It's hard to justify shelling out $40 for "Gran Turismo 5 Prologue." The name says it all. It's not "Gran Turismo 5," which comes out sometime next year; rather, it's a preview of the game to come. In Sony's own words, it "showcases the automotive experience that is imminent in 'Gran Turismo 5."'

I'm not sure why Sony chose to do it this way, except maybe to fend off angry, impatient gamers for a bit longer.

There's not much to "Prologue." You get 70 beautifully rendered cars that you can race on six tracks (which have alternate layouts). If you want, you can go online and race against as many as 16 other players. Leaderboards keep track of the best times.

Purchasing all the cars could take some time, as you have to win races in order to earn the money to buy the cars. But there aren't very many tracks, so a lot of repetition will be involved. You also can't customize your vehicle with aftermarket parts, something that almost certainly will be in "Gran Turismo 5."

"Prologue" is absolutely gorgeous, I won't deny that. One of my favorite things to do was sit at the main screen and watch the camera sweep around my pretty car in its exotic locale. Everything looks realistic, though the people in the stands could use some work, and there is no damage to the cars.

I also like the setup of the menu. It's sleek and easy to navigate.

Overall, "Prologue" isn't nearly as deep as the full game will be. It looks and plays fine, but it feels a bit like jumping the gun. However, it does bode well for the likely quality of "Gran Turismo 5."

Unless you're absolutely dying for a new "Gran Turismo" game on your PlayStation 3 right now, I'd say either rent it or wait until the full game releases next year.

Reach Aimee Green at (402) 473-7326 or Aimee.Green@lee.net.

Gran Turismo 5 PrologueBy: Sony, for PlayStation 3Rated: EveryoneCost: $39.99 (available on disk or as a download)Score: 7.5/10