After what seems to be a lifetime of waiting, Gran Turismo 5 has finally been released today to ravenously impatient UK games fans. When you consider that this game has been in development for almost 5 years, you can forgive the fans for wondering if this was one computer game that was unlikely to make it out of ‘development hell’.

The All-New Gran Turismo 5

However, the day has arrived and the stores are stocked to the brim, but what exactly sets this video game from the rest of the pack? In the past 12 months Xbox360 and PS3 gamers have been given a plethora of excellent racing games in the shape of Forza Motorsport 3 from Microsoft and the successful re-emergence of the Formula One franchise under the expert gaze of Codemasters. However, Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo has always been considered a cut above the rest in terms of racing video games, ever since it first appeared on the original Playstation way back in 1997.

Sample Of The Tracks

The ultra-realistic graphics, matched with an ‘arcade-y’ style of play means that Gran Turismo 5 is likely to appeal to both petrol heads and those who don’t know an alloy from their elbow. Over 70 tracks are playable, including the famous Top gear test track. So if you’ve ever fancied taking on The Stig but aren’t famous enough to drive the show’s ‘Reasonably Priced Car’ around the Hammerhead, then GT5 looks about as close as you’re going to get.

I, for one, cannot wait to get my hands on a copy.