UNEVENTFUL, TERRIBLE, WORST RACER I'VE EVER PLAYED 2.75 OUT OF 10
Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec tries to hide its craptacular and atrocious gameplay with the looks of a gorgeous racer. But then it's like when you look at a movie star on an HDTV, and you see its appalling horrors that lie within it. To start off the controls suck greatly. For example; when turning a corner you will notice how you can't seem to keep your vehicle on the road, and it constantly slips and swerves like you're driving in snow. Another problem; the absence of a sense of speed. When I was driving I never felt the sense of speed that should be in racers. Instead, it felt like I was maybe only going about 40mph or less. Problem #3; the lack of interesting tracks to race on. When going through the various tracks I never felt compelled to look at the environments around me solely for the fact that they were so boring. Problem #4; crappy career mode. Never, in my years of playing various racers did I ever go through a career mode that was so dull and made me feel so unwanting to complete it one day. Problem #5; crappy multiplayer. Wow, what a horribly dull and unexciting way to challenge a friend to a race! Here's how it went; we raced around the boring tracks, swerved like we were driving in snow, and we were totally bored. So, then he took the game out of his PS2 and put in Kingdom Hearts... that is how bad the multiplayer is. The only positive thing; the amazing graphics, that was it.

About Arcade mode
Not much has been said about Arcade Mode in the reviews of GT3 and GT4.
I started out in simulation mode and very quickly rediscovered my obsessive/compulsive side--worried about winning races to get more credits to get more and better cars--lots of tension...not exactly my favorite. I'm in my 50s now, and prefer a more zenlike fun in life.
So this brings me to the arcade side. The feeling of racing is pretty much the same as simulation, and a great deal more relaxing, silly fun. If you start out in easy mode, it is not too hard to win races and unlock all the tracks in GT3 in a short time. You also get to try out a lot of different cars without having to win them first. To get all this in simulation mode takes a long time and quite a lot of frustration.
I'm into having fun with video games, and GT3 is fabulous fun. For those who enjoy really getting into the challenge, and working hard to get their fun, simulation mode is fabulously deep...but for those of you who just want to try out a car and a new track and enjoy the fun of driving that you will never get on our congested streets, arcade mode is your answer.
Marvel at the beautiful scenery and laugh at the silly mistakes you make...relax and enjoy the ride!!! Burnout 3 is also fun, but does not have the realistic driving that makes the GT series so great.
To really enjoy the game, get a Driving force EX or Driving Force Pro.
I use a Black and Decker WM225 Workmate with a 3/4"x10"x40" board clamped to it as a stand for the wheel. The pedals conveniently rest against the workmate on the floor and don't slide around. Sitting comfortably in an office chair with my legs stretched out in an ideal position, I can play for hours and not spend $300 on a racing chair. The workmate is very handy around the house or garage as well.
Don't be intimidated by the difficulty of GT3. Get to know the Arcade mode...fun and fairly easy.