What Made Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec One Hell of A Game?

The turn of the century was an important one for gaming, as the new and improved hardware of the PlayStation 2 and Xbox provided new avenues for more mature experiences. Games such as the likes of Halo, Metal Gear Solid 2, Grand Theft Auto 3, and of course, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec pushed the boundaries of their respective genres with solid and innovative gameplay and great visuals.

Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec was released in 2001 to rave reviews, and still stands as one of the most well-remembered games of the franchise to this date with a shining Metacritic score of 95. It's been over 20 years since the game first came out, and as such, it would be a missed opportunity to not look back at it and ask the question - what made Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec one hell of a game?