Fantastic game. One that should be on every racer's list. Superb gameplay. Despite no career, it will not disapoint you.
Gameplay:
This is the reason this game succeeds so effortlessly. This game makes perfect use of the controls (once you change the default gear change buttons). The different handling characteristics of each car is unique and very realistic (very typical GT). The joy comes down to nailing each successive corner to get the fastest lap. That's basically it. But it is soooo addictive, due to the variables that go into this such as, the road surface, tyre selection, manual/automatic, weight distribution of each car. Plus trying to achieve this in the car of your choice. And what about choice, over 800 cars is simply mind blowing in such a small portable device.
The possible downside of this version of the game is no career mode and limited purchasing options. You can buy all the cars, just not all at once. There is no formal direction in which to complete the game. And in a society that likes the familiar, this doesn't fit very well. And fair enough too, this is a decent change from their previous versions. But you can make it up as you go. So in the end, once you get used to the idea, it really does prolong the life of the game.
Also you can't really alter the cars that much. There is an editing option, but nothing GT enthusiasts are used to. Again, good and bad. Bad cause you can't customise cars. Good because it makes you focus on driving ability alone.
But remember this is meant for racing on the go. The psp is all about keeping it short and simple. Making it easy to just get into a race or 2 and then quit. If you wanted a long term appeal with a career mode, than I suggest sticking to the PS3 or PS2. (GT5 is taking forever).
Graphics:
Amazing for the psp, they really have captured the style of every car perfectly. Every time I boot this game up, it hits me how well detailed the cars are. Also the tracks are finely detailed. The effort gone into this game is astounding.
Sound:
OK. But not great. A bonus is you can play your own tracks while racing. That is a big plus for me. But even with earphones, the GT music gets boring quickly, and the car sounds (engine, tyre rubbing, and crashes) all sound a bit like its coming through a tin can. They are not bad by any means, just not great. Maybe this is just the PSP's limits being shown. I haven't tried playing through alternative speakers yet.
Online:
My only main disappointment is no online racing. It that too much to ask for? Maybe. This game shines with a buddy through ad-hoc though. I just wish I had some psp buddies.
Overall:
This game is very addictive with mind blowing graphics. A must for any driving fan with a psp. Do not by pass this game, despite what some reviewers say about career mode gone. There is plenty to do all the time; it's just up to you to decide what to do next. Superb for portable racing.