I know. It's not time to panic... yet. There have not been many reviews of GT5 as of yet (13 on Metacritic and some foreign reviews are out as of now) but, although there are a couple of perfect scores, there is a theme between critics suggesting a "whiff of disappointment" which may continue until the last credible review has been published, possibly leaving GT5 with an underwhelming critical reception. But what would this mean for the commercial success of GT5? Is the Gran Turismo brand, after a 5 years, strong enough to sell on-par with the previous games in the series even if hindered by sub-par reviews? Do the reviews actually matter? Tell me what you think.

i dont think it will

Just another thought, but even if hugely positive reviews DID affect the sales, I doubt anyone would notice considering the sales of previous GT5 games.

With what I've read so far, i expect GT5 to be the lowest selling GT game

Its doing about the same on reviews as 4 did and that sod almost 10 million so not ^.^

A difference of 4% in a score NEVER stopped me or anyone I know from buying a game.

If Metacritic shows 86% or 90% plays absolutely NO role in real life.

Games like GT are rare. If Halo Reach would get 4% less points or COD Black Ops would it sell less ?

I would never let myself influence that much by the media. And honestly who wouldnt have bought Halo Reach if it would be slighlty worse. The main Critic on GT5 is that graphics arent as awesome as everyone thought and that its a Simulation Racer. I ask:

WOULDN`T YOU BUY A GAME BECAUSE IT GOT 3% LESS POINTS THEN THE PREDECESSOR ?

A small difference like that says is not relevant. Its similar to sales under 1000 difference its a statistical tie. Those 3% difference in the rating could just be the Zeitgeist nowadays.

But say the reviews didn't stay the same as they are now and the game either dropped or gained a load of points on average? Surely people will look at that...?

I honstly believe that Reviews play a smaller role then in the ninetys or the early PS2 years. Nowadays its all about hype and names. Its a flow like everyone knows whats the game to buy today. And no review could change that. Hibudget title have such a high quality that the smaller discrepancys play no role anymore.

The people who read reviews are the people who buy every high budget game anyway. And the others dont care at all.

GT has a Fanbase which buy the the product no matter what. And this fanbase is pretty huge. Its like FF just bigger. FF has 5 Million people which buy FF no matter what. And GT has 8 Million People who buy the game no matter what.

At best I would say that maybe a couple of thousend people wont buy it but even then why should one not buy a game which he wanted and waited years for it because it has a slightly lesser score then it should have ?

No 90% of buyers do not look at reviews.