IGN.com review not so fond of Gran Turismo for PSP

[duffmanth]

I was pretty shocked at the review that ign.com gave for GT for PSP, 6.8/10, ouch! I can't remember a Gran Turismo game getting such a low score. I've read on several forums that ign kisses Microsoft's ass sometimes though, so who knows if this is even an objective review? Oh well, have to wait and see what the other reviews are going to be like. Here's the ign review: http://psp.ign.com/articles/102/1024698p1.html

[Therealqtip]

Oh god yeah they kiss their ass, you can just tell they have that shitty IGN strategizer on the XBL dashboard they'll never say anything bad about Microsoft.

[chicnstu]

It is very shocking, but I don't think it has anything to do with anyone prefering Microsoft. IGN is set up so that each console and handheld has one or a few reviewers just for that platform. So whoever wrote this review probably has already done a ton of reviews for PSP and has a lot of respect for the system.

[Bojay1997]

I was pretty shocked at the review that ign.com gave for GT for PSP, 6.8/10, ouch! I can't remember a Gran Turismo game getting such a low score. I've read on several forums that ign kisses Microsoft's ass sometimes though, so who knows if this is even an objective review? Oh well, have to wait and see what the other reviews are going to be like. Here's the ign review: http://psp.ign.com/articles/102/1024698p1.html

Did you actually even read the review? Unless the guy is a complete liar, he explains that he is a huge GT fan and goes into great detail about why the PSP version is lacking. Not having any real career mode or ability to upgrade your car is a huge deficiency since it's the basis of the entire game series up to this point. Who the heck just wants a racing game with a lot of cars and tracks? That's like every other crummy racing game out there even if it is slightly prettier.

[duffmanth]

Yeah I read the entire review, and the fact that there is no career mode sucks, I just wasn't expecting that low of a score.

[GrandAmChandler]

It should have come out two years ago. The game loses a full point for each year it's late. So really the review should be a 8.8/10. Instead, it sucks.

[StetsonGraves]

I listen to the IGN podcasts and Chris Roper is probably the biggest Gran Turismo fan in the world, so I trust his opinion.

[duffmanth]

I was just reading some other site's reviews for the game and they seem to have a pretty favorable stance on it. The fact that Roper scored it the way he did just because it doesn't have a full blown career mode is a bit harsh. It's like he's expecting a console gaming experience from a handheld system and game, not likely.

[Bojay1997]

I was just reading some other site's reviews for the game and they seem to have a pretty favorable stance on it. The fact that Roper scored it the way he did just because it doesn't have a full blown career mode is a bit harsh. It's like he's expecting a console gaming experience from a handheld system and game, not likely.

We're talking about the PSP though. It is a system that is essentially a miniaturized PS2. There are lots of PSP games that are essentially just PS2 ports and which provide a full console gaming experience, so there is absolutely no reason the game couldn't have every single feature that the PS2 versions of Gran Turismo have.

[Kid Ice]

It's like he's expecting a console gaming experience from a handheld system and game, not likely.

Wipeouts Pure and Pulse were far superior to Wipeout Fusion for the PS2 (which I liked).

Ridge Racer for PSP was better than Ridge Racer V.

The expectation that PSP GT would be better than GT3 and 4 is reasonable. Gran Turismo without a career mode? Heinous.

[duffmanth]

Yeah I mean some PSP games are as good or better than their console versions, and some aren't. I hope GT PSP is equally as good as the PS2 versions. Geez they've been working on it for what 5 years now?! I'm just making the point though that not all portable versions of games are going to be equal to their console versions, and I think that's partially how Roper scored the game?

[Leo_A]

It was destined for failure anyways, the PSP lacks a proper way to control something like a Gran Turismo title thanks to the poor analog nub that PSP's come equipped with.

[swlovinist]

Suprise Suprise a PSP version of a dated and tired franchise get meh scores. I loved Gran Tursimo back in the day, but the series need a reboot not a rehash. Add on top of that the insane $39.99 sticker and you got yourself a game that will go on sale pretty quickly. Alot of websites are saying the same thing. Look nice, but is sorely missing key Gran Tursimo aspects.

No career mode is retarded BTW

They had like five years to make the game, and they couldnt put that in sheesh

[Oobgarm]

It was destined for failure anyways, the PSP lacks a proper way to control something like a Gran Turismo title thanks to the poor analog nub that PSP's come equipped with.

