WhenGran Turismowas released back in 1997, it ushered in a new era of the racing genre. While there were other racing games that preceded it such asThe Need for SpeedandRidge Racer, no other game at the time was able to capture the imagination of many asGran Turismodid.25 years later, the original game and its sequel still hold a special place in the hearts of many gamers.
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Despite the technical and content progression of the series, the originals still hold up to this day with their content and gameplay.
5Graphics
Visually, a lot of PS1 games did not age well. One of the games during that era that still looks aesthetically pleasing would be theFinal Fantasyseries, but that was mainly due to the pre-rendered backgrounds. While it wouldn’t be fair to compareGran Turismowith an RPG with a large budget, the graphics were in a league of their own.
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The reflection of buildings on the windows or the light bouncing off the exterior showcases the little details that are commonplace today. For its time, it was one of thebetter-looking home console gamesthat still holds a candle to this day.
4Car Selection
Gran Turismoand its sequel boast a staggering 140 and 650 cars respectively. Compare that with another racing game at the time,R4: Ridge Racer Type 4,which had321 cars. While the number may seem overkill at the time, it provided players with avast amount of optionsranging from the typical Honda Civic to the legendary Nissan Skyline.
If anyone could think of amake and model of a car, it was bound to be there. And while visual customization of the cars waslimited compared to its successors, the overall simplicity made them stand out and continues to resonate with many.
3Track Selection
Along with the number of cars available also came a variety of tracks. The original game had 11 to choose from, while the sequel had 27. From the streets of Rome to the islands of Tahiti, the diversity of locations was unmatched by other video games. It had a good mixture of both fictional and real to choose from.
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Each course had its own personality and nuances that make a player think about what car would be best to use. Some tracks had tight corners requiring more agile cars, whileothers require rally carsas they have dirt roads.
2Handling
Gran Turismo came to the scene with a different approach to car handling. Compared toMario KartandRidge Racerwhich leaned towards arcade-style of racing that revolved around drifting, Gran Turismo was more realistic. The cars felt like how they would perform in real life.
For example, at the beginning of the race, if someone steps on the gas pedal, the car won’t immediately launch, it will be a gradual acceleration. While there were other carsimulation gamesbeforeGran Turismo, it paved the way for the genre to become mainstream. The handling physics found in the PS1 games found their way to other titles, which are still in use today.
1Menu layout
The PS1-era games' main menu is simple. In simulation mode, players are greeted with a map layout where the options are laid out in the guise of landmarks. It is easy to navigate for anyone and compared to more modern examples such asGran Turismo 5and6,is not cluttered and overwhelming to the player. While in arcade mode, it goes back to a standard list menu.
With therelease ofGran Turismo 7earlier this year, the franchise has gone back to the map-based menu that hasn’t been seen since the 4th installment, showing that the style of the original games is timeless.
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