Main game
3.70 average rating based on 587 ratings

A car enthusiast goes to an arcade and is disappointed cuz he wanted to drive real cars... and Gran Turismo is born. In 1997 this game visually blew my mind, and even though driving games were probably some of my least favourite, this really captured my attention - and even made me somewhat interested in cars (!!!) Imagine that.
The UI is wonderful as well as the soundtrack, while the feel of the cars and the driving itself is top notch. Car and level design set the standard for its many sequels to come, but there's just something special about Polyphony's original driving simulator.
The way the license tests work is horrible and anything the game gained from a realistic racing had the fun sucked out of it by this screen. I never played the first Gran Turismo and thought it would be cool to revisit this game, but only found frustration and annoyance.

Fun game when you’re just racing, with a nice sense of speed, but the mandatory license tests are difficult without really offering much to help you improve besides boring repeat trial and error. Granted, I don’t have a license in real life either, so it’s basically like the first time piloting the ship in Outer Wilds every time I play an actual “simulation” racing game. Probably ought to stick to games that are easier to handle.