While the series has featured a number of real-
world tracks since, the first game offered 11
fictional creations – demonstrating the developers’
astonishing ability to conjure up believable raceways.
While everybody will have their own favourite, Trial
Mountain – with its deceptively difficult corners and
sweeping views – must surely be the most iconic.CLASSIC LEVEL
Gran Turismo came with its own driving school
and set of tests which had to be passed in order
to take part in race events. The detailed nature of
the lessons reflected creator Kazunori Yamauchi’s
passion for race-day etiquette and on-track skill,
and set the tone for a game that really was all about
driving well, not just going fast.
CLASSIC MOMENT
Y
ou can’t overstate Gran
Turismo’s impact on the
racing genre. While the series
has lost some of its edge in
the intervening years, with whipper-
snapper rivals such as Forza Motorsport
stealing a march on the old series (a
situation Polyphony hopes to rectify
with Gran Turismo Sport), the original
Gran Turismo redefined everything.
Five years in the making and stuffed
with nearly 150 cars – all of which could
be tinkered with and all of which were
recognisable – it was a love letter to
petrolheads. It was also, at the time of
release, the best-looking PlayStation
game yet, its astonishing car models
looking and moving – to 1997 gamers’
eyes, at least – just like the real thing.
In a landscape that favoured over-the-
top arcade racers built around fictional
vehicles with outlandish spoilers, it
was a beacon of heartfelt clarity that,
crucially, let players build a collection
of vehicles which included both
unobtainable exotica and a convincing
approximation of their dad’s hatchback.