The landmark title that is Gran Turismo sees its first periphery update before
the inevitable release of a sequel. The aptly named Gran Turismo Concept - Tokyo
Geneva is an intermediate update, focusing attention on a number of concept cars
which debuted in the Tokyo and Geneva motor shows.
In addition, it also boasts a number of various minor additions for diehard fans.
Time, therefore, to discover whether Gran Turismo Concept is a genuine power-boosting
superchip, or merely an alloy gear knob.
Gran Turismo Concept is based on the arcade mode of Gran Turismo 3 - those concerned
about 70 lap races need not worry. However, Gran Turismo Concept does require
you to complete the familiar licence mode, but in comparison to Gran Turismo 3,
this particular version is unlikely to cause significant headaches. Completing
the relevant licences unlocks new vehicles, which includes a healthy selection
of desirable machinery - a few that spring to mind include the Ford Focus RS,
Nissan Skyline Concept, Honda Civic Type R, and the wild Suzuki Fireblade.
However, some will find disappointment in the continued absence of cars such
as the BMW M3, M5 and marques such as Ferrari and Lamborghini. No additions
have been made to the rally category either, although a small selection from
Gran Turismo 3 is provided, as well as numerous others from racing categories.
You can choose to take your Concept machinery on any one of ten courses (only
five if you take into account reverse tracks). Disappointingly, with only one
new course (and even this isn't strictly true as it was first seen in the original
GT), one cannot help but question why more tracks weren't included - even if
it means simply lifting them off Gran Turismo 3.
Disappointing also is the absence of the guest garage mode, which means that
none of your previously acquired vehicles from Gran Turismo 3 can be transferred,
robbing you of the chance to compare the old with new, and their lap times on
the new and commendable Autumn Ring track. Such exclusion will be particularly
annoying for diehard race fans (evidently those which are most likely to buy
this game in the first place).
Racing is divided into straightforward novice and professional modes, which
typically consist of two and three laps respectively, depending on the track.
For those already familiar with Gran Turismo 3, this isn't going to provide
any significant challenge apart from the initial burst of excitement in a new
car. Handling also appears to remain identical to its big brother, although
the handbrake facility seems to have been tweaked slightly to invoke neater
and easier back-end slides.
As with Gran Turismo 3, progression in the game is constantly measured as a
percentage. Completing the relevant milestones will unlock hidden bonuses, such
as opening and ending sequences, and a futuristic Pod race. Given the limited
selection of tracks, however, completing the entire game is unlikely to take
sufficiently long (possibly in a few hours for the determined), and when that
happens, you are left to ponder only at the cars which have managed to stimulate
lasting appeal. At this stage, you also wonder why a simple modification mode
(to include basic items such as exhausts and alloy wheels) weren't included.
All in all, Gran Turismo Concept is a little less than what you might expect
from an update to such a vast game. Car selection aside, there is a distinct
lack of tracks, options and general things to do - even as a periphery title.
Therefore, as much as this should have been the mother of performance upgrades,
it's nothing more than the equivalent alloy gear knob and matching foot pedals
- nice to look at, but look elsewhere for genuine speed thrills.
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