At long last, I got my greasy paws on this exquisite masterpiece of programming and visual rendering. The biggest question is how does it stack up? And is it worth it? Sony's bet is that it is, especially since it came out with a PS2 package that includes GT3. Who are we to argue? GT3 is simply amazing. The graphics are stunning and the physics are second to none. What's more, the sound has been kicked up a notch as well.
Last month, I told you that there weren't as many cars in the game. Disappointing as it may seem, many of the lower-end models you had to suffer through in order to get that RUF CTR2 or monster Suzuki Escudo are gone, replaced by other cars that are worthy of being in the game--with the notable exception of Porsche and Ferrari.
GT3's graphics set the new standard for how racing games should look on the PS2. Each and every car has been painstakingly rendered and the environments in which you race raise the bar as well. For instance, while racing through the Deep Forest track you'll see sunlight filtering down through the trees, and the moment you burst from underneath the sylvan cover you'll be greeted with the sun's full glare.
What adds to this level of realism is the exhaust note of each individual car. Unlike with other games, in which you hear one singular exhaust note regardless of whether you're driving a V10 Viper or a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, GT3 does an excellent job at pronouncing the unique attributes of each car and engine.
Beyond the engine notes, GT3 kicks the physics engine up big time. Every change you make to your vehicle's settings affects vehicle dynamics on the track. Everything from spring rates and ride height to downforce and gear ratios make an impact on the overall characteristic of each car. Yes, you can even "feel" the most minor of changes.
GT3 sets the mark every racing sim developer should aim for and, dare I say, try to surpass. If you own a PS2, then GT3 is pretty much a necessity. It takes advantage of every bit of silicon that makes the PS2 so good.