Gran Turismo Prologue Demo - Review (Japan)

Hurro,
Beer o'clock isn't scheduled for half an hour and I've got to get this off my chest!

Downloaded the Gran Turismo Prologue Demo from the JAP Playstation Store on Monday (yes, a demo of a demo). It only has one track (like the GT 2.0 demo), but it is Suzuka so at least I know it off by heart and can put the hammer down!

From the get-go it is a rolling advertisement for the new Skyline (I prefer evo's and wrx's) - The opening movie focuses on it and the Audi R8, as well as a splash of Ferrari 544? As soon as the game loads you are 'rewarded' with the Nissan beast (a particularly aliased model at that).

From there it is a highly polished front end (in Japanese obviously, but if you've spent cumulative months of your life playing previous iterations it won't be a problem). I've had a bash in all the cars and they are adding them weekly from now until Nov 11th (this weekend = wrx sti).

Sixaxis controls are lots more twitchy than previous GT's. You really have to be gentle to muscle your beast around the track. There's always been a learning curve from one GT to the next so this is to be expected. A week of racing and all gold licenses will make it second nature.

The real point of this review was to enlighten you re: the G25 wheel support. In short, fucking amazing! Reports vary online as to the clutch function - I can't get it to register, but I can't read japanese to set it up. There are videos online with people depressing the clutch and having the revometer go ballistic, and polyphony have stated it will be in the final release so I'm not too worried.

The in-car views are amazing! absolutely amazing! the sense of speed and control you get off the main straight, slamming the 6 speed gearbox from 5th (revving balls) to second (chicane), blipping the gas, tapping the brake, gas, third and away is out of control!

I highly recommend anyone (andy :) ) who has the means to create a JAP PSN account and downloading this puppy. It will not see an AU or US release and the retail version is slated for xmas.

Anyone who wants to feel the need for speed, come around! (Tim, is projectorville still in operation - this thing would go off in lifesize glory!)

*Andy, my PSN nic is 'mikkachops' - Add me you bastard! I need to smash you!

mm