This plus no "career" mode = fail.

I love Gran Turismo and all, but with the amount of time they've taken to get their new games out, most folks have moved on to greener pastures. I know I have.

[duffmanth]

The analog stick never bothered me, I've always used the D-pad for Gran Turismo any way. I'm still going to buy the game because I've been a huge fan of the series pretty much since the beginning. It's nice when a portable version of a particular game equals or exceeds its console versions, but I don't expect them to. I don't expect most portable games to be as good as their console versions, cuz a lot of the time they aren't. People can't expect them to be either, with handheld systems, there's always going to be hardware limitations.

[megasdkirby]

My friend will be livid when he hears this.

I never liked the series, but it's a shame that certain, important features that "make" the game are not included.

Could they potentially add that via a patch?

[duffmanth]

I'm hoping maybe they can add a career mode and other things the game is lacking via a software update? The fact that there is no career mode is completely messed. I'm beginning to wonder if Polyphony is just releasing this game as a "scaled down" version to tide people over until GT5 comes out?! But after 4-5 years, you would think it wouldn't be, I don't know?

[DigitalSpace]

No real career mode or car upgrades? I'm not so fond of Gran Turismo for PSP either.

http://i30.tinypic.com/2z74k0k.jpg

[kupomogli]

Hopefully GT5 is the epitome of badass racing games.

Anyways. Didn't Polyphony Digital say they were going to make a GT Portable but were going to wait until the release of GT5(and this was said after the release of Prologue?) So yeah. I doubt GT Portable was 4-5 years in the making like everyone here is trying to suggest yet was only announced to be released. It probably wasn't even a year in the making as we only started getting screenshots of it and features this year alone, while GT5 we obviously know about that since GTHD and GT5 Prologue.

About the review though. I actually agree. If there's no sortof career mode or anything like that, then what is honestly the use of playing the game. If racing fans wanted a good career mode, they'd go over and play Forza 2 and assuming Forza 3 is just as good or better, then they'd play that. Or they'd end up playing the massive Test Drive Unlimited one player mode.

I'm sure GT5 won't have the same fate as GT Portable because it's one game they've really been working on for quite some time. If GT5 Prologue shows what's in store for gamers of GT5 with everything GT games have had previously yet with the inclusion of damage(which it's now getting,) 80+ tracks, and over 1000 cars, then this one would probably be the one to wait for if you're really a fan of the series or racing games in general.

I for one am waiting for Test Drive Unlimited 2 over GT5, but I'm still picking it up shortly after release.

*edit*

Here's hoping TDU2 comes to the PS3.

[duffmanth]

i remember that Sony announced GT for PSP at least 3-4 years ago. Whether they've actually been working on it for that long, I don't know? I just hope GT5 is coming out by year's end, wishful thinking maybe, but it's been over 5 years since GT4. Get the game out already!

[Snapple]

I don't buy the whole IGN bias conspiracy. A lot of people were shocked when IGN ripped Lair to shreds, more than other sites, because Lair was supposed to be one of the first killer apps for PS3. It turned out they were right. I think most people agree now that Lair was a huge failure, despite the hype.

Plus, IGN's ratings on the whole tend to be harsher than Gamespot and others. I don't have a problem with that. I would've really liked a career mode with GT, as well.

[swlovinist]

I don't buy the whole IGN bias conspiracy. A lot of people were shocked when IGN ripped Lair to shreds, more than other sites, because Lair was supposed to be one of the first killer apps for PS3. It turned out they were right. I think most people agree now that Lair was a huge failure, despite the hype.

Plus, IGN's ratings on the whole tend to be harsher than Gamespot and others. I don't have a problem with that. I would've really liked a career mode with GT, as well.

I agree with this. IGN can sometimes be off, but for the most part overall they give decent ratings. I think that their review of Gran Tursimo was a fair one.

[kupomogli]

I agree with this. IGN can sometimes be off, but for the most part overall they give decent ratings. I think that their review of Gran Tursimo was a fair one.

There are times that IGN are way off.

Brigandine Legend of Forsena and God Hand as some examples. Both games got a 3/10 and both games are amazing.

http://psx.ign.com/articles/153/153865p1.html

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/738/738253p1.html

[Nintendo Gamer]

.....

