With 2013 and the current console generation ending, SG Gaming Info takes a look at the PlayStation 3 exclusive racing game, Gran Turismo 6.

This review will feature SG Gaming Info’s new review layout.

To celebrate the series 15th anniversary Polyphony Digital has released Gran Turismo 6, one of the biggest games in the series to date. The popular PlayStation exclusive racing simulation offers players a chance to drive an array of officially licenced cars on some of the most well known race tracks in the world.

The GT series has always proven to be a money maker for PlayStation with nearly each game surpassing 10 million sales. It will be interesting to see if GT6 manages to live up to the pedestal created by the previous games in the series.

GOOD – Huge selection of licenced cars and tracks

Gran Turismo 6 is a car fanatic’s wet dream with the game boasting over 1,000 licenced cars from top manufactures that include: Ferrari, Subaru and Audi. The game also features a large number of official race tracks, with the likes of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – the home of the Indianapolis 500, Suzuka – the home of the Japanese F1 GP and Silverstone – the home of British motorsport.

The game does have cars and tracks that were envisioned by the creators, which in their own right are all well designed, the sheer number of licenced content on offer is definitely something to behold.

GOOD – Slowly teaches the player

If there is one thing any racing game needs to accomplish is the ability to appeal to both newcomers and veterans, thankfully GT6 does this. GT6 helps ease new players into the game by offering an array of driving assistance options. These options which can be turned on or off at any time. The most useful option is the driving line, this option helps you by displaying where to break and accelerated, and when to start turning into a corner. Other assistance options help you get to grips with the control of the cars with the anti-lock braking system, active stability management and more.

The game also continues to teach you in the game’s main feature, career mode. In career mode you are slowly introduced to new aspects of the game, with wet and night racing being introduced after you successfully complete one or two career mode categories.

GOOD – Large number of races and events

Never let it be said that there isn’t enough racing to keep you entertained in GT6, as the game offers enough racing to keep you playing for several hours at a time. The game’s main feature career mode has six categories with each category offering numerous competitions. The game also offers various special events as side tasks, these tasks can be found in career mode and in special events mode. There are two special events: The Goodwood Festival of speed, an annual hill climb that features historic and iconic racing cars, and the moon, in the lunar event you get to race against the clock on lunar rover, but watch out as the moon’s gravity can catch you out.

The game also has an arcade mode which allows you take part in normal races, time trials, drift trials, split screen multiplayer and online multiplayer. Plenty to keep any racing fan busy.

GOOD – Cars handle like cars

Since GT6 is a racing sim, realistic handling and physics is key to making the game a success. With GT6, Polyphony Digital has done an amazing job with the handling and physics of the cars. The reason for this is the addition of a new physics simulator, new aerodynamics, and suspension and tyre models. These additions help create and maintain a high level of realism.

The new physics and handling adds a much needed extra level of challenge as you have to learn when to break and accelerate, because if you break too late into a corner you run the risk of locking the tyres and heading straight off the road. Another example of the physics and handling is driving on the grass, if you get on the grass you can be in for a rude awakening as getting on the grass while turning and accelerating can lead you to losing grip and spinning the car.

My only major issue with the simulation aspect is that when you crash your car isn’t damaged, this really does pull you out of the simulation experience. The only damage that can occur in the game is the fact your tyres can get damaged if you put too much load on them when driving.

MIXED – Grinding for cars

With more than 1,000 cars on offer you probably aren’t shocked to hear that GT6 has some level of grinding. Grinding in the game is a mixed bag as you can get nearly every car you need to compete in career mode for free or for a relatively low price. But if you wish to get the best of the best you are required to grind as some of the game’s best cars can cost over 2 million credits. These expensive cars are nearly a must need for the International A and Super Career mode categories (you can get cheap cars for these categories, but they require a lot of searching).

GT6 does offer ways to ease the money grind, with the game offering bonus credits for playing for a consecutive number of days, and what could be considered controversial the ability to buy credit with real money. The pricing if you are considering using real money is 500,000 credits for €4.99 and 7 million credits for €49.99.

Overall the grind isn’t terrible, but my view of it is somewhat skewed as PlayStation Ireland provided me with a code for 1 million credits.

MIXED – Searching for cars

With over 1,000 cars available for purchase searching for the best possible car can be a painstaking task, a task that in GT6 equal parts frustrating and easy. In terms of easiness the game has a recommended cars option that shows you a list of cars that are suitable for the career mode category you are currently in, but unfortunately there is a draw back as the recommended option only features a very limited number of cars, and the cars on offer are mainly underpowered and/or aren’t powerful enough to compete in some races.

The frustrating part of searching for a car is the car dealership. Frankly the dealership is a bit of a mess as you are unable to sort cars i.e. Price – High to low on the homepage. Instead you are have to go through manufacturer by manufacturer looking for the car you want, although when you click on a manufacturer you do have the ability sort cars in order of price, PP and power.

BAD – AI

The AI in GT6 is by no means terrible, it is just bland. In career mode the AI only seem to fight with each other and seem to ignore the fact you are also on the track. The AI will fight another AI into a corner in a fair manner, but when it comes to the AI against a player controlled car they usually just ram the player off the track if they manage to catch up to the player.

As you progress through the career mode the AI difficulty does increase, but it still does the same few tricks, ram you off the road or break way to early into a corner. Simply put the AI is like an obstacle to be avoided instead of a car to be raced against.

Conclusion

Gran Turismo 6 is an entertaining racing sim with its large number of licenced cars and tracks, realistic handling, and ability to slowly teach newcomers how to play. However the game’s AI is bland and offers no meaningful challenge.

SCORE: 8/10

Developer               Publisher            Genre         Rating          Platform      Release Date
Polyphony Digital         SCEE               Racing           3+                PS3                out now