Polyphony Digital had every right to take the easy way out and concentrate on just one franchise. That franchise, Gran Turismo, has stood out time and time again with each entry, and the series is about to debut in grand fashion over on the PS3 with the much-anticipated Vision Gran Turismo. But, hey, even car sim nuts need a break sometimes, kinda like the one Polyphony took with the enjoyable Omega Boost a few years back for the PlayStation. And so they do again, but not really, as this time the focus is on hyper-realistic motorcycle racing with Tourist Trophy: The Real Riding Simulator.

If you've seen the commercials, then you can obviously sense the Gran Turismo feelings this game is giving. It approaches its racing very carefully and with a great deal of precision, focusing on the simulation more than the sensation of arcade-based speed. You've got thirty-plus tracks to choose from, as well as over 100 bikes to play around with, each with their own particular handling. You can also pick out a reasonable rider and customize their gear so you give yourself a dedicated look, conveying your passion for the race. Don't expect to go ga-ga over specific designs, but do be prepared to be wowed by the number of things you can do.

Tourist Trophy is tough. There's no getting around it. The first couple of times you take the track to get used to the game's controls, don't be surprised if you find yourself drifting off-road and eventually landing ass first on the ground in a sliding crash. But don't give up, that's just part of the game's progression to introduce you to the realism that it packs. Once you get used to the front and rear braking system (assigned to the L2 and R2 buttons), you'll find yourself taking turns with a bit more ease, even if balancing the speed of your bike to remain competitive will take just a bit more time. This game's built for the patient, so if you're expecting to jump in and find something along the likes of Road Rash, you won't find it.

The controls are delicately handled, and given an interface that's rather user friendly. You can switch off between three camera views, ranging from behind-the-rider to being mounted right on the handlebar (my favorite, as it has true-to-life vibrations packed right in), to a front view that gives you a look at what's ahead. The control mechanism works fine, and I like the fact that each bike feels like the real thing, and not just something ported over from the vehicular handling of Gran Turismo. Polyphony didn't just do their homework, they studied the whole damn textbook.

Tourist Trophy's visual presentation shows some fine work, although there are a couple of things that come into play. The frame rate is silky smooth, and the animation is amazing, with each rider having distinct touches about them, right down to their leans on the turns. However, there's only four racers that participate in each event. C'mon. Moto GP is able to pack at least sixteen with ease and you're telling me that Polyphony couldn't even push a six pack? Also, while the tracks are challenging and have a bit of variety, they almost seem like knock-offs from more popular Gran Turismo tracks, instead of tracks built specifically for the bikes in mind. Overall, though, the game still looks very, very good.

Sound is pretty much drowned out by loud engine noises, meaning that you can't hear half of the soundtrack selections. That's okay, because it seems to be leftovers from the Gran Turismo soundtrack anyway. Each of the bikes sound awesome, especially in stereo. So if you love bike sounds, crank it.

Longevity, however, kinda took a rain check here. The game does feature two player versus that's interesting, but it seems to be lacking in career mode. There's a number of tournaments to race and other events to unlock, but it seems like it lacks some kind of personality to really go with the professional presentation. It's like finding a book with a savvy title that draws your attention and then finding it scattered with minimal text and a crapload of pictures. Some riders will enjoy it, but it seems to come up too short in a lot of areas.

And while I like the fact you can really do a lot to give your rider a sleek look, you can't really tinker with the bike that much. A few parts here and there, but the option to build your own bike is really absent. Granted, there's enough filler bikes put in to unlock and give a spin, but it would've been nice for Polyphony to give us the option to go all out and build us our own American Chopper.

Finally, zero online play. This shouldn't be a shock since Gran Turismo 4 didn't really have it either, but the fact that the game limited itself to four riders to begin with kinda begged for the option to at least be considered. The number of challenges you can complete should keep you busy, alone or with a friend, but I think a door should've been opened here for an online community. How in the heck am I going to build my Hell's Angels online league?

Tourist Trophy kind of feels like a car you're giving a spin right out of a used car lot. Part of you is nervous about how it handles for the first time and feel it needs a little getting more used to, while others will become accustomed to its thrills right away, and won't mind forking over the $40 to take it home. It helps if you have a love for motorcycles or some kind of appreciation for Polyphony. If you have both, certainly don't hesitate. Otherwise, give it a few more turns around the block with a rental.