Since 1998 Gran Turismo series has brought gamers the most accurate driving mechanics, and is well considered as the pinnacale franchise when it comes to console racing games. A lot of what Gran Turismo brought to fruition was how it accurately depicted realistic driving physics, and a superabundance of cars featured in the game. All of this which was decidely packed into a chock-full packed game filled with some of the most lush and detailed graphics which raised the bearier of what a PlayStation, and PlayStation 2 game should look like. Every single installment has always been bestowed with high expectations, and since Gran Turismo 4's first appearance the latest installment in the highly popular, and highly praised franchise is practically no different. With no inclusion of online play, Gran Turismo 4 has banked heavily on its tried-and-true gameplay, and other recognizable signature touches. Gran Turismo 4 is arguably the best the series has to offer, you can't call it ambitious, but no matter how you look at it Gran Turismo 4 is a fine achievement which lives up highly to the Gran Turismo name. The massive car roster vary in size and scope ranging from over 700 cars, banking heavily on American, British, German, and Japanese cars. You will however find cars for other countries such as Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Korea, Spain, and others. Suffice to say, Gran Turismo 4's car roster can be only explained by one word: massive. The manufucaturers are your typical well-known brands including BMW, Ford, Honda, and others. The variety in Gran Turismo 4 is evident, and you'll not need to look no further than the cars it offers. It virtually delivers every car you could dream of, and covers the wide-range scope of the automobile eras going back to the dawn of the era in the late 1800s. Although some of the older cars found in the game are pretty much there for looks, because they probably won't be any of use to you if you want to progress through the game. It is however a huge disappointment that Gran Turismo 4 has not featured online-play. Polyphony Digital has leaned towards giving fans of the series, the more signature touches such as the massive car rosters, and its highly praised gameplay. While Gran Turismo 4 doesn't feature online-play, it does undoutedly deliver the most accurate driving physics of any game. It's also notable to say that Gran Turismo 4 overall will probably keep you indulged for many months to come, considering all the cars that can be opened, and the endless tuning options. Gran Turismo 4 like any of its brethrens reeks full of replay value. Amidst of all of this highly praised gameplay Gran Turismo 4 bears depending on your point of view, the gameplay is very reminiscent to its older incarnations, so if you can't get enough of Gran Turismo's recognizable gameplay you'll be quite pleased by Gran Turismo 4. However if you've found its previous incarnations not as enticing you'll probably wont be impressed as the typical die-hard fan of the series. The game revolves around the aptly named Gran Turismo mode. The Gran Turismo mode is where you'll be able to win new cars to add to your ever-growing garage, win medals, licenses, and of course races. Some of the cars you'll purchase will most likely be sold in order for you to upgrade to a more powerful car and if anything it'll be a big help in order to progress through the game since the cars you'll face off with are more powerful, and have better handling. The games garage has also been vastly improved in order to achieve a more accesible menu in order to pick the car you're looking for. The games scrolling based menu which was featured in past Gran Turismo games is virtually gone, and the new interface is a welcome addition since its a lot more accessible, and not as time consuming. Gran Turismo 4 relies heavily on its two main modes: arcade(which includes your typical console racing modes such as time-trial, single-races, multiplayer, and LAN races), and of course the aptly named Gran Turismo mode where you'll be able to buy cars, sell them, earn currency, and take parts in all sorts of racing events from around the world. As you start out your career mode, a lot of the cars you'll own head on are inferior, and you'll have to earn licenses, and win races to buy the cars you'll need to proceed through the game. It's worth mentioning however if you have a save file from Gran Turismo 3, you'll be able to transfer your currency to Gran Turismo 4. Gran Turismo 4 also allows you to avoid getting your A and B licenses, thats of course if you have a save file from Gran Turismo 3. If you've played any previous Gran Turismo game, you'll most likely stumble upon acquiring licenses in order to learn the games well thought out mechanics, and keys to success. They do however become a nusiance, if you just wan't to jump into all the racing action in Gran Turismo 4. Whether you like the idea or not your required to acquire five licenses all in numerical order filled with all sorts of challenging tests that will test your timing and patience. Obtaining a license is pretty straight forward in which you're required to complete acceleration and break tests, navigate through cones, complete laps around courses. A lot of these tests require perfection, since your at all costs ask to avoid slipping off the track, hitting cones, and not over shooting the navigating cars ahead of you. Slippery tracks can also change the outcome of some of the challenges that await. There are new additions to the license obtaining fiasco in Gran Turismo 4, such as coffee break, where you're asked to knock(or avoid) orange cones, but its somehow more forgiving than your typical license test, since it doesn't feature a time limit. To raise the difficulty, Gran Turismo 4 vividly incorporates new elements of weather to throw you off track, and since snow and ice is now in Gran Turismo 4 you'll most likely want to be cautious in making sharp turns. The implementation of slippery tracks, and snow and ice really form an accurate representation of driving physics, and the hazards associated with this high-stakes cat and mouse affair. In order to acquire your dream car(once you obtain all of your licenses), the easiest way to do this is by of course winning races. The race series in Gran Turismo 4 is accesible by Gran Turismo 4's main map in which you're given the option to choose from professional difficulty, and more. The races are also accessible by nation of origin(such as American hall, European hall, etc etc). The many race series you'll stumble upon also have a certain criteria to meet: car specifications(such as horsepower, and car length)and nation of origin. A lot of the individual races boasted in the game have strict requirements, but you'll be notified if you're eligable to take part in events because the requirements will flash red(opting for you to change to a different car). The more glaring aspects found in the Gran Turismo franchise, is its endless and scrumptious tuning options, and make no mistake Gran Turismo 4 is no exception. You'll be able to tune-up your car through a number