In thinking about reviewing Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec, there are many different ways I could discuss the merits of the game. I could talk about the stunning visuals or the perfectly-reproduced engine sound effects. I could go into detail about the realistic car handling or the precise physics. I could even discuss the bewildering array of real-life vehicles, officially-licensed tuning parts or the wide range of challenging courses. In lieu of doing any of that, I'm going to simply tell you that Gran Turismo 3 is the best-looking, best-playing, deepest and most immersive driving experience ever conceived, and you're doing yourself a great disservice if you don't own it. That's essentially all you need to know, so there's no point in even writing a review.

Well, maybe there is. Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec was originally slated to be Gran Turismo 2 A-Spec, a souped-up version of GT2 that would launch with the PlayStation2 in Japan. Of course the game missed that ship date, and again slipped past the American launch in October 2000, leaving many eager race fans out in the cold. The game finally shipped in June of 2001, and the extra development time paid massive dividends in the form of a beautiful, polished and finely-tuned game that still stands as the gold standard of racing games even today. Developer Polyphony Digital has gone to extraordinary lengths to create a true-to-life racing experience, and their obsessive attention to detail is evident in every facet of the game. From the stylish Fight Club-inspired opening credits sequence, to the attractive FMV-laden menu screens, right down to the authentic engine noises, Gran Turismo 3 bleeds quality all over.

What is initially striking about GT3 is its stunning photorealism, and when discussing the visuals I always recount this little tale: "I went to see the Final Fantasy movie tonight and saw the most amazing computer graphics... but not until I got home and played Gran Turismo 3." Simply put, Gran Turismo 3 is the closest approximation of the real world that I've ever seen in a video game. Even a year after its release, GT3 sports the most photorealistic visuals ever to grace a console system, and stands as a shining example of what can be accomplished on the PlayStation2. From exquisitely-modeled cars rife with high-resolution textures and real-time environmental reflections, down to skid marks and heat-induced atmospheric distortion effects, the attention to detail is staggering. Excellent lighting effects help create a startling illusion of reality, as the detailed cars actually look as though they reside in a physical world of substance rather than pixels. The game looks real, and is a remarkable accomplishment in computer graphics.

Minute flourishes abound in GT3, adding an extra layer of polish to an already impressive game. From glowing disc brakes to accurate sponsor logos to dozens of licensed wheel covers, details great and small reflect Polyphony Digitals' unyielding commitment to quality. The game runs at a fluid 60 frames-per-second all day, every day, without ever slowing down or dropping a frame. GT3 is also one of the smoothest PS2 games to date, featuring crisp, clean edges and a smooth overall look. This is the pinnacle of graphical splendor in driving games, and in my opinion it even outshines newer competitors on newer hardware. (Yes, I've played Rallisport Challenge on the Xbox.) There are a few niggling negative points that become apparent after extended playtime, such as minor pop-in and an abundance of flat scenery (trees, spectators, etc.). I expect to see these issues resolved in the next installment, but I'm going to let these things slide in light of the games' incredible technical achievements.

Audio is similarly excellent and compliments the visuals very well. Polyphony Digital has gone to extraordinary lengths to reproduce the engine noises of each of the 150 vehicles in the game. Each car emits a distinct cacophony of mechanical noises, and you can usually identify cars just by the sounds they make. GT3 also faithfully reproduces all of the tire screeches and associated racing sound effects in impressive fashion, completing the illusion of reality. GT3 is the total audiovisual package, as it sounds as good as it looks. The musical soundtrack is long and diverse, featuring the techno-rock stylings of Daiki Kasho and Apollo Four Forty's catchy "Can't Stop the Rock". The domestic release adds some fairly decent rock tunes, such as "She Sells Sanctuary" from The Cult and the oddly appropriate "Turbo Lover" from Judas Priest. C'mon, you gotta give credit to a game that includes a Judas Priest song in this day and age. You can modify the playlist in the options menu to selectively toggle songs on or off, so you don't have to listen to those annoying filler songs (Powerman 5000? Ugh.).

Players can race to their hearts' content in the insanely deep Simulation Mode or the slightly more forgiving Arcade Mode. The latter lets you jump in the car of your choice and hit the track right away, with beginner options like automatic transmission and drift-style racing not found in the Simulation portion of the game. Three difficulty levels will hone your skills, and completing races will unlock new cars and courses. You could just skip this part of the game, but you're encouraged to spend some time here as your progress in Arcade Mode counts towards your overall completion total. Simulation Mode is the real meat and potatoes in GT3, with an almost RPG-like level of control over your racing career. After a quick trip to the Car Dealership, you can head to the Tune Shop to purchase upgrades, take a spin at the GT Auto Car Wash or head straight to the track for some hard-drivin' action. Races are split into five leagues (Beginner, Amateur, Professional, Rally and Endurance) that increase in difficulty as you progress.

