DESCRIPTION

Sony's award-winning racing series makes its debut on the PlayStation 2 with Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec. Taking the driving engine and interface of the 1998 PlayStation original, the game offers enhanced visuals using the system's 128-bit processing power. With over 150 cars available from actual car companies, some of which include Ford, Fiat, Audi, BMW and Chrysler, Gran Turismo 3 offers players a choice of models based on their real-life counterparts, from the car bodies to the individual engines.

As before, Gran Turismo 3 A Spec is divided into an Arcade Mode and a Simulation Mode. Both modes have a variety of updated courses from the previous two titles as well as a few new tracks. The Simulation Mode has players purchasing and racing for money, with 60 different racing circuits divided into beginning, amateur, and championship difficulty levels, as well as ten rally and ten endurance rounds. In order to enter many of the races, players will have to earn certain licenses by passing a series of tests, some of which involve taking turns and stopping correctly within a time limit.

The soundtrack features artists ranging from Snoop Dogg to Lenny Kravitz to Judas Priest. Players can also alter their gameplay view from a camera positioned behind the car to a first-person perspective inside the driver's seat. As with others in the series, Gran Turismo 3 supports vibration feedback and full analog control. A memory card is required in order to save progress, statistics, and accumulated cars. ~ J.C. Barnes, All Game Guide