Gran Turismo 5: Collector's Edition

I bought this Collector's Edition really wanting to love it and rave about it to everyone I know and in the end I stopped playing the game after a week. The game itself is probably the best racing simulator out there, but my God, the repetitive grinding of the A-Spec Career is just so boring. The game's career mode is completely lifeless.

The 200 page booklet is great, I really enjoyed reading it as I love having all the inside information. However, the cars that you recieve from the Voucher Code? Not so great. They are only really useful at the start of the game where you're racing against cars that basically drive the whole course at around 30 mph.

Also, the postcards - sure, they look great but they are COMPLETELY useless lol! I mean, what exactly are you going to do with them?

To sum up, this game handles beautifully, but it is extremely unrewarding - winning a race in A-Spec mode doesn't fill you with a sense of achievement, it's just "Oh, another grind completed for me to get a better car." Rinse. Repeat. The online mode is awfully structured but provides the most thrills. I had a 2 lap, 1 on 1 nurburgring night race with an unknown player and it was the best race I've ever had in my gaming life. My Ferrari 458 trumped (this car is fantastic in the game), and the sounds of it screeching up the Nurburgring corners and hills is unforgettable.

Unfortunately, moments like this are few and far between in this game. After all the production time of this game, Polyphony have left me dissapointed with the end product. A shame, since I love the series.

To be honest, you have to buy the game to try it. I read many reviews saying its not worth it but I still bought it. It has to be the worst gameplay since the PS2, and it probably is no better than Gran Turismo 4...graphics are just the same but with more tyre smoke. Car handling is crap and drifting is extremely hard to control. The menus are pretty good though and look like they put time into them more than the gameplay. There is a good variation of modes and vehicles, but that is useless when races aren't worth looking forward to.

I do have to say though, the 200 page book that comes with the collectors edition is fantastic. I am a mechanic, and the booklet explains many aspects of how vehicles function. It's basic principles of mechanics really and I found it extremely interesting.

Overall I wouldn't recommend this game. I've waited 5/6 years for it and am very disappointed with Sony. If you're after a decent racing game, titles such as Forza 3 are a much better option.

First things first...if you're looking for an easy racing game, then don't bother buying it - GT mode is a simulator, NOT a "pick up and go" arcade game (although there is an arcade mode).

The handling of the cars is extremely realistic, especially the engine sounds - polyphony have made the effort to make all the cars sound as true to life as possible.

GT mode, although daunting at first given it's magnitude, becomes a way of life. It's fantastic. The array of cars is superb, tuning, used cars, with races starting at beginner mode right up to extreme mode.

I have to reiterate that this game is designed to be challenging, the licences are difficult as expected - there are 6 in total, amounting to 60 challenges/tests. It encourages you to re-take tests to shave those times to earn gold. This is a simulator - you wouldn't be able to jump in these cars in real life and get gold first time would you? You need to get used to the cars characteristics, and see what it can and can't do - every car is different. It requires you to tweak settings to get the optimum balance.

This game as a hole is light years ahead of the competition, and is the closest to reality simulator out there.

3D mode is also good, the depth and perception it gives you is fantastic - a nice little addition to the game.

Online, although buggy as first, now appears to be almost perfect - I have had no issues playing with friends. If they are playing online, just click on them within the GT community and enter their lounge - it's that simple.

Also the damage is very very realistic, but you have to earn it - the more you rank up, the worse the damage - a good way of doing it, as you progress your skills. Level 40 gives you full damage, which leads to bumpers, bonnets etc flying off - the works!

This is a huge/long game, which will take hours of your time to complete, but is also very rewarding and in time becomes a religion!!

When I first loaded this game I must admit I felt a little underwhelmed. I dont know what I was expecting... maybe... perfection; I guess I was a victim of the hype. I mean, the graphics are stunning (remember, as with all Gran turismos, the replays look a bit better than the race itself), and the amount of cars is mind blowing. But sometimes the shadows look a little blocky, as do some of the standard car models. Some other little niggles had me kind of thinking it was a bit of a let down. But then I got stuck in to it, and all the doubts disappeared. The racing is sublime and genuinely tense (winning some races on the final straight by tenths of seconds never gets old), the licence challenges are as frustrating, but ultimately, rewarding, as ever, and the rally and karting modes are a right laugh. Not so sure about the NASCAR bit though.
As I played it, I realised I was hooked. Sneaked up on from behind, with it's claws grasping at my throat as it's beery breath whispers "Say nothing, I've got a hammer," into my ear, I am now subject to it's whims of fancy. The online mode is a bit of a pain in the arse mind. Still havent had a go on it yet, it was crashing loads but some of mates have been on it and they reckon its a right laugh.
Get this, it's a milestone.

After waiting 6 years for this game, I got my copy today. After playing it, I was amazed by the level of detail and realism of the game. I was instantly addicted to it.

I drove the Ferrari during my track day, and I couldn't believe how realistic the gameplay was... the attention to detail was immaculate, it was like I was back in that car again.

The music is just right, and the online gaming is what I expected it to be... the online competition, has kept me going for hours. Now I'm working my way through the game and customizing the cars.

My friends have gone out and bought a PS3 just for this game, this was the exclusive we have all been waiting for. I'm working through the game and improving my time... it isn't so easy like Forza or Need for Speed, this is the challenge I need.

Anyone who has driven these cars in real life, will truly understand how much attention to detail this game has.

The Modifiying guide from the collectors edition was really helpful. It's totally worth it for any real car enthusiast who knows what they are talking about... not a two minute thrill, this is the real deal.