Gran Turismo 3: A-spec
Description official descriptions
This is the third game in the Gran Turismo series of racing games.
The game is now an even more realistic driving experience with lighting now having an effect on the game, such as buildings blocking the sunlight. There are smoke effects caused by skidding and even heat rising from the road.
Groups +
- Automobile: AC Cobra
- Automobile: Aston Martin DB7
- Automobile: Aston Martin Vanquish
- Automobile: Audi A4
- Automobile: Audi TT
- Automobile: BMW 3 Series
- Automobile: Chevrolet Camaro
- Automobile: Chevrolet Corvette
- Automobile: Citroën Xsara
- Automobile: Dodge Viper
- Automobile: Ford Focus
- Automobile: Ford Mustang
- Automobile: Honda Accord
- Automobile: Honda Civic
- Automobile: Honda Integra
- Automobile: Honda NSX
- Automobile: Honda S2000
- Automobile: Jaguar XJ220
- Automobile: Lamborghini Diablo
- Automobile: Lancia Delta
- Automobile: Lister Storm
- Automobile: Lotus Elise
- Automobile: Lotus Esprit
- Automobile: Mazda 787B
- Automobile: Mazda MX-5
- Automobile: Mazda RX-7
- Automobile: Mitsubishi GTO
- Automobile: Mitsubishi Lancer
- Automobile: Nissan R390 GT1
- Automobile: Nissan Silvia
- Automobile: Nissan Skyline
- Automobile: Opel Astra
- Automobile: Pagani Zonda
- Automobile: Panoz Esperante
- Automobile: Peugeot 206
- Automobile: Renault Clio
- Automobile: Subaru Impreza
- Automobile: Subaru Legacy
- Automobile: Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak
- Automobile: Toyota Celica
- Automobile: Toyota Corolla
- Automobile: Toyota GT-One
- Automobile: Toyota MR2
- Automobile: Toyota Supra
- Automobile: Volkswagen New Beetle
- Console Generation Exclusives: PlayStation 2
- Gran Turismo series
- PlayStation 2 Greatest Hits releases
- PlayStation 2 Platinum Range releases
- Setting: City - Monaco
- Setting: City - Rome
- Setting: City - Seattle
- Setting: City - Tokyo
- Snoop Dogg licensees
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Credits (PlayStation 2 version)
541 People (379 developers, 162 thanks) · View all
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| [ full credits ] | |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 92% (based on 47 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.8 out of 5 (based on 107 ratings with 10 reviews)
A strong candidate for the best driving game ever.
The Good
I will never change my opinion, Prince of Persia is the top game ever for me, but in the case of driving games two strong candidates are Gran Turismo 2 & 3. The graphics are simply outstanding in this game, the speed control, smoke effects and light in this game are other things that are great, this game is technically perfect, but what is technical perfection without great enjoyment? Nothing is the answer, but luckily for us gamers, this game is enjoyment at it's peak, all the racing action is worth the price of this game without the superb graphics and technology.
The Bad
It's overall an excellent game, with no flaws at all, except the Playstation 2 controller, but the controller doesn't have anything to do with the game, does it?
The Bottom Line
The result: A fast and exciting racing simulation with great cars.
A great game that is a must-play, and it lives up to the Gran Turismo series.
PlayStation 2 · by Jim Fun (207) · 2002
The Good
This game has got lots of gameplay time, about 60 hours.
The cars and tracks available are very high detailed.
Also has different types of tracks, goes from technical, with lots of turns, to high speed tracks.
Each car has a different handling.
The endurance races are not too strenuous.
The Bad
In this game there were only about 180 cars, way less than previous titles.
Some professional events and races are just too long.
The Bottom Line
This game marks a huge leap in graphics and that's due to the change from PS to PS2. It allows you to have a very nice time, alone or with your friends. It justifies being one of the best selling PS2 games ever. It's a classic and if you can you should get it.
PlayStation 2 · by Pedro Cunha (233) · 2012
Excellent racer but with one major flaw
The Good
Graphics are superb and smooth. Cars are rendered cleanly and have that signature shimmy and shine. Peripheral viewings as you are blazing down the courses is adequate for visual pleasure. It is not like you have a lot of time to ponder the surroundings unless you are in a slow car.
The Bad
All aspects but one were stellar. The one major flaw in this game are the endurance races. If you want to get 100% in this game you have to go through the tedious and hour plus races that totally takes all the fun out of this title. These races should be for "extra" points and not for completion requirements. It is so bad that some people have given suggestions on how to tape your controller in a particular position and acceleration on the oval tracks to get through the races. It is then recommended to go to a move while your rigged controllers buzzes your car around the track. I like to enjoy my games, not have them be a job!
The Bottom Line
Awesome on road and off road actions. Great for simulation and quick racing. As long as you can avoid the endurance races, you got a class A title.
PlayStation 2 · by Random Fiste (8) · 2001
Trivia
1001 Video Games
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.
Development
Although Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec is more advanced in the graphics department than Gran Turismo 2, GT2 featured around 500 cars and 27 tracks. GT3 has 19 tracks and around 150 cars. This was due to time constraints; the extra detail that developers went to when developing vehicles and tracks for GT3 made the scope of GT2 an unrealistic goal.
Sales
According to developer Polyphony Digital, Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec sold 14,890,000 copies worldwide since its original release, making it the best selling title in the franchise at the moment of writing.
Awards
- 4Players
- 2001– Best Simulation of the Year
- GameSpy
- 2001 – PS2 Racing Game of the Year
- Retro Gamer
- September 2004 (Issue #8) – #94 Best Game Of All Time (Readers' Vote)
Analytics
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Related Sites +
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GT Planet
Covering the World of Gran Turismo -
GT3Times.com
A site for submitting your race/lap/licence/time trial best times and see how you compare to the rest of the world. No driving up against walls or off-track allowed. -
Gran Turismo 3
Sony's official portal for Gran Turismo 3. -
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
Official website -
IGCD Internet Game Cars Database
Game page on IGCD, a database that tries to archive vehicles found in video games. -
Racing-Line
A lap times database. No wall-riding or off-course times are allowed, but there IS a specific hybrid section -
The House Of GT
Online racing centre. Also the source of mk's GT3/GT Concept garage editor.
Identifiers +
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Brolin Empey.
Additional contributors: Macintrash, Matthew Bailey, Tibes80, Famine3h, Zaibatsu, CalaisianMindthief, Patrick Bregger, Titan10, Pedro Cunha, Victor Vance, FatherJack.
Game added July 14, 2001. Last modified February 5, 2024.