I got Gran Turismo 2 today....here's my review
With the release of Gran Turismo in May of 1998, Sony wowed spectators with the perfect racing game. Awesome graphics, 150+ cars, and great physics pushed GT above all other previously released racing titles. After several copycats have been released, Sony comes out of the fourth turn again to show how good a sequel really can be.
Gran Turismo 2 features 594 real-life customizable cars, over 20 tracks, rally racing, and updated graphics. What more could a racing fan ask for? Not much. The cars range from awesome classic hot rods such as Ford Mustangs and Chevrolet Camaros to shiny new cars like the Dodge Viper and the New Beetle from Volkswagen. It's simply amazing.
The number of manufacturers that make these cars is also mind-boggling. A total of 36 manufacturers are included in the game. Expect big names like Ford, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Chevrolet to be there, but names such as Ferrari and Lamborghini were unable to be captured by Sony and Polyphony Digital for the making of GT2. The manufacturers are as follows: Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroën, Daihatsu, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Lancia, Lister, Lotus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, MG, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Plymouth, Renault, RUF, Shelby, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, TVR, Vector, Venturi, and Volkswagen.
There are a total of over 40 tracks, which include the legendary Laguna-Seca Raceway and the Pike's Peak Hill Climb, all accurately detailed. Rally Racing will also be included in the game, with accurate sponsors and cars. No matter what kind of racing you like, you'll get it in this game.
Everything else about the game is pretty much the same as GT, except for the 20% increase of graphical power and the now 60 license tests-44 more than the original. This is good or bad, depending on how you look at things. The gameplay is still the same, and that's not something to complain about. The original had the best physics and control of any racer as well. The game will be handled on 2 discs- Arcade Mode and Simulation Mode. Arcade Mode will have crazy jumps, powersliding turns, and raw speed. Sim Mode, on the other hand, will have all the right physics you need to get to the top of the racing spectrum. When you win races, you get money. You can spend this newly earned cash on a new car or on parts to help your old one. Spend this money wisely, because it ain't easy to win races.
In conclusion, I guess it's safe to say that GT2 is gonna be the racing game to beat, not only this Holiday season, but in the future of gaming. When GT2000 hits the PlayStation2 at launch, don't expect a whole new game- it's merely GT2 with all the PS2 graphical updates. The true sequel, GT3, won't be out until early to mid-2001, for the PlayStation2. I can't wait!!
Craig's Rating: 9.5/10
