Review: Gran Turismo HD Concept (PS3)

For those brave enough to have taken the plunge and picked up a PlayStation 3 on launch day (thereby buying into Sony's high definition, broadband enabled dream), there is only one port of call when you reach the PlayStation Store. Yes, Gran Turismo HD Concept, which is available as a free download and clocks in at a respectable 690MB.

The Eiger Nordwand track is located in the Swiss Alps and features all the twists, climbs and depressions that you would associate with the mountainous location. You have only one track but there are nine cars to obtain, with each being unlocked when you set a predetermined lap time. Thankfully these times are by Gran Turismo standards quite reasonable, and won't require too much effort from followers of the series. Each car represents an increase in power and effort from you to keep it on the tarmac. The final car is a Ferrari 599/T and will test your skill, as what it lacks in rallying ability it makes up for in brute force. Your best times are uploaded and your position confirmed. You can view the times in more detail with the Ranking option and see just how quick the best are. The nationality of each player is also confirmed with their national flag shown alongside their best effort. Although early days it seems the Italians can certainly drive and Gamestyle has even seen a good effort from drivers down under on the charts.

Once all the cars are unlocked the option to drive the track in the reverse direction is unlocked, along with the tuned cars option and the Drift Trial mode. You also have the option to save replays and scroll through the angles, as the sensational graphics really impress. Ah yes, those visuals. It is a cliché but this does look almost real.

Gamestyle has played a handful of launch day titles and these all come in at 720p resolution. These have been impressive visually, but jumping up to 1080p and seeing what GT5 may have to offer is something you can only experience to appreciate. The track is richly detailed with the normal racing downfall (spectators) rising to the occasion. These onlookers for a change actually feel part of proceedings and not some flat dimensional cardboard cut out nullifying the experience. Topping things off are the flags, which flutter in the wind and are just there to show off the power of the developer and machine.

The cars themselves look great, sound fantastic and handle extremely well. The downfall for Gamestyle is the lack of rumble with the SIXAXIS controller. Yes you could fork out for a LogiTech steering wheel but force feedback has become such a standard inclusion in racing titles. It feels a bizarre omission from Sony, the controller is lightweight enough and the lack of rumble compounds this issue. The real driving simulator certainly falls down in this department; the analogue sticks are too smooth to provide a decent level of control. We found ourselves heading back to the D-pad to post decent times, and the thumb is paying for it already.

Despite the controller issue you're left with a hunger for more Gran Turmiso. Filing microseconds from your best time should keep you amused for the long wait until Gran Turismo 5. If you want to show anyone what the PlayStation 3 can deliver then this is without question your technical demonstration.

Rating: 8 / 10

Words by Jason Julier