[BHvrd]

Ok sure, compare a handheld racing game to console racing games...wtf. How about comparing it to other racing games on "portables" maybe? Novel concept!

You people talk of "greener pastures" and even the review says that their are bigger and better racers out this month.............FOR WHAT? THE CONSOLES?

Everyone is comparing a freaking portable game to console games, that's a big LOL and obviously says something about the game. I doubt there is a better racing game on a portable system than this atm and that's the point that everyone seems to be missing.

[Leo_A]

Considering the size of the entire field, including the player, is only 4 cars, calling it a racing game is being very liberal with that term.

Even the most dead, barren, sponsorless racing series in it's final days has car counts far above that, such as Champ Cars in it's final days.

I fail to see what's wrong with comparing it to console iterations of the series. We've seen no shortage of console quality racers on the PSP that have been straight ports or very close to their console cousins on the PS2, including games like Midnight Clubs from Rockstar, Need for Speed titles from EA, TOCA and Colin McRae releases from Codemasters, Ridge Racer releases from Namco, Test Drive Unlimited from Atari, Wipeouts from Sony, Outrun 2006 from Sega, WRC from Sony, etc.

I'd be hard pressed to name 1 racing title on the PSP that was heavily stripped down and missing key features of their PS2 counterparts.

[chicnstu]

Everyone is comparing a freaking portable game to console games, that's a big LOL and obviously says something about the game. I doubt there is a better racing game on a portable system than this atm and that's the point that everyone seems to be missing.

I haven't played any handheld racing games this generation, but not having a career mode is a big turn-off. I like that it has so many cars and tracks, but what do you do with them? Do you just set up a quick race, return to menu and repeat?

Also, anyone want to predict the GT5/F3 scores? GT5 seems to look better graphically and seems to have more content but the reviewers might put it below F3 because of the limited damage system (170 cars I think). Personally I don't care about the damage, I found it annoying having my car perform worse in GRID after hitting a wall. I'm going to restart the race anyway so why have the damage affect my vehicle's performance (other than that the game is going for realism)?

[BHvrd]

Considering the size of the entire field, including the player, is only 4 cars, calling it a racing game is being very liberal with that term.

Even the most dead, barren, sponsorless racing series in it's final days has car counts far above that, such as Champ Cars in it's final days.

I fail to see what's wrong with comparing it to console iterations of the series. We've seen no shortage of console quality racers on the PSP that have been straight ports or very close to their console cousins on the PS2, including games like Midnight Clubs from Rockstar, Need for Speed titles from EA, TOCA and Colin McRae releases from Codemasters, Ridge Racer releases from Namco, Test Drive Unlimited from Atari, Wipeouts from Sony, Outrun 2006 from Sega, WRC from Sony, etc.

I'd be hard pressed to name 1 racing title on the PSP that was heavily stripped down and missing key features of their PS2 counterparts.

Have you ever thought that Sony is going to use the main game as the main campaign and that this game is merely an addition to the game?

They are going to make the game compatible with the PS3 and you would know this if you gave any time into reading an article, which of course most people don't do anymore. This is Sony, this is their flagship racer, if you think there isn't going to be more you're being absurd. Sony is dedicated to its fanbase and doesn't just bring out a quick "fest" to amuse the masses.


In the interim, there's one reason a PS3 owner will want to check out Gran Turismo on PSP (besides the fact that it's portable): the ability to transfer cars from the PSP game to the upcoming console game. That should be incentive enough for collectors to try and "catch 'em all."

Full article and video:

http://playstation.joystiq.com/2009/09/10/kazunori-yamauchi-talks-gran-turismo-promises-car-transfers/

[Bojay1997]

Have you ever thought that Sony is going to use the main game as the main campaign and that this game is merely an addition to the game?

They are going to make the game compatible with the PS3 and you would know this if you gave any time into reading an article, which of course most people don't do anymore. This is Sony, this is their flagship racer, if you think there isn't going to be more you're being absurd. Sony is dedicated to its fanbase and doesn't just bring out a quick "fest" to amuse the masses.

A $40 full price PSP game that's a mere "addition" to the game? So, the whole game is really $100 for both the PS3 and PSP then? That's garbage. Charging that much for a PSP game brings very high expectations and there is absolutely no technical reason for all the deficiencies this game seems to have. As an earlier poster pointed out, there are tons of complex racing games for the PSP and there is nothing to indicate that this will become the best one out there given the limitations described above.

