I have been involved in gaming since 1982, and I’ve seen racing games evolve from pure arcade fun to serious racing simulators. Gran Turismo was the first true serious simulator on consoles; there were over 150 cars in GT, each with their own unique handling characteristics. There were dozens of tracks. And there was a career mode that would last longer than 60 hours. That is serious racing design that respects the skill level of the driver, and understands racing as a difficult and complex discipline.
The physics behind driving in GT are heavy. Cars react to input with real momentum. Braking requires thinking several turns ahead. Cornering is all about understanding your car’s limits. Your suspension set-up will make a difference. The type of tire you use will make a difference in your performance. These are elements of serious racing design where the driver’s skill is determined by their ability to race, and not by chance or luck.
What Gran Turismo Actually Does
When you begin playing Gran Turismo, you are in amateur racing using entry-level cars. As you progress through the game you obtain racing licenses that will test your skills at racing. In addition to amateur racing, you’ll participate in other racing series (circuit racing, time trials, endurance racing). When you earn prize money you can buy better cars. You can modify your cars through the game’s tuning system. The ultimate goal of the game is to become a professional racing driver.
Your advancement through the game is structured. Instead of being placed in random races, you will go through a series of racing series that will help you improve your racing abilities. Your early races will teach you the basics of racing, and your later races will require you to be a skilled racing driver. The game respects your level of play and increases the challenge as you advance through the racing series.
The game’s tuning system is very extensive, but you do not need to use it in order to finish the game. If you’re a skilled racing driver, you can win the game using the standard cars. However, once you learn how to adjust your suspension, gear ratio, and tire selection, you will find a greater sense of involvement with your vehicle.
In terms of track variety, the game provides a great deal of diversity in its racing environments. You will experience street circuits, road courses, oval tracks, racing in the rain, and racing under the lights. The AI drivers also adjust their racing style depending on the type of track you are racing on. Therefore, you will always be faced with a new challenge when racing.
Why Racing Simulations Matter
What Gran Turismo demonstrated to the racing game industry was something that many arcade racing games missed — racing is a disciplined sport that has rules and physical laws associated with it. How a car transfers weight during a turn, how braking points are critical, and how racing lines are key to success are all important aspects of racing. Once you understand these concepts, you develop a sense of excitement because you’re competing against yourself as much as you are against your opponents. Can you execute a perfect lap? Can you manage your tires perfectly over an endurance race?
The game has a balanced level of difficulty. With the easy mode, you can focus on learning how to drive. With the hard mode, you must demonstrate high levels of precision. The AI drivers also compete in a realistic way. They follow racing lines, they compete fairly, and they do not rubber band artificially. You are racing against opponents that are capable of racing like you.
Another element of the game that I consider to be one of its greatest features is the progression of racing licenses. The 200cc license teaches the basic principles of racing. The 800cc license teaches advanced racing techniques. The 10,000cc license tests whether you can master your racing skills. Through these three licenses, you learn what it takes to be a successful racing driver.
Technical Achievement
From a technical standpoint, the graphics in Gran Turismo are very good for a game released in 1997, although not revolutionary. The model detail of the cars is very good. Each track is meticulously modeled after a real world racing circuit. The draw distance is excellent, and the frame rate is consistent throughout the game. From a purely technical perspective, the most impressive achievement of Gran Turismo is the efficient implementation of racing simulation technology in a console game.
Another area where Gran Turismo excelled technically was in AI racing intelligence. For a game released in 1997, the ability of the AI to take racing lines, manage corners differently based on the car’s handling characteristics, and compete fairly without artificial bonuses was truly impressive. In addition to competing fairly, the AI will also adapt to the conditions of the track. This required the developers to implement highly advanced AI programming.
The physics simulation of Gran Turismo is extremely complex. The amount of grip a tire has depends on the temperature of the tire. The suspension geometry of a car will greatly affect the way it handles. The weight distribution of a car will also greatly affect the way it handles. Finally, the gear ratio of a car will determine both its top speed and its ability to accelerate quickly. These are all examples of complexities in racing simulation that require a significant investment of time and effort from the player in order to fully appreciate the game.
Is Gran Turismo Still Worthwhile Today?
While the graphics are certainly outdated compared to today’s standards, and the model detail of the cars is very basic, the racing design is still sound. The physics in the game still feel very heavy. The AI still competes in a very intelligent manner. The tracks in the game still present a significant challenge. Overall, I believe that playing Gran Turismo today demonstrates why serious racing simulation is so important.
The structured nature of the career progression is still very rewarding. The degree to which the tuning system engages the player is still very high. The numerous types of racing provide a high degree of variety. The difficulty curve of the game is still very well-balanced.
The endurance races, in particular, are truly challenging and satisfying. The sense of accomplishment when you finally earn your promotion through the ranks of the racing license system is very rewarding because you know you had to work hard for every step up the ladder.
Why Gran Turismo Was Important to the Racing Game Industry
Gran Turismo was the first racing game that provided proof that console racing could be serious, rather than just arcade. Gran Turismo showed that complex physics could be made accessible to a wide audience. Gran Turismo showed that racing gamers wanted depth and authenticity in their racing games. Since the release of Gran Turismo, every major racing game has attempted to replicate some aspect of the simulation found in the game. Modern Gran Turismo games continue to push the boundaries of simulation and realism, and the base of physics-based racing simulation and progression/customization in the game remains the same as it was in the original.
Conclusion
Gran Turismo was a groundbreaking game that demonstrated to the racing game community that simulation and accessibility are not mutually exclusive. The physics in the game are heavy and authentic. The game is well-suited for a wide range of skill levels, making it accessible to new players and challenging for experienced players. The career progression is rewarding. The variety of racing options keeps the racing fresh and exciting. The tuning system encourages you to learn about the game mechanics, but does not punish you for not learning.
Gran Turismo is a game that makes you compete against the AI, but also against yourself, to see how far you can stretch your abilities. Whether you want to create perfect laps, or manage your tires perfectly over an endurance race, the challenge is yours to accept. The reason for this is due to the physics and progression design in the game, not the difficulty level.
If you have never played Gran Turismo before, I encourage you to view it as a serious racing simulation. If you are interested in seeing how racing games can balance accessibility and depth, then study Gran Turismo, because it is the template that still holds up today.
Rating: 9/10 – A Serious Simulator that Proved Console Racing Could Be Serious
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Samuel’s been gaming since the Atari 2600 and still thinks 16-bit was the golden age. Between accounting gigs and parenting teens, he keeps the CRTs humming in his Minneapolis basement, writing about cartridge quirks, console wars, and why pixel art never stopped being beautiful.
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