As many of you know, I'm not much of a handheld gamer.  I like consoles, that's all there is to it.  However, I do like some handheld games.  What types of games might those be?  On handhelds, I like unique experiences that differentiate themselves from the usual console fluff.  My favorite DS games are the Prof. Layton series, Pokemon, and Scribblenauts, for example. Similarly, my favorite PSP game is Patapon.  These are all rather unique games/franchises that stray from the norm, and are better suited to the handheld experience.  For notable console franchises that have made their way to handhelds, I enjoy the Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and Killzone: Liberation, two games that differ drastically from their console counterparts, and thus make them better suited to handhelds.

What I heavily dislike on handhelds are what I like to call "console-lite" games.  Games that are essentially downgraded ports of fully fledged console titles.  God of War: Chains of Olympus comes to mind. I couldn't even get halfway through the game before getting bored and moving on to something else.  If I want to play God of War, I'll pop in God of War II and play it in 480p on my HDTV, rather than play a handheld version that's light on content (four hours long!), has crappier graphics, and has gimped controls.  Yet despite this, God of War: Chains of Olympus somehow managed to become the highest rated PSP game of all time.  I don't feel like playing a crappier version of a game I've already played, whether it adds to the story or not.

With GT PSP, I feel as if Yamauchi and the guys at Polyphony Digital were specifically trying to avoid this.  I feel like they were aiming to make a more portable experience, unlike other big developers working with the PSP.  They were trying to make something different from the usual console stuff.  Something that can be played in bite-sized chunks, and that could possibly bring new gamers into the series.  Yamauchi has referenced GT PSP as an "invitation to Gran Turismo" numerous times, showing their different philosphy concerning this game compared to other GTs.  They didn't want to simply put GT4 on PSP.  They wanted to do something more.

For example, in an interview with G4 Yamauchi mentioned that gathering cars in GT PSP will happen far more quickly than in past games, and you can even trade cars with friends:

And to Kotaku, he mentioned that GT PSP was meant to be more accessible than past GTs, in order to bring new fans to the series:

Now let's take a look at the closing comments from IGN's infamous 6.8 review of the game:

The reviewer first and foremost decrys the lack of a fully fledged career mode, a staple of the GT series, which has been replaced by Polyphony in favor of smaller challenges and such, something in all liklihood better suited to a game most people will be playing in small bursts.  He also berates the game for its apparent difficulty in collecting cars.  It's actually quicker and easier to collect cars via the challenges as opposed to a traditional career mode, and - get this - you can trade cars with friends!  It's like the Pokemon of driving sims!  Gotta drive 'em all!

I can't help but feel that the reviewer simply wanted to play another console GT.  If he wanted that, well, he's looking in the wrong place.  Go back to GT4, or just wait for GT5 if that is the case.

I believe the root cause of the low scores for GT PSP is due to the stigma of the PSP being nothing more than a portable PS2.  Reviewers expect PS2-like games on the platform, and anything that differs from the norm isn't very well recieved.

Granted, I've never played the game, but I've found that I dsagree with reviewers far too often when it comes to PSP scores.  Could this be another case of the PSP's mistaken identity striking again?

All you need to do is head over to the GTPlanet.net forums and you will see they are all loving GT PSP.

Reviewers are thinking that GT PSP should be a GT4 on handhelds. Which is it isnt and Kaz himself said it many times in reviews that it isnt. I think like you said reviewers have been waiting a long time for the next GT game and GT PSP isnt supposed to be that game but they all reviewed it like it was. Ah well ill be enjoying the game tomorrow when i pick it up.

I feel it is a trifle. The main complaint is the lack of a campaign mode, so far as I can see, rather than any issue with driving gameplay itself, etc.

However, that lack would appear to be deliberate, rather than some form of flaw, and GT on PSP is clearly built around short gameplay bursts, no doubt based on how the developers thought a portable audience would play it.

So there does seem to be a gap between the game as designed and the expectations for the game.

This is always a tough area for reviews, IMHO. Do they review only the game as designed, even if they think the core design is flawed, or respond to the design? From what I've seen, as designed, an accepting the lack of campaign as deliberate and appropriate for a handheld experience, GT PSP should be scornig higher.

On the other hand, it may be that the design is flawed, inasmuch as the developers misjudged the audience and even on a portable the average player desires a campaign. In that case the reviews are probably more or less in line with the customer.

Anyway, sorry for wandering, and yes, I agree, it's core design has been somewhat misunderstood or viewed as flawed when arguably its exactly as intended and therefore not flawed simply perhaps not what someone might prefer.

wow you really went and made this? >_>

OT: but it looks boring... :I

if you don't like GT, you don't like GT.

and if you don't like cars you won't like GT.

I like cars, its a great hobby... im just scared of driving... :I

i also thought it was misunderstood, the "Single Player" mode, is if you think about it, IS the career mode, you get different races everyday (in real time life) . and you get money, to buy cars for your garage.

isn't that what Career mode in the past GT games was all about?
the only difference here is that the ingame days are real life time days, instead of virtual days.

i love driving...... fast.

i hate how the speed limits are too slow -_-; , comeon we are not in the 19th century anymore!

This!  lol!

That was too easy :P