Gran Turismo 3 A-spec

After all those delays, will Gran Turismo 3 truly be the PS2?s ultimate driving machine?

Stellar gameplay is what catapulted this series to prominence, and GT3 harnesses the PS2?s additional horsepower to deliver thrilling, challenging races. The realism and depth of even the Arcade races mean GT3 is definitely suited for serious drivers only.

GT2?s lineup of street and off-road courses is joined by two new tracks: a cool downtown Tokyo circuit and the renowned Grand Prix course at Monte Carlo. While the car lineup is smaller than GT2?s, it?s still vast, offering everything from Dodge Vipers to Cooper Minis. It?s a shame that more European exotic cars like Ferraris didn?t make the lineup, though.

However, GT3?s much-vaunted A.I. isn?t quite the revolution it was touted to be. Sure, the cars no longer robotically follow the same racing line and they?ll occasionally sideswipe you, which are great improvements. But the changes amount to nice tuning, rather than the promised new experience. The off-road rally racing has been greatly improved, though, offering a much more playable, enjoyable ride. It?s a lot like playing Colin McRae Rally 2.0?the action is that sweet.

But GT3 isn?t perfect. The races could really use more cars on the track; depending on the circuit, you?ll face between one and five opponents. More importantly, the total absence of wrecks and damage to the cars makes such a highly realistic experience ring false at times. These nagging flaws have persisted since the first GT, so rather than being surprising, it?s more of a shame that they weren?t addressed.

The GT series has a huge worldwide fan base, and GT3 measures up to those high expectations with style and depth. If you?re into racing at all, this instant classic is simply a must-own game.

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