of mediums(although depending on your car model, it might be hard to find parts to tune-up a stock car), such as height, break balance, horsepower, gear rations, and other attributes. Since the tuning options featured in Gran Turismo 4 are plentiful, and accurate so is are the driving physics. A lot of Gran Turismo 4 is based on speed, acceleration, power, and perfect timing around corners. Gran Turismo 4 perfectly conveys turn-based physics, although the sense of speed in Gran Turismo 4 is substantial, it never gives you a sense of speed such as Burnout 3. The sense of speed is more portrayed by your timing, and actions. Suffice to say you'll get the indication your going fast when you are(going down a hill), and when your not(like slowing down on a corner). As accurately depicted as Gran Turismo 4 is, you might just need a bit of luck to get a boost of speed such as getting bumped from behind(you won't find any damage to your car of course, like any of its previous installments). Your more than likely to find these very helpful, since the game ratches up the difficulty the farther you progress. The bumping method is more than just a trick to gain more speed, its also very helpful since you'll sometimes find yourself positioned better turning a corner. A lot of this can be substantial and for the most part determine the outcome of the race. The opponents in Gran Turismo 4, are somewhat intelligent then again you'll question there artificial intelligence. A fine example of this is how some of them without any hesitation bump into you in the end the pay off is more rewarding for the player, and the reckless driving is also evident since a lot of them are aggressive but it backfires at some point since some of them will veer off the track, and poor timing on breaking around corners. Just because they seem a bit dumbfounded doesn't mean they wont give you a stiff challenge--the difficulty in Gran Turismo 4 isn't overbearing but it isn't easy as well. If you haven't played any of the previous incarnations you'll probably find Gran Turismo 4 to be quite difficult if you aren't familiar with its somewhat trial-and-error affair. Some of the requirements will probably keep you coming back for more in order to earn a Gold medal. As impressive as the cars fully-featured in the game, they are basically inadequate if you dont have spectacular courses to drive them on. The newest tracks worth mentioning is Nürburgring Nordschliefe which is a intimidating and imposing thirteen mile track which will test your will and patience, and El Capitan which is roughly three miles long, and centered around granite peice of the well-known Yosemite National Park. The game also features fictional courses such as the Grand Valley Speedway, Trial Mountain, and finally Deep Forest Raceway. Gran Turismo 4 also boasts tracks from all around the world such as metropolis scenary such as Hong Kong, and Seoul. The game also features the Fuji Speedway, Laguna Seca, and Suzuka. It's also worth mentioning game covers all aspects of racing ranging from ice and snow, and rally tracks. All in all Gran Turismo 4 roughly boasts 50 tracks all filled with lush backdrops, gorgeous scenary, and you'll most agree that the way they are set up and executed is quite a pleasure to behold. By now if you haven't noticed the graphics for Gran Turismo 4 are amazing. It's single handily the best looking racing game to hit the market, and Polyphony has once again done a masterful job of taking advantage of the PlayStation 2 hardware, taking it to limits no one could imagine. For good measure, Gran Turismo 4 is also easily one of the best looking games on any console. The game has a solid frame rate and you wont notice any considerable slowdown when things get hectic. The car models are extremely detailed, and the look to them really make them unrivaled considering all of the graphical tricks and touches Polyphony has implemented. The games lightning effects are amazing to behold, as you'll see reflections bouncing off your car doors, or some of the graphical effects found in other tracks(such as the neon inspired track in Hong Kong as an example). The tracks themselves look very impressive in their own, considering all the detail that went into every single one. Some of them look wickedly realistic(such as the Grand Valley Speedway). Polyphony has also decided to add 3D crowds into the game, and you'll most likely see them run in front of an oncoming car to snap a picture. A lot of the tracks you'll notice large groups of spectators watching and cheering. As aforementioned before the damage model is once again missing for Gran Turismo 4, which is really quite a disappointment. The damage model has never been implemented in any Gran Turismo game, but hopefully Polyphony will add this in future installments. It does however incorporate a blur effect when you smack into opponenets or objects. It's worth noting though the blur effect is pulled off nicely from a graphical standpoint--its really not that entertaining. To go along with its great looks, is Gran Turismo 4's sounds. A lot of the sounds you'll encounter in the game are plentiful, and variety packed. All of the cars have their own distinctive engine roars(they are taken from the actual cars themselves), and as you move up to the more powerful-machines, you'll get the hint that the car is quite powerful. The games engine sounds are convincingly portrayed, since as you pick up speed your engine roars even louder, and gradually climbs the scale. The other sound effects(such as tire wheels screeching across the pavement) is very well done, and you'll find these convincingly real. The soundtrack in Gran Turismo 4 for the most part carrys over to the racing pretty well, but its disappointing as well. In the end, Gran Turismo 4's audio department is well done, and a lot of effort will be appreciated. So in the end does Gran Turismo 4 a successful hit? That depends on your point of view. Depending on your preference Gran Turismo 4's finely tuned gameplay is evident, but that may spell trouble to some if you've got tiresome over the same gameplay all these years, but its solid nonetheless. If you call yourself a racing fan, then there's no reason why Gran Turismo 4 shouldn't be in your collection, considering all the gorgeous looking cars, and realistic driving physics. The game is practically overflowing with gorgeous production values, but if you've stayed away from the series for many years, you'll be highly impressed by what Gran Turismo 4 in the long run. While it doesn't feature online play, its easily the most complete racing game on the market.
Gran Turismo 4 could be considered one of the best Playstation 2 games ever made. As the fourth game in the series, Gran Turismo 4 improves greatly on the previously successful Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, which seemed unthin... Read Full Review
The Gran Turismo games are known for how realistically they depict car racing, and Grand Turismo 4 definitely lives up to the name. What this game lacks in flash that many arcade-style games have, it makes up for in eve... Read Full Review
