Published by Ubisoft, Developed by MTO

Genres: Racing

US release date: Nov 19th, 2006 | EU release date: Dec 8th, 2006

GT Pro Series review

Just a GameCube port, or is it?

Review written by
Jason Pilcher

GT Pro Series is a cel-shaded racing game that came out in Japan 3 years ago but has only now been ported to America, on the Wii. Ubisoft's Wii racer also comes with a free steering wheel when you buy it, which is really the only good thing about the game.

Gameplay

GT Pro Series screenshot Even though this was just slapped onto the Wii, it does feel like a racing game that was made for the console from the beginning. Your WiiMote fits perfectly in the steering wheel attachment, but you don't have to use it to play the game. You hold the WiiMote sideways, with the 2 button being your gas and the 1 button being brake. Then you just turn your controller to turn your car. You can also use the D-Pad to turn your car, but who would want to do that?

GT Pro Series does lack in depth. The only real mode is the ChampionShip mode where you compete in a series of races where certain rules apply. The rules can range from anywhere, starting at a free race, any car goes, to only certain cars are allowed. There's beginner, intermediate, advanced, and master. Only devoted racers will make it too the advanced level, because the in game stinks. It's hard to turn your car, the "drifting" doesn't even drift. It will turn and send you out of control.

Time Trial mode is just like any other time trial mode on any other game, you race with your selected car on the selected course. You're then able to save your ghost and race it again.

GT Pro Series screenshot There is also a newly added "Drift Mode", but again, the cars won't drift if you paid them too. It's best to avoid this mode.

In GT Pro Series the only VS Mode mode is 1 on 1. You choose your car and car color. Then your corse, and you race. Boring....

Customizing your car is almost impossible. You get upgrades, meaning there's no need to go back to the previous option if you have the latest one. It does give awesome car colors, but that's it. No decals, no cool rims, no nothing. See Need for Speed Carbon for a good Customizing Game.

GT Pro Series screenshot

LifeSpan

This game will only live for a few hours. Why? All the races feel the same, you'll get bored after Beginner mode. The only thing that may urge you on to try more is the choice of cars. 80 different cars are in the game, only unlockable through Championship mode. That's still not enough to urge me to play it. You know what this means, and I'll say it. No replay value.

Graphics

GT Pro Series screenshot Anyone who saw this game would think it was an arcade port. Don't let the cover art deceive you. This cel-shaded racer blows. Everything is cel-shaded and slow, it's not worth the good 50 dollars you paid. It's simply not worth it.

Sound

Lastly, the sound. Again, nothing good. No real songs, no good melodies, no good beats, no good anything. After an hour of playing you'll want to throw your WiiMote at the TV from the awful engine sound. This doesn't even have the special SD card function that Excite Truck has. You're gonna want to turn your volume all the way down.

GT Pro Series screenshot

Final Verdict

Don't get this. If you're looking for a good racing game, get Excite Truck or Need for Speed: Carbon. This is just a GameCube port, an old one at that, and it shows.

41%

Gameplay: Gameplay score: 4

Graphics: Graphics score: 5

Sound: Sound score: 3

Lifespan: Lifespan score: 4

User comments

Scooby!_Jew said:

Yeah, I knew this was going to be an extremely horrible game just by the screenshots. Absolutely sick graphics (not in a good way) and from what I could tell it was just NFS cars with no customization. If you're going to make a racing game on an innovative system, I would think you'd try to make it a little innovative like Excite Truck. NFS: Carbon is definitely better than this for one main reason- GT Pro Series is just a wanna-be NFS game. My final verdict: (See Jason Pilcher's final verdict).

Jason Pilcher said:

I'm glad someone read it. I'm getting excite truck, twilight princess, and tenkaichi 2 for Christmas. My dad bought this game for himself, I had no say in it lol.

Mediumbluemetalic said:

My sister bought me this game for Christmas, unfortunately. It would be halfway worth playing if the cars didn't skid wildly out of control going around turns. The graphics are horrible; I'm embarrased to play it on the Wii in front of my friends because I really think that the Gamecube boasted better graphics. I can't sell it or I'll upset my sister so this title will get limited play time until I pick up either NFS Carbon or Excite Truck, at which point GT Pro Series will become GT Dust Series.

Jason Pilcher said:

Hehe, yeah. If I could change my review a little, I would say this: If you want a true, real racing game, buy Need for Speed Carbon. But if you want a fast, zany kind of game, get Excite Truck. I have Excite Truck and my friend has Need for Speed Carbon, so I know what I'm saying. Thanks for Posting.

Hydro said:

I bought this game, and it truly does suck. I liked it at first, I kind of liked the fact that it would drift for no reason, it's just fun to bring it back on the road after some mad drifting around a corner, but it's always the same thing. Once you've mastered turning corners you've mastered the game.

Jason Pilcher said:

Thanks for commenting, and another agreer. I never liked anything about this game. Well, I liked the big selection of Japanese cars, but that's all. It's not worth 50 Bucks, maybe 5, but not 50.

Enforcer said:

I got this game free with a pre-orded Wii and sold it to some poor soul on ebay for almost the retail value. So I love it!

Jason Pilcher said:

Enforcer, you're smart. I wish I could do that, but it's my dad's game.

Gonzo said:

Thank's Jason Pilcher, I'm not going to get GT Pro Series, I'm going to get NFS: Carbon. I didn't even know there was a E rating.

Eric Altschuler said:

The game is not that bad actually. My mom got it for Chanukkah for me and I decided I would keep it just to try it out. The gameplay is fun and you get over the graphics after a while. Actually, it's a pretty good game to play when you feel bored with everything else. The only downside is I wish it had multiplayer online, and that it cost a little less than fifty bucks.

Jason Pilcher said:

Eric, I really got to disagree with you, it's pathetic compared to any other game on the Wii.

Hey said:

In the grade picture, the E in the top right corner and the W on Wario's hat spell 'ew!'.

Gonzo said:

Man, nothing is good in this game. They probably put a steering wheel in it so people can get it but it still sucks.

Jason Pilcher said:

You're right it does suck, I like the regular sideways hold.

racingcars arecool said:

OI! The game is ok, IF you learn how to drive. That is, you are willing to spend however long it takes to use the steering properly, and understand that, unlike "arcade" racing games it is possible to lose control of a car. Just figure out how to drive it (i.e power-drift and countersteer) and you'll realise that it's actually a *MUCH* better game than NFS carbon (which I am 1 race away from completing) in terms of driving simulation. There, I feel much better now.

Diddy Kong Lover said:

Where's Daytona USA or Sega Rally when you need it, honestly only Excite Truck is worth it.

Son Ninja said:

Who made this crap of a racing game? I hope Mario Kart Wii and the next F-Zero refresh this because I don't want to remember seeing this game on the Wii lineup. Any racing game that had Atari 7800 graphics and gameplay are racing trash.