'Gran Turismo' game gets supersized

— -- A new version of Sony's 14-month-old Gran Turismo 5 is now available, adding a lot more content to a game already packed with more than 1,000 cars, 70-odd track layouts and multiple racing styles.

Gran Turismo 5: XL Edition is a great deal for $40, and you get a voucher in the box to download $20 worth of extra content. But because these updates are already available online to existing players, this new disc is only for those who haven't yet picked up the game.

In case you've never climbed behind the wheel of this Sony PlayStation 3 exclusive, Gran Turismo 5 is a near photorealistic and 3DTV-supported racing game with authentic physics and accurate handling, multiple camera options, and both mechanical and external car damage. For the first time in the best-selling series, the game also included NASCAR, Super GT and World Rally Championship licenses.

You can acquire more than 1,000 real-world sports cars in your garage, all of which can be upgraded and used to race against computer-controlled drivers with smart artificial intelligence (A.I.). Or you can hop online and challenge up to 15 friends in various multiplayer modes — with voice chat, too. You can also create your own courses with in-game tools.

A massive Gran Turismo 5 update became available last October — dubbed Spec 2.0 — which offered a number of improvements and additions to the game. Some of the features bundled in this 1.2-gigabyte download included new car tuning settings, a simplified cockpit view for all cars, more weather options, new NASCAR vehicles, better replay video control, support for more steering wheel accessories and an improved online lounge. All the updates found in the Spec 2.0 download have already been applied to the game in the new Gran Turismo 5: XL Edition.

The voucher included with the "XL Edition" can be used to purchase more than $20 worth of downloadable content. Previously available for $2 to $8 apiece, it includes the Racing Car Pack (15 new cars), Car Pack 2 (four cars, including the R35 GT-R 2012 Black Edition), Course Pack (two additional tracks and five kart layouts), Racing Gear Pack (90 items, in all, including racing gear such as helmets and suits) and Paint Pack (100 colors added).

Again, keep in mind that the gameplay, graphics and modes are all the same in Gran Turismo 5 and this enhanced "XL Edition" — but the addition of Spec 2.0 and voucher to download content packs should save gamers time and bandwidth.

If you haven't picked up the game already, PlayStation 3 owners won't find a more complete racing experience than Gran Turismo 5: XL Edition.

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Gran Turismo 5: XL Edition

Platform: Sony PlayStation 3

Genre: Racing

Developer: Polyphony Digital

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc.

Web site: gran-turismo.com

Price: $39.99

Rating: Everyone

Score: 3.5 stars (out of 4)

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Contact Saltzman at techcomments@usatoday.com .