Each league presents a bewildering array of races, some of which are limited to specific licenses, drive trains or car models (for instance, the Stars and Stripes race is limited to American vehicles). Just like in real life, you'll need a license to drive the more advanced courses. Though passing these license tests isn't terribly difficult, it does feel a bit redundant, especially if you earned all the licenses in GT and GT2. Winning races rewards you with cash, while finishing in first place in a racing series will earn you a shiny new car for your personal garage. You can spend your cash on new cars or upgrades for your existing vehicles, so you're encouraged to win early and often. The real challenge comes in building a competitive vehicle for the various types of races, and it will take a different set of skills to win with both a 60 HP sub-compact and a 900 HP racing monster. There is always a racing challenge to overcome, and succeeding is very rewarding. I've played for close to 100 hours, but I've only scratched the surface of the game with my 32% completion total. This game has play value to spare.

Driving control is fairly straightforward, with analog control over acceleration, braking and steering, as well as digital gear shifting. There's also a handbrake, but I find it too imprecise for most circumstances. Unfortunately, only two camera views are available: cockpit and behind-the-car, which proves useless after a few minutes of frustration. The only time you'll really see your car is during the excellent replays, which I find myself watching every single time. Most players will initially find themselves veering wildly off course when attempting to turn, no doubt drawing on arcade racing experience. Gran Turismo 3 mimics real-world driving with painstaking precision, so you'll have to learn proper driving techniques if you wish to get anywhere. Thankfully this isn't too difficult, and there's even a well-written tutorial (from Skip Barber) in the back of the manual. Players raised on a steady diet of Ridge Racer and Need for Speed will likely balk that realistic handling isn't fun, but with a modicum of effort, just about anyone can develop a knack for the high-speed driving thrills the game offers.

That's not to say that things will be easy, as failure to properly tune and tweak your car will result in a swift defeat. There is a huge range of upgrades you can purchase for your various cars, from turbo-charger kits and weight reductions to gearbox replacements and tires. You can also endlessly tune most of these parts before races, though it helps to have some prior knowledge of automobiles before futzing with the gear ratios or camber angle. The racing is tight and intense early on, but with a maxed-out car and halfway-decent driving skills you'll probably be able to breeze through many of the later races. The multiplayer options in Gran Turismo 3 will pick up the slack, though, provided you've got the cash (and friends). While the two-player split-screen racing is nice, the real appeal is the six-player i-Link competition the game supports. With three televisions and three PS2 units (and five friends... you've got five friends, right?), you'll be in racing heaven. Of course, this setup is monstrously impractical (just like Halo's 16-player LAN options) for the overwhelming majority of players, but it's a cool option nonetheless.

Complaints are few and far between but are pressing enough to warrant discussion. The AI of the computer-controlled cars is stiff and robotic, and it seems like these cars are driving on rails most of the time. Players can exploit this drawback by slamming into other racers when entering a turn, which makes it easier to make it around that particular curve. The lack of a damage model also plays into this, as there is no penalty for slamming your car into guardrails and other racers. The game also falls prey to "rubber-band racing", as you can always catch up if you fall behind, and you'll never completely lose those the other racers. This keeps most races competitive, but feels like a cheap way of achieving the effect. Finally, there is no way to evaluate your competition prior to a race. You'll usually either be under- or over-powered compared to the other racers, resulting in a less-than-optimal racing experience. Being able to match up your car with similarly-equipped competitors would vastly increase the appeal of most races. These are issues that must be addressed in Gran Turismo 4 if the game is to evolve to a higher level of racing realism.

In the meantime, GT3 is close enough. Wether you're a car nut or just a fan of driving games, Gran Turismo 3 is a basic essential of any gamers' library. It's not as difficult a game as it might seem, so those put off by "realistic" driving shouldn't worry too much. Gran Turismo 3 was recently re-released as part of Sonys' Greatest Hits lineup, so it's almost a criminal act not to pick this game up at the new twenty dollar price point. I expect massive improvements in the next installment, but at the moment Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec is the absolute best driving game you can purchase. This is one of the best examples of next-generation technology at work and should impress even your non-gaming acquaintances. Believe everything you've heard, because Gran Turismo 3 delivers.