Gran Turismo 5 Updated Hands-On

By Brian Ekberg, GameSpotPosted Sep 24, 2009 5:49 am PT

The latest in Sony's heralded driving series finally has a Japanese release date--and we've got the latest look at the game from TGS.

The long-awaited date is here: Gran Turismo 5 is set to debut in March 2010...in Japan. That means a slightly longer wait for fans around the world, but if nothing else, it signifies that the end point is near for a game that driving fans have been eagerly anticipating for years now. Earlier today, on the show floor of the 2009 Tokyo Game Show, we had a chance to try out the latest demo of GT5.

The two-minute timed demo took place on the Tokyo r246 track, which has appeared in previous versions of the game (and makes an appearance in Gran Turismo PSP as well). Even though the track isn't new, seeing it running on a PlayStation 3 in full HD is an impressive experience--with everything brought to life, from the buildings that surround the urban circuit to the shadows cast from the nearby trees, in impressive fashion. Little touches, like knocking over stacks of tires when running wide the first turn, also made an impression.

The TGS 2009 show floor demo of GT5 came in two flavors: one you could play with a regular PS3 controller and another you could play while sitting in a racing rig and playing the game with a Logitech Driving Force Pro wheel. The latter was naturally preferred, despite the relatively long wait in line, because the force feedback wheel lets you feel all of the undulations of the road. Damage modeling didn't seem to be in effect in this demo--thought we did watch as one player drove his Subaru WRX sti rally car into a wall; after he recovered, the left-side door refused to shut all the way and hung limply as the driver continued the race.

Whether we were playing with the wheel or the PS3 controller, the GT5 handling model was in full effect. The nimble Subaru was a joy to handle around the tighter sections of r246, and the muscular Mercedes-AMG SLS, the other car available to drive in the demo, was a nice, if more challenging, alternative. Of course, we were hoping for more from the demo for GT5, especially considering the game is due for release in Japan in under six months, but at this point, we'll take what we can get.

On Saturday, September 26 (in Japan), GameSpot will be heading to Polyphony Digital to check out more of GT5 and talk with series creator Kazunori Yamauchi. If you've got a question or two about the game, put it in the comments below, and who knows, we just might be able to get it answered on your behalf.

Stay tuned for more on Gran Turismo 5 in the coming months.

252 Comments

  • BMWPro77

    Posted Nov 21, 2009 9:46 am PT

    We're only a few motnhs off. It will be worth the wait I assure you man.

  • jayt8lor

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 1:06 pm PT

    I'm completely fed up of waiting for GT5 to come out, i bought my PS3 back in 2007 mainly for this game but as i have an xbox 360 as well and now have Forza 3 which is awesome by the way, i'm considering selling my PS3 because i reckon the PS4 will be about ready by the time the idiots gets GT5 ready, i mean come on it's taking far too long and can therefore only be a big let down. Also before anyone has a go i have owned and adored all previous GT games, as i said i bought my PS3 for this game but it is just taking the mick now. FORZA 3 ROCKS

  • sushipsp

    Posted Nov 14, 2009 4:36 pm PT

    I can't wait till GranTurismo 5 comes out. Forza is just a copy of GranTurismo. I agree with (aphotic000).

  • kingnazer

    Posted Nov 8, 2009 10:11 am PT

    i hate gran turismo series it doesn't have career mode u just do boring race and unlock some sh*t

  • aphotic000

    Posted Oct 29, 2009 3:32 pm PT

    wow, that last comment was a total grammatical nightmare. i'm not really inclined to take on board the opinion of someone who can't even string a sentence together. and while they might play in a fairly similar manner, gt5 will most likely have a much greater attention to detail than any of the forza games.

  • H3llrazah420

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 10:02 pm PT

    yea no1 likes a rushed game but gt5 is just bs for u guys look how good forza3 is look at the reviews they dident rush it and its got a 9.4 so dont give me this crap oh no1 likes a rushed game lol they came out with 2 to ur 1 that might come out this year lol and forza2 is a classic and forza3 looks even better just face it sony aint top dog anymore

  • antonisbob

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 4:34 pm PT

    Well.. I can't wait for this, Its definiantly not rushed and no one likes a rushed game right? GT is the original and always will be.

