Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec | |
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North American version cover art featuring an Acura 3.2 CL Type S
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Developer(s) | Polyphony Digital |
Publisher(s) | Sony Computer Entertainment |
Producer(s) | Kazunori Yamauchi |
Designer(s) | Kazunori Yamauchi |
Composer(s) | Isamu Ohira Daiki Kasho |
Series | Gran Turismo |
Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
Release | |
Genre(s) | Racing game |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Aggregate scores | |
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Aggregator | Score |
GameRankings | 94.54% |
Metacritic | 95/100 |
Review scores | |
Publication | Score |
AllGame | |
Edge | 8/10 |
EGM | 10/10 |
Eurogamer | 10/10 |
Famitsu | 39/40 |
Game Informer | 9/10 |
GamePro | |
Game Revolution | B+ |
GameSpot | 9.4/10 |
GameSpy | |
GameZone | 9.8/10 |
IGN | 9.8/10 |
OPM (US) | |
The Cincinnati Enquirer | |
Maxim | 10/10 |
Awards | |
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Publication | Award |
Game Critics Awards | Best Racing Game of 2001 |
Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences | Best Racing Game of 2001 |
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (グランツーリスモ3: A-spec Guran Tsūrisumo Surī A-supekku?) is a 2001 racing game, the first in the Gran Turismo series released for the PlayStation 2. During its demonstration at E3 2000 and E3 2001 the game working title was called Gran Turismo 2000. The game was a critical and commercial success and it went on to become one of the best-selling video games of all time. Its aggregate score of 94.54% on GameRankings makes it the second-highest rated racing video game of all time.
The objective of the game is to win all the provided races, championships, complete license tests and achieve 100% game completion. Every 25% of the game completed results in the player being awarded a car as a special prize. For GT3, the Gran Turismo Mode (Simulation Mode in the North American version) has a reorganized layout, with a more structured and progressive arrangement of races and challenges. Races vary from short beginner events to multi-hour endurance races and also rallying events against an opponent. In addition, the car shops are now organized by country and then by manufacturer, which some find to be more intuitive than the East/West City method used in its predecessor.
The Arcade Mode is reorganized in "stages"; these stages are made up of 5 or 6 tracks pooled from all available tracks in the game, including both road and rally races. To get to the next stage, all tracks on a stage must be completed on Easy difficulty or higher. By beating the stage on Normal or Difficult, additional cars are unlocked as well for play in any mode of Arcade Mode (including two-player battle and time trial).
GT3 features more than 30 tracks to choose from, including the original Gran Turismo track: Midfield Raceway. Dirt track like Smokey Mountain, real-life race track like Laguna Seca Raceway and city tracks like one on the Baths of Caracalla (home of the former Rome Grand Prix).