Starter Car

[Alonsomania]

Peek under the bonnet of the latest real driving simulator from Polyphony Digital.

Gran Turismo, the real driving simulator, has appeared on every PlayStation system and the latest iteration is the first game in the series on PSP.

The presentation has been streamlined to fit the portable system's screen. Menus are clean and simple, and you're never more than a few clicks away from the next race. On the track, this is a full Gran Turismo experience, which means incredibly realistic handling and a connoisseur's collection of exotic cars.

There are more than 800 vehicles to race on 35 tracks, with over 70 variations. All tracks are available from the outset and winning races on them earns credits that can be spent on cars. Of course, you'll need a set of wheels to do that, so you start off with a Peugeot 206; in between each race a different set of car manufacturers will open its doors for you to add to your garage.

Behind the wheel, Gran Turismo fans will feel immediately at home. Detail is everywhere, from the modelling of the cars to how they lean into corners, and all tracks - some real, some GT stalwarts such as High Speed Ring - are lovingly recreated.

The three race types available are single race, which pits you against three computer-controlled teams on the course of your choice, Time Trial and Drift, which places markers at corners and awards points for the longest powerslides. There are also several gorgeous rally courses, such as Chamonix and Grand Canyon, and a stable of specialist vehicles to drive on them.

Mission mode resembles the license modes from previous titles, providing groups of challenges of increasing difficulty, and ranging from simple starting and stopping to advanced techniques such as drifting. It's a great way to learn the fundamentals of race driving, and the later challenges provide enough complexity for even the elite players.

Up to four players can link up and race via Ad Hoc Mode and you can even trade cars with each other.

Gran Turismo for PSP is a full-scale GT experience, with no corners cut or compromises made. Just the sheer number of cars available makes for a lifetime of racing, and whenever a collection is chosen by Kazunori Yamauichi, you know it's that of a true car fanatic.

Peugeot 206 will be the starter car!

 

[Eric Demory]

A used Mazda MX-5 I would start with.

 

[Alonsomania]

A used Mazda MX-5 I would start with.

I would say everyone is given a Peugeot 206, and you cannot choose which car you will start with.

 

[Peter]

I'd start with a used Lancer Evo 2, as I did in GT4.

 

[Rob192005]

206 to start off with but soon I'll have my S13 that i started GT4 with.

oh and which 206? the 1999 S16 or the 2003 RC? (I'm guessing not the 2001 cc or the rally car. )

 

[MarcoM]

That is something different than the Yaris I started GT3 and 4 with.

Peugot, createur de drameur

 

[LeGeNd-1]

I'd rather start off with a bit of cash and be able to buy any cheap car, just like it always has been. But the 206 is not too bad, I guess.

 

[Boffin]

I'd start with a used Lancer Evo 2, as I did in GT4.

Did you spend over 10k cr.? Because the Evo (one) is the only one affordable under that price.

I started off my first game with the 89 Skyline - I believe it gave more more pleasure at first because it was slower and less effectively tuned - but that's another thread .

 

[Famine]

A used Mazda MX-5 I would start with.

No, you won't. Look:

Of course, you'll need a set of wheels to do that, so you start off with a Peugeot 206

I'd start with a used Lancer Evo 2, as I did in GT4.

Nice, but irrelevant. Look:

Of course, you'll need a set of wheels to do that, so you start off with a Peugeot 206

 

[Lucas]

Ohhh, Famine. You are always like that.


Personally, if I were to buy the game, I wouldn't mind to start with a 206. There are worse cars to start with.

 

[Alonsomania]

August 19, 2009 - Who loves IGN PlayStation Team Editor-in-Chief Chris Roper? I do. Granted, he signs my checks so I kind of have to, but I also dig Roper because he's the racing guy. I mean, he's not just kind of into driving games, this guy's over the frickin' top about driving games. Needless to say, he was pretty jealous that I got a sneak peak at the Gamescom build of Gran Turismo PSP, but it's really like a Greek tragedy.

He -- the diving expert -- couldn't come play the game, so I had to. I suck at racing games.

