14 DAY TRIAL // Gran Turismo 5 is the long-awaited racing simulation title created by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony, which has finally been released on November 24 and allows gamers to experience a wide variety of events, from karting to NASCAR and traditional city and circuit races with more than 1,000 vehicles.
When watching motorsports, one of the most interesting and exciting sights is that of the powerful machines hurling down a long straight section of a track, engines roaring as they push for top speed, distances staying about the same as the competitors are trying to get into position for the next corner.
The same situation in Gran Turismo 5 has some similarities and some differences.
The most important thing and the main similarity with real life while pushing hard on the acceleration (after, of course, changing the initial Polyphony Digital made setup which makes little sense for racers) is to make sure that you take a quick look at the mini map and know exactly where the next set of corners is and how difficult they are.
The racing line can help, but it often pays off to slow down a bit more, especially if the corner is hard, and try to sacrifice some entry speed in order to get out as fast as possible and begin accelerating again.
The main difference is that straight lines often spell doom for the human player in Gran Turismo 5, especially before level 10 is reached and a more diverse line up of cars is unlocked.
The game has a devious pleasure in throwing into the mix one or two competing cars that are way overpowered and can easily use their speed and acceleration advantage to overtake on the straight, which means that one needs to push hard in the more twisty sections of the track to get an advantage and then try to protect it through clever maneuvering.
The issue is that competing cars are often tag teaming the player, with one locking wheels with the player to push him off course and another pushing ahead full speed to snatch victory.
This is one good reason to hate straights in Gran Turismo 5.