Parents' Guide to

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue

By Brett Molina, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Scaled-down PS3 race with gorgeous graphics.

Game PlayStation 3 2008
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Alexz444
Alexz444 Adult
May 12, 2010
age 2+

PERFECT FOR ANYONE

IT ROOOOOOOOCKS!!!!

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
KT427
KT427 Adult
April 10, 2009
age 7+

Just a view of what to come.

If this game takes up 5280 MB on my HDD, I'm afraid to see what the full game will take... Very fun, for people of all ages. GORGEOUS GRAPHICS.
See all 2 parent reviews

What’s It About?

To whet the appetites of longtime Gran Turismo fans, Sony unleashes GRAN TURISMO 5 PROLOGUE, a scaled-down version of the series that boasts an incredibly lifelike driving experience. Unlike the last iteration, which gave drivers over 700 cars to choose from, this precursor to Gran Turismo 5 offers about 70 vehicles, each of which look strikingly similar to their real-life counterparts.

Once you buy a car, you can advance to the single-player modes of three racing circuits, divided amongst six tracks. Some involve straightforward races. Others require beating a specific time or speeding from last to first in one lap. You must finish in the top 3 of each race in a circuit to qualify to the next level. At the end of each race, you'll receive points toward purchasing additional vehicles. You can play multiplayer on the same machine where you race using a split screen.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (4):

Overall, the presentation in Prologue is gorgeous. Road textures look rough and gritty, while vehicles sparkle under sunlight. The series debuts an interior dash view, an unbelievably realistic vantage point for driving. You'll see your driver's hands move as he shifts gears. The first out-of-control spin you perform feels dizzying. The sounds of tires screeching and engines revving contribute greatly to the authenticity. The series still doesn't show the effects of damage. For example, your car can slam into a wall at top speed and still look good as new.

Cars handle very well, as each model feels as unique as they look. The pacing in difficulty is handled quite well. The beginners' C circuit gives novices a good starting point to learn the control basics and vehicle handling. Also, the vehicular skills of computer opponents ratchets up quickly as you progress to tougher circuits. Since you have few tracks and vehicles, both the single player and online modes are limited. But Prologue still packs a ton of horsepower.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the lifelike visuals. How close is this game to the real thing? Can racing games influence how you drive in real life? On a video game note, should companies release scaled-down versions of games to appease fans or wait to unveil a more robust experience?

Game Details

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