Do you have the skills to get to the head of the pack?
Do you have the skills to get to the head of the pack?
Still, Gran Turismo PSP is something more than a racing game. Polyphony's been at work on this game for how many years? This thing's packing 800 vehicles, 35 tracks, and will run at 60fps. It's enough to get someone pretty removed from being interested in cars (see: me) excited about this title.

What lures me into this game is the nearly endless about of stuff you can unlock -- the constant carrot at the end of the stick. Sony let me get time behind the wheel with the title's Driving Challenges. These are similar to the license tests from Gran Turismo 4, but they're a bit easier on the driver. These challenges are designed to help you understand how the cars and tracks work -- these missions are designed to help you not be me.

The tasks -- timed events, races, and drifting challenges -- are laid out on a visual raceway filled with shortcuts and such. You'll need to play them in order to advance, but you can take the shortcuts if you feel like you've mastered the section you're in. Of course, you probably want to play each and every one of these things so that you're earning the maximum reward (there are bronze, silver, and gold trophies to nab) that you can from each part. See, when you first turn on Gran Turismo PSP, you're going to get one car and some credits to buy one more. From there, you need to play the game like a madman/madlady to earn more credits and get to unlocking every ride in this game.

Pretty. Oh so pretty.
Pretty. Oh so pretty.
On top of that, there's an in-game calendar system keeping track of how much you've been playing. Now, it's not showing this in real time. If you play for a few hours straight, days are going to pass on the in-game calendar. Again, this is that whole carrot on a stick thing. Certain things are going to happen as the days roll on by, so it's in your best interest to keep on playing if you want every Bentley, Aston Martin, and so on in the game.

When I hit the track, I took the Cadillac Cien Concept '02 for a spin. A silver beauty, I could barely keep the thing on the pavement as I took it around some of the tighter corners -- not because of the controls but because of my lack of knowing when to break or accelerate. As if the vast sea of unlockables wasn't enough to keep me interested, the sheer eye candy this game is kept my attention glued to the screen even when I was cursing myself. In motion, GT PSP is the bee's knees.

Look for more updates -- from better drivers -- as Gamescom continues and October 1, 2009 gets closer and closer.

Some interesting notes in this preview from IGN. So there are 'some' races after all?

 

[Christian_C]

I would have preferred to start with a miata or civic.

 

[Northstar]

So I can't start off in the Model T?

Also, I'm starting with an Enzo.

 

[JToipa]

But wait, I don't get it, have you forgot that there is no GT mode? There are only driving missions, and IIRC those have pre-selected cars, so why would we have to start off with a Peugeot? I mean, just win some missions and then buy whatever car you want, so why should we have to start with the 206?

 

[Alonsomania]

But wait, I don't get it, have you forgot that there is no GT mode? There are only driving missions, and IIRC those have pre-selected cars, so why would we have to start off with a Peugeot? I mean, just win some missions and then buy whatever car you want, so why should we have to start with the 206?

The 206 is the car you start with, so you do not have to do missions before you can do a race. Obviously you can still start of with the missions, the 206 is the car you will have before doing any race so you have a car to start the game with.

 

[sumbrownkid]

I always started off with a used Supra from 1990 or earlier. It never did me any wrong.

 

[opladener]

I would rather have opportunity to choose a car myself, but the 206 isn't too bad.
I just hope it'll be the 2.0 version, it's quite fast IRL (for a small car)

 

[Rob192005]

im guessing its the 206 RC (03)

 

[Yenrot]

But if you pre order do you not have the Enzo etc from the start?

 

[Rob192005]

hind sight is a wonderful thing but im going to do it properly.

 

[C-ZETA]

Sorry, what car? The Peugeot 206 you say? If it's the RC, I'm happy. If it's the S16, it'll probably be just to win the Sunday Cup. And that's it.

 

[aaron?]

maybe starting off with a bugatti wouldn't be too bad heh

 

[Rob192005]

Sorry, what car? The Peugeot 206 you say? If it's the RC, I'm happy. If it's the S16, it'll probably be just to win the Sunday Cup. And that's it.

lmao yeah what he said I could start with my blue GTR but that would be too easy.

 

[sher_da_putt]

@Famine

We know that we will definitely start with the 206, as it says in the article, but I started GT4 with a lupo, that you win for doing the first license, but Id consider my evo 3 my starting car, because I never really used the vw.