Gameplay and design
The core gameplay of Gran Turismo is split into Arcade Mode and Simulation Mode. Arcade Mode lets players jump straight into a race with a chosen car and track, offering a fast-paced experience that's easy to pick up. Simulation Mode (called Gran Turismo Mode in the Japanese and PAL versions), on the other hand, requires players to start by earning a driver's license, then gradually compete in events to earn credits and unlock more cars and tracks. This blend of arcade fun and simulation depth was unique among racing games at the time, catering to both casual players and hardcore driving enthusiasts.
The game features 140 cars and 11 tracks (including reverse layouts), with vehicles primarily from Japanese manufacturers such as Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Honda, and Mazda, along with a few American and European models. These aren't all top-tier supercars; many are everyday road cars, allowing players to drive familiar vehicles and experience the progression from low-performance to high-performance machines. This down-to-earth car selection makes it easier for players to feel a connection to the vehicles.
Gran Turismo was the first game to fully support the PlayStation's DualShock controller, making the most of its analog sticks and vibration function. The analog sticks provided more precise steering control, while the vibration feedback delivered subtle tactile sensations during collisions and when running over rumble strips, enhancing the sense of immersion. This was revolutionary at the time and set a new standard for how racing games handled controller input.
The game doesn't include vehicle damage, but it offers a wealth of upgrade and customization options. Players can earn credits through races to buy parts like engines, tires, and suspension, fine-tune performance, and even change the body color. This deep customization system lets players build their own unique rides and adds to the game's replay value. Despite the lack of damage modeling, the performance differences and handling characteristics between cars remain distinct.
Track design emphasizes realism and variety, featuring everything from high-speed circuits to complex, twisty courses that test driving skill and racing lines. The physics model is based on the engine from Motor Toon Grand Prix, refined to deliver more realistic grip and weight transfer. While limited by the technology of the time, the physics were top-notch then and provided an unprecedented driving experience for players.
Background and release
Gran Turismo was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, marking the first entry in the Gran Turismo series. It launched in Japan on December 23, 1997, and later in North America and Europe in 1998. Directed by Kazunori Yamauchi and produced by Shuhei Yoshida, the project was championed within Sony and ultimately became one of the PlayStation's defining titles.
Development began in late 1992, when Yamauchi led a small team to start this ambitious project. The initial team was just 7 to 15 people, with some members joining after completing Motor Toon Grand Prix 2. The entire development process spanned five years, with a budget of around $5 million—a significant investment for console games at the time, reflecting Sony's commitment to the title.
Early on, the team was known as Polys Entertainment, and it wasn't until April 1998 that it was reorganized as Polyphony Digital. This name change marked the team's transition from a small development group to a core studio under Sony, also signaling the project's rising status within the company. Throughout development, the team faced personnel changes and technical hurdles, but Yamauchi remained steadfast in his pursuit of an authentic driving experience.
Gran Turismo's creation was closely tied to the growing popularity of the PlayStation. Sony aimed to showcase the console's 3D graphics capabilities with a high-quality racing game and attract more adult players. The game made full use of the PlayStation's hardware; Yamauchi estimated it utilized about 75% of the console's maximum performance. Although CPU limitations prevented the initial goal of 12 cars per race, the final visuals and physics were still impressive.
The game was a massive commercial success. In Japan, it sold over a million copies in its first month, becoming the best-selling game of the 1997 holiday season. In May 1998, Sony awarded it a 'Double Platinum' prize for surpassing 2 million units sold in Japan. In Western markets, it performed strongly as well: in the US, first-month sales were second only to Tekken 3, and 1998 sales reached 1.43 million units, generating about $58.5 million in revenue. By April 2008, worldwide shipments had reached 10.85 million units, making it the best-selling game on the PlayStation.
Development
The development team for Gran Turismo was the same as that for the Motor Toon Grand Prix series, and they reused parts of that game's engine, including the physics model. To boost performance, the team employed assembly code optimization, a common but highly demanding technique at the time. Yamauchi's pursuit of performance was almost obsessive; he estimated the game used about 75% of the PlayStation's maximum capability, but the CPU's limitations still prevented him from achieving his target of 12 cars per race, forcing a compromise at 6.
Development was fraught with challenges and sacrifices. Yamauchi barely went home during the project, estimating he spent only about four days a year at home, fully dedicating himself to the game's creation. This intense work ethic reflected the team's commitment to quality but also brought immense pressure. Nevertheless, Yamauchi's persistence paid off, resulting in a game that stood out among its peers.
The sound design was compromised due to time constraints, a point of regret for Yamauchi. Because of the tight development schedule, the audio team couldn't record unique engine sounds for each car and had to rely on a limited set of samples. Despite this, the overall soundscape still managed to create a decent atmosphere, but Yamauchi always saw it as an unfinished aspect, which drove him to pay more attention to audio details in later titles.
The game also stood out musically. The PAL and NTSC versions included tracks from major label artists such as Garbage and Manic Street Preachers, with Feeder in the PAL version and TMF in the NTSC version. In late 1998, EMI released a companion soundtrack album featuring in-game songs as well as tracks from artists like David Bowie and Blur that didn't appear in the game, further expanding the game's cultural reach.
The team also made bold technical moves. Gran Turismo was the first game to fully support the DualShock controller, which meant adding support for analog sticks and vibration late in development. This decision increased the workload but also delivered a superior control experience for players. Additionally, the sheer number of cars and tracks showcased the team's investment in content creation, even though some vehicles (like the 1992 Honda NSX exclusive to the Japanese version) were removed from Western releases; the roster remained substantial.
Reception and legacy
Gran Turismo received widespread critical acclaim upon release, with reviewers praising its graphics, physics, handling, and car count. On GameRankings, the game averaged a score of 95%, and until the site closed in 2019, it remained the highest-rated racing game. Metacritic classified it as 'universal acclaim,' a rare distinction for racing games at the time, cementing its status as a classic.
The game won numerous industry awards, including 'Console Racing Game of the Year' at the 1998 Interactive Achievement Awards and 'Best Simulation Game' at the 1999 Spotlight Awards. It also won the 'Racing Game' category at the 1999 Milia D'Or Awards, and in 2000, Computer and Video Games readers voted it the eighth-best game of all time. These honors not only affirmed the game's quality but also reflected its high standing among players.
Gran Turismo's commercial success was equally remarkable. By April 2008, worldwide shipments had reached 10.85 million units, making it the best-selling game on the PlayStation. In February 2000, sales hit 7 million units, earning it a Guinness World Record for 'Best-Selling Driving Simulator.' In Europe, the game generated €94.44 million in revenue in 1998, making it the second-highest-grossing game of the year there, behind only Tomb Raider III, and it received a 'Platinum' award at the 1999 Milia festival.
The game left a lasting impact on subsequent racing titles. In 2015, IGN ranked it as the second most influential racing game of all time, calling it 'the father of the modern console racing simulator.' Its design philosophy of blending realistic driving simulation with arcade fun influenced many later racing games, such as the Forza Motorsport series. It proved that racing games could be more than just entertainment; they could also serve as a platform for showcasing car culture and driving skill.
Gran Turismo has appeared multiple times on media lists of the greatest games ever made. In 1999, Next Generation ranked it 15th on its list of the 'Top 50 Games of All Time,' and in 2006, GameSpot included it in its 'Greatest Games of All Time' list. These long-term recognitions indicate that the game was not only a technical marvel in its day but also that its design principles and depth have stood the test of time, still regarded as a classic by players and developers alike.
