Quite simply the most visually stunning and addictive game that the Playstation 2 can offer.
Simulation games are now considered to lack much action and therefore fun, which would put the general gamer off, but Gran Turismo 4 can be enjoyed by anyone even if they are not a car fanatic or if they are not interested in the more technical aspect of racing. As well as including very detailed tuning options, the game also provides excellent gameplay making it fun to play, which is the top priority of games- providing entertainment.
With over 700 real life cars included in the game and 50 tracks, some of which are actual circuits from around the world, Gran Turismo 4 offers more than any other game in its genre.
Starting off with little money and buying a used car with very low performance, you are able to enter races, complete license tests, and driving missions while accumulating credits. These credits can then pay for a better car to complete those more difficult races with. Your personal aim may be to collect every car, ranging from the Beetle made by Voltswagon to a Formula 1 racing car, or to simply reach 100%. There are many different ways of playing through the game and it is up to you to decide how you would like to do it.
The gameplay, of which the basics can be learnt very quickly, allows newcomers to enjoy and appreciate the quality of the game. However, the more experienced gamers will still find this game incredibly hard to master, and will learn new techniques even months after playing. Knowing that you have become good at this game gives you a great sense of achievement, and it is this what makes Gran Turismo so rewarding to play.
Upon the first hours of gaming you may feel overwhelmed by the number of techniques that can be used for gaining the best lap time, but learning these is what creates the fun. When playing this game for the first time, some gamers may find themselves unable to complete a lap without crashing at least once, until they realise that this is different from the average racing game. Gran Turismo 4 rewards good driving, such as smooth turns and steady acceleration, unlike other arcade style racers that reward taking corners at 100mph.
Beginning relatively easy, Gran Turismo lets beginners learn how the game works. License Tests are available to enter from the start and it is recommended by most that these should be completed first as it is a great way of learning the basics such as corning and braking. This may sound simple, but it’s not; cornering can be extremely difficult, as oversteer (when the car spins out) and understeer (when the car does not turn enough to make the corner) is common occurrence if the driver does not know how to control the car. Mastering the cars is not easy however, as every car handles differently, so a new car means that you have to learn how to drive it; adding even more realism to the game.
Towards the end of the game things become a lot more challenging, and this is what provides great satisfaction for those who manage to complete it. The driving missions are a good example of this. The first mission is fairly easy: overtake a single car round one corner, but the last mission is extremely difficult: overtake five cars that have over a minute lead on one of the hardest tracks of all, the Nurburgring.
With the Dual Shock controller, controlling the cars seems to come as second nature, as the analogue function allows controlled and steady acceleration and delicate turning. If you do not wish to use the analogue function then the other buttons are pressure sensitive as well. Overall the control throughout the game is excellent, and should you decide to purchase a steering wheel then this creates more realism, because you feel as though you are driving a real car.
Graphics are definitely the game’s strength, as the cars look like the real thing, and when watching the replay it is sometimes easy to forget that you are watching a videogame. This is mainly due to the lighting, as the cars shine when they reflect the light, creating an overall smoothness to them.
Something which some racing games lack is the detail in the background during races, but not Gran Turismo 4. Some of the backdrops in this game can be quite amazing, which is thanks to the high resolution textures that allow specific detail to be added to the scenery. The Grand Canyon is one of the many places where you can photograph you’re car, which because of the brilliant graphics is a well thought out addition to the game. Photos can be taken from replays of races as well as locations from around the world.
The sound on this game is very clear and is what you would expect to hear from a car’s engine, though there is little the games designer’s could do to make it more exciting without making the game lose its realism. The soundtrack has enough variety to keep everyone happy, ranging from classical to rock, and can be modified so that you can listen to a playlist of your choice.
The length of time it takes to complete this game is huge, and that depends on whether you just want to get 100% or whether you want to collect every car and attempt to earn the most a-spec points possible. The a-spec points system can be easily overlooked as unnecessary but if used properly it can create a whole new objective to achieve. More a-spec points are awarded for the difficulty of the race, so entering with a clear advantage over the other competitors will result in few a-spec points being awarded. However, by making the game more of a challenge and entering with a disadvantage earns you more a-spec points. Advantages include better tires, a higher power to weight ratio and other upgrades such as sports brakes and suspension.
Another feature new the Gran Turismo 4 is the use a b-spec. This allows you to let the computer drive for you as you give the orders from the pit lane, but this is frowned upon by some because you are not achieving anything yourself. Most people will be glad it’s there, though, when they attempt to complete one of the three 24 hour races.
Upon completion there are still reasons to continue to play, as there will always be a car you have not yet tuned and raced. However, Gran Turismo 4 cannot be played online, causing much disappointment for fans of the series, but with so much else to do you’ll rarely miss it. Despite this it is still probably the biggest game in terms of life span available for the Playstation 2 and it will have you addicted to it for months.
Even if you feel that cars are not for you, you should still try this game as it is one of the best experiences on the Playstation 2. If cars are your thing, then this game will not disappoint, due to the hundreds of licenses that were available when the designers created this game.
Do not miss out on the opportunity to play this game; you will find no greater game available. Failure to buy this game would be a big mistake.