Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec - Gameplay

Gameplay

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 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.

Compared to Gran Turismo 2, the graphics are much improved (due to the greater processing power of the PlayStation 2). There are also improvements to the physics modelling (particularly how the car reacts to bumps and putting one wheel onto the grass). On the downside, far fewer vehicles are available in GT3 (just over 180 in total) than GT2 (around 650). This is attributed largely to the work needed for the more detailed graphics, providing detailed statistics for all the cars and the game's release being early in the PlayStation 2's lifespan. Other changes include the omission of the ability to "race modify" or add downforce to production cars, removal of suspension damage, and the absence of torque limits for races.

New to the franchise, GT3 also contained unlicensed versions of actual Formula One cars (labeled as Polyphony 001 and 002 in the PAL version and F686/M, F687/S, F688/S, F090/S, F094/H and F094/S in the Japanese and American versions) that the player can win from endurance races. In the American and Japanese versions, the name of each car denotes various pieces of information (such as the amount of cylinders in the engine, the year the chassis was raced, and its driver, respectively).

GT3 also marks informal appearances of automakers Lamborghini and Porsche. A racing JGTC Lamborghini Diablo was featured in the NTSC-J version (as well in NTSC-U with cheat device), and a Porsche 911 GT3 can be found in the game code (though it cannot be obtained normally, and requires the use of cheat device). Both cars, together with two hidden Lancia Stratoses (road and rally versions), however, are completely absent in PAL version.

The developers collaborated with computer and game peripheral maker Logitech for the game, which resulted in the GT Force steering wheel. The wheel features force feedback and was designed specifically for GT3.