[kupomogli]

quality racers//Midnight Clubs from Rockstar

Please don't use PSP quality racers and Midnight Club in the same sentence. While I haven't played the other PSP Midnight Club or any other version for that example, Midnight Club LA Remix is an absolute piece of shit.

Oh the flaws I could mention this game has.

The draw distance is fucking terrible. It doesn't matter if you turn once the car in front of you is right up on you because it doesn't matter, you'll most likely turn into another car. The fact that this is also paired with the games already increased sense of speed, you'll be crashing through cars left and right.

Midnight Club LA Remix also has some pretty bad load times. I always mention to people how there are alot of games on the PSP that have some very good load times. LA Remix is definitely not one of those. It goes upwards to 20+ seconds whenever starting or restarting a race. We're talking about Sonic the Hedgehog PS360 loading times here, because that's honestly what is going to be happening.

Maybe the other PSP Midnight Club is better, but yeah. LA Remix is a piece of shit and it deserves more like a 2/10 3/10.

The only actual good PSP racers that I have played.

Need for Speed Most Wanted 5-1-0 Pretty good game believe it or not.
Test Drive Unlimited Amazing game and I can tell you this is definitely the best racing game on the PSP.
Driver 76 Not really a racer though has some tracks in the game, a prequel to Parallel Lines, and better than the PSP GTA games which are also good.
Wipeout Pure Great game.
Wipeout Pulse Even better than Pure with excellent online play.

[Leo_A]

Have you ever thought that Sony is going to use the main game as the main campaign and that this game is merely an addition to the game?


You're really grasping at straws.

No one said it wasn't okay for you to like the game. But your dismissal of all criticism of the title and denials of it are nonsense.

And your defense of it because it lets you unlock cars in the upcoming Gran Turismo 5 is laughable.


Please don't use PSP quality racers and Midnight Club in the same sentence. While I haven't played the other PSP Midnight Club or any other version for that example, Midnight Club LA Remix is an absolute piece of shit.


I've never played it, I was primarily referring to the port of Midnight Club 3 it recieved.

[Sonicwolf]

I cant believe they wont have car customization in this game. I had so much fun pimping out my old 80s square-mobiles to go super fast in GT4. A lot of fun with my first car ever in a GT game. I believe it was a 1981 Toyota Celica.

[meancode]

Really people? So Outlet ABC gives a negative review for Game XYZ and they are jumping in the sack with the rival console? Lets get real. Play the game.

It has no career. It has no upgrades. It has no times to beat in Time Attack and Drift Attack modes. Should I go on?

You get a random selection every "day" of only 4 of the 87 dealers in the game. So if you randomly get Shelby and you don't have enough money to buy one, you have to wait until a) it randomly comes up again and b) you have enough money at that time.

It has no infrustructure mode. A game of this calibure should, no questions asked.

Okay now that is out the way, lets talk about what I like about the game: The Driver's Challenge is the only real objective based *anything* the game has, and that keeps you going to get gold in every event. While it is not as involved as the Licence Tests of yore, it is a good way to present it in quick to complete chunks.

The default control mapping is very good and feels good. Gas is X, Brake is Square, and E-Break is RT. It really works well.

As for the gameplay itself, it feels like a GT title, and looks like one too, just a slight step down from GT4 on PS2. There are some geometry stitching issues but these are not noticable all the time.

This is based on about a week's playtime as Sony gave me a download voucher code to review the game. I will have a full review up by that is my initial impressions. It deserves the 6.8//IGN and 7.7/GameTrailers it is getting. It is a shell of a game, that needs actual objectives in it. You know, those things that make us want to play games.

[WanganRunner]

Wow, when I read the GT review on IGN the first time, I didn't realize there were NO UPGRADES.

I thought he was saying that, due to the way the game is structured, you've no incentive to upgrade your cars as in the past, I didn't realize that it wasn't an option at all.

I'd at least like to do wheels, so I can have some form of customization. I used to love to run around in my Autozam AZ-1 with Watanabe RS's on it in GT4. That'll be missed.


I think I'll still buy it, but now I won't do it on launch day like I was going to. I'll wait and finish Dissidia first.