  • H3llrazah420 posted Oct 13, 2009 11:04 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    H3llrazah420

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 11:04 am PT (hide)

    forza3 is going too be way better gt lost its throne to forza it sucks that it takes that long to wait for game ha ha ha ha ha oh yea but i forgot ps3 is better ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

  • FurioustigerGR posted Oct 4, 2009 5:14 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    FurioustigerGR

    Posted Oct 4, 2009 5:14 pm PT (hide)

    When I got my PS3 in March 2007 one of the first downloadable content was a beautiful demo of GT5 concept!!! Almost 3 years later and we are still waiting for the GT5 to be released!?!
    Do you know what? Thanks God that I didn't sell my XBOX360 because in a few weeks I will get the Forza Motorsport 3 that for sure will be a GT5 kick AS.S!!!
    OHH ....and by the time GT5 get released, Forza Motorsport 4 will be already in the market and will kick their AS.S again for the second time in the row!!!!!

  • FurioustigerGR posted Oct 4, 2009 5:00 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    FurioustigerGR

    Posted Oct 4, 2009 5:00 pm PT (hide)

    rerx7

    Posted Oct 2, 2009 6:00 am GMT

    I am a huge fan of Gran Turismo, in fact that was the reason I bought PS and PS2 (Racing package). When the GT5 comes out I will then get the PS3 (hopfully by then they will have a GT5 edition).

    When GT5 get released PS4 will be already in the market!!!!

  • OF-5 posted Oct 4, 2009 2:06 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    OF-5

    Posted Oct 4, 2009 2:06 pm PT (hide)

    Forza 3 will be better...

  • MAG--256

    Posted Oct 4, 2009 12:01 am PT

    i hope we will see gt5 before end od 2010 i don't expect gt5 to hit japan in early 2010 i expect one more small delay we will see gt5 in 2010 but it will be late 2010 and i rather have a finished game than almost finsihed any day

  • ChiuahuadaSara

    Posted Oct 3, 2009 4:00 pm PT

    if there is damage in cars.... that is cool !

  • HuntaKila

    Posted Oct 3, 2009 3:37 am PT

    Definitely the best racing game (series) ever. No other game had or have so many different and exotic types of cars with such realistic traction, greatly close to reality. With simulation of damages 5th part will be king of gaming for few years as it's predecessors were. GT is same thing for Sony as Super Mario is for Nintendo, people buy PS because of this game.

  • Jack_n_Coke07

    Posted Oct 2, 2009 11:17 pm PT

    Bah, they better bring it soon, or else it will become stale. It just seems that it has become less of a "driving simulator" and more of just a boring racing game full of cars. I actually seem to enjoy Shift a lot more than I have enjoyed GT, mostly for the part that the AI and the game overall have life to it, rather than GT where the AI runs in the same line and there's really no great sense of speed.

    ^^All of this, is coming from a diehard GT fan. It's facing the facts instead of being blindly biased towards a series.

  • Excedra

    Posted Oct 2, 2009 8:30 am PT

    gt owns

  • rerx7

    Posted Oct 1, 2009 10:00 pm PT

    I am a huge fan of Gran Turismo, in fact that was the reason I bought PS and PS2 (Racing package). When the GT5 comes out I will then get the PS3 (hopfully by then they will have a GT5 edition).

    My question is will the GT5 let players play against each other over the internet?

    Thank you very much.

  • SkinnZero

    Posted Oct 1, 2009 5:10 pm PT

    the only senseful question I have for now is about launch date in America. When it will be?

  • Arruda81

    Posted Oct 1, 2009 5:33 am PT

    Damage, damage, damage... I would really prefer if they were putting more effort on opponent's AI, and make races competitive in terms of what type of cars can enter each race. This would be more important for the game to achieve perfection. One of the few let-downs on previous versions was to start a race only to understand that your either far superior or far inferior to other cars, and be denied a competitive race. It was basically a time trial for me all the time. Still great of course, so close to perfection, hope this time they achieve it.

  • scja25

    Posted Sep 30, 2009 10:02 pm PT

    ~Question~ Will there be body kits? If so, what can we expect to see with them?

    Yeah i don't got any really good questions, but hey, it's not that bad haha.

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