Gran Turismo 4

Gran Turismo 4 was originally released back in 2004 for the PlayStation 2 and is widely regarded as one of the best racing games around. Though the graphics don’t live up to those of modern-day racing simulation games, the game makes up for this with its realistic gameplay mechanics which are a big part of what makes the game so great. Now, let’s take a more in-depth look at what the game has to offer.

A-Spec and B-Spec game modes

There are two main modes of play in Gran Turismo 4 know as A-Spec and B-Spec:

• In A-Spec mode, players undertake races in the standard first-person driving perspective as is typical for most racing simulation games including titles such as Project Cars and Dirt Rally. This is the main driving experience that makes up Gran Turismo games and for most players will be the preferred form of gameplay.

• B-Spec mode, on the other hand, involves taking control of the racing crew for an AI driver. In this mode, you are given a mini-map and are tasked with advising your driver on their driving style, telling them when to pass other cars and how fast to travel. You also get access to various bits of information such as tire wear and fuel level to help determine when it's best to take a pit stop. If you're not such a big fan of manually taking control of a car and would rather deal with the management of a driver then this is the mode for you.

700+ different cars

Gran Turismo 4 features over 700 cars to choose from based on real-life cars, giving players plenty of ways to customize their experience. A large portion of the vehicles are available right from the start of the game but there are plenty of rare ones that you can unlock by progressing through the game and completing various challenges. You earn credits by completing races and use these to purchase various cars that range in price from 2500 credits for the low-end cars up to 4,500,000 credits for the very best ones in the game.

Realistic racetracks

In addition to the plethora of cars available for players to choose from, there are 51 tracks available split into 4 different categories. Original courses are fictional tracks with realistic features, world courses are based on real-life tracks such as Suzuka Circuit in Japan, and city courses take place in well-known cities around the world. There are even Dirt & Snow tracks which are typically more difficult to navigate than the standard tarmac ones, providing an extra challenge for players looking for some extra difficulty.

Pros:

• A plethora of cars and tracks to enjoy
• Realistic game mechanics providing an authentic racing experience
• Fantastic background music with the option to create customizable playlists

Cