The One That Started It All...
User Rating: 9.5 | Gran Turismo PS
I just brought this recently, and I was totally amazed at how this game really brings the true definition of simulation racing for the PS1. I never owned a PS1, (thankfully PS2's can play PS1 games) but this game is really stunning regardless. With 10 car manufacturers, 170+ cars to collect, over 10 racing environments, introduction of license tests, car wash, machine tests, etc, Gran Turismo really set the stage for simulation racing for years to come. The music is fantastic, with both the in-game music (especially with each car manufacturer's own individual car shop tunes) and the music soundtrack from such artists as Cubanate, ("Oxyactelene" on Replay Theater menu and "Skeletal" on options menu will forever be hardwired into your cerebrum) Ash, Feeder, Garbage, etc, really fits and captures the racing atmosphere caught here. The frame rate is pretty solid and manages to deliver a strong sense of speed from your cars and the graphics look decent for a PS1 game from the late 90's. There's a variety of races to participate in as special races, (i.e. 4WD cups) time trials, free races to quick earn credits, endurance races, and memory card battles with friends. Since Gran Turismo's release in 1998 ('97 in Japan), more racing titles would cash in on simulation racing while competing with the since-growing Gran Turismo franchise as Forza and TOCA Race Driver, for example. Overall, Gran Turismo is a truly fantastic racer that really set the stage for simulation racing and will continue to grow for years to come.
