Say what you will about the developer’s inability to put out a game in a timely fashion, Polyphony Digital’s singular vision and commitment to delivering a great race experience pays off in “Gran Turismo 5.”

It’s not the most complete racing game since it doesn’t deliver on every front, but when you get behind the wheel of “GT 5,” it is a racing experience like no other.

A great racing title isn’t just about going fast or a big selection of cars, and “GT 5” succeeds in capturing that elusive adrenaline rush. The graphics are undoubtedly a big factor in this simply because of their high level of detail and evocation of realism. Racing is all about living in the moment, and nothing helps that more than combining the game’s great sense of speed with impressive graphics.

I highly suggest you get into a premium car and race from the cockpit view, where you’ll feel the sensation of every bump on the street and get a better idea of the rigors of racing. Add in snow, rain, and night environment variables, and you’ve got a game that visually lives up to the hype.

One of my continuing criticisms of the series has been the cut-and-dried, sterile feeling of its career mode. Although “GT 5” doesn’t abandon its traditional racing events format, I appreciate how relatively easy it is to earn money and experience points to move up the ranks.

You no longer have to grind the same racetrack to progress thanks to the new additions like the kart racing and rally special events. The game also aids its progression with seemingly disparate rewards like paint chips (which you use to color your cars), free cars, photo travel locations, and more.

Even with a relatively generous progression curve, I don’t mind working my way up the car ladder. Having to race all kinds of vehicles gives me an appreciation of what different cars are good and bad at, and it helps me as a racer in general. In some ways, this is the heart and soul of what “Gran Turismo” is all about.

As much as this game nails its overall vision, the franchise could stand to stretch its horizons. “Gran Turismo 5” tries to do this by adding car damage, but it strangely unlocks only later in the game. By the time Polyphony unlocked the feature, I was past worrying about when it would show up.

The online racing, with its smooth racing experience, standard community features and pre-race practice options, is satisfying, but disappointingly lacks overall rankings or leaderboards.

I also think Polyphony passed up a larger chance to integrate the online portion back into your main career. I wish they’d done this with online instead of the underwhelming B-Spec mode, which has you directing other racecar drivers while they race for you. Why would you want to surrender the wheel to someone else?

We’ve waited a long time for “Gran Turismo 5,” but it was worth the wait. Every aspect of the game didn’t blow me away, but the sheer amount of effort and craftsmanship that went into the game is impressive. This is a racing experience that racing fans should not miss.

‘Gran Turismo 5’

9 (out of 10)

PlayStation 3

Polyphony Digital for Sony Computer Entertainment

ESRB rating: E for Everyone

New game releases

The following titles were scheduled for release the week of Dec. 12:

• “Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam” (X360, PC)

• “Zooloretto” (Wii)

• “Sackboy’s Prehistoric Moves” (PS3)

• “Pinball FX 2: Marvel Pinball” (PS3)

• “Under Siege” (PS3)

• “Lilt Line” (Wii)

• “Just Sing! Christmas Songs” (DS)

• “Super Mario All-Stars” (Wii)

— Gamespot.com

Top 10

The editors of Game Informer Magazine rank the top 10 PlayStation 3 games for December:

1. “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood,” Ubisoft

2. “Gran Turismo 5,” Polyphony Digital

3. “DJ Hero 2,” Activision

4. “Call of Duty: Black Ops,” Activision

5. “Castlevania: Lords of Shadow,” Konami

6. “Pac-Man Championship Edition DX,” Namco-Bandai

7. “Rock Band 3,” MTV Games

8. “Need For Speed Hot Pursuit,” Electronic Arts

9. “Dead Rising 2,” Capcom

10. “NBA 2K11,” 2K Sports

— McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Top 10

ON THE PLAYSTATION 3

The editors of Game Informer Magazine rank the top 10 PlayStation 3 games for December:

1. “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood,” Ubisoft

2. “Gran Turismo 5,” Polyphony Digital

3. “DJ Hero 2,” Activision

4. “Call of Duty: Black Ops,” Activision

5. “Castlevania: Lords of Shadow,” Konami

6. “Pac-Man Championship Edition DX,” Namco-Bandai

7. “Rock Band 3,” MTV Games

8. “Need For Speed Hot Pursuit,” Electronic Arts

9. “Dead Rising 2,” Capcom

10. “NBA 2K11,” 2K

— SportsMcClatchy-Tribune News Service

Weekly download

‘Marvel Pinball’

For: Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade (requires free “Pinball FX 2” download); PlayStation 3 via PlayStation Network (standalone game)

From: Zen Studios

ESRB Rating: E for Everyone

Price: $10 for all four tables (both platforms) or $2.50 per table (Xbox 360 only)

Zen Studios set the table for something special when it rolled out “Pinball FX 2” as a free, endlessly extensible Xbox 360 pinball platform, and the first batch of add-on tables provides validation for all that excitement. “Marvel Pinball” features four tables, with Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wolverine and Blade each spearheading a machine. The inclusion of Blade may raise eyebrows, but one playthrough of the table — which features a day/night cycle with different opportunities in both phases — justifies his inclusion. The pinball version of Stark Industries, meanwhile, becomes a maze of ramps, side rail decoys and upgrades with which to turn Tony Stark into Iron Man, while the Spider-Man table’s idea of multi-ball comes in the form of bombs lobbed by the Green Goblin. The Spider-Man and Wolverine tables feature a satisfying roster of villains, and skilled players can watch Wolverine fight on the table while the pinball action continues.

— Billy O’Keefe, McClatchy-Tribune News Service