One of the things that make the Gran Turismo franchise so awesome is the undeniable realism the game provides to those playing it. Now, Sony and Polyphony Digital are taking it a step further by introducing a new wrinkle into the game, and something that we, quite frankly, have wondered why it hasn’t been included yet: car damage.

In the years that we’ve played the GT franchise, we’ve always wondered what would happen if our cars hit the wall or run straight into another vehicle. But for all its realism, it always felt like playing bumper cars with these cars bouncing off of each other the moment they crash into each other.

With GT5, however, hitting another car won’t be as pleasant as you’re more than likely to damage your car beyond repair. This new feature may not sit well with those reckless lots that prefer to hit and run their way to the checkered flag, but for us that truly enjoy the thrill of racing, it adds a whole new dimension in wheel-to-wheel action, something that should make the whole GT5 experience that much more awesome.

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