Sound: 9
Gameplay: 8
Replay Value: 10
Reviewer's Tilt: 10
Overall: 9.8
Ignore the corny joke I just made, and focus your attention on the best racing game ever made. This game will get you hooked faster than Jelly Bellys. This game truly is spectacular, and you may have noticed the rather nice score. Well, that's because this game really is THAT good. Forget all those other racers you loved, this game will be your next life. You play it, and play it some more, and you won't stop playing. Think of it as a very addictive treat.
The graphics are the second best on the PS2 (the best graphics belong to MGS2, of course), complete with an always high 60 FPS and it NEVER slows down. This is the only PS2 game that doesn't slow down besides Timesplitters. Even with all the action on screen, you'll never see it happen. That's because the developers took time and tweaked virtually everything, and the car graphics steal the show. They're really slick red, or shiny, dark forest green....whatever kind of car you want, whatever kind of color, to make it your own special car. I can't think of any racing game that comes close to perfection as GT3 does.
But it's not just a graphical show-off. It's also a very challenging game. Maybe a little too challenging, maybe. I hear people on the internet who always complain that it's so hard that it got boring, and they had to sell it. I think these people are insanely dumb. Just think of all the cars there are in the game! Look at the graphics! Look at the replay value, and fun level, and how can you turn this brilliant game down? How can you put it down, with it being so addictive as it is? Well, those are the same people who went and sold all their old games to get money for State of Emergency, and that's a poor decision. (Although I unmodestly sold Quake III Revolution just so I could buy Final Fantasy X, and that was NO mistake!) The point is, if you don't have this game, what have you been waiting for? It will have been out a year this summer, so there's no excuse! Evan, our site's co-creator and friend, bought this game for $30 and it came with a FREE Bradygames strategy guide. I'd say it's the best $30 he has ever spent! Get this game now!
But wait...the score is a 9.8. This must mean there's a little something wrong with it? Yes, but it's so minor. It's the AI in this game that sometimes is a little cheap. Sure, the real emotion physics make up for it, but it's a little cheap. You can use their cars as bumpers, for God's sake. Run into their cars to save you on a corner. That's useful, but stupid. And what is up with the steering in this game? Or should we say, the lack of. Come on, I want to steer with real handling physics, not this crap. I've driven a car, and no car that I know drives like that! And there's no damage on cars, which is another let-down.
But these little complaints don't mean crap when you see the game itself. Let it take your life and soul for a few months. It's no wonder the game is STILL on the top 20 bestselling games.
Controls- 9
Sound- 8
Replay Value- 10
Reviewer's Tilt- 10
Overall- 9.8
Gran Turismo 3 is a racing game that should be played by everyone. This game has excellent gameplay, tons of cars and options, and the games biggest quality, graphics. GT3?s graphics are just simply amazing. The cars look excellent, the tracks and surrounding background are done beautifully, and the replay almost looks real in parts. Now onto gameplay, gameplay is also excellent. The controls are so simple, X is accelerate, left is a left turn, Square is reverse, and so on. I have literally seen 6 and 7 year old children playing this game. However, it does have its challenging points in the form of expert tracks and getting the upper level licenses.
How about the choice of cars and customizing options your asking to yourself. Well, I have heard complaints about the lack of cars in this game, but I don't understand them. There is a huge selection of cars in this game from all different countries and different companies. There is a pretty good system of "souping up" your car, but nothing extensive.
Although the game is excellent, in fact the best racing game I have played, it does have a few down falls. For one, the physics of the game are a bit off. Things that just might not happen that way in the real world, like the cars showing no damage. Also the AI isn't the greatest in the world, however it is still not bad. The only other thing are how the graphics get worse in 2 player mode, like the billboards on the roads.
Now a note on rating the replay value: GT3 is a great game, but one that is extremely hard to rate for replay value. I mean, after getting nearly all of the cars, all of the licenses, and all the tracks unlocked and beaten, I don't see much of a reason to do it again, instead just redo the tracks with all the cars you have. Since replay value is hard to rate, I gave GT3 an average rating based on the other factors of the game.
Overall, GT3 is the best racing game I have ever played. Despite a few minor problems that plague nearly every game, Gran Turismo 3 is a game that I recommend to anyone who is looking for a good game to buy. It has stunning graphics, easy controls, and a good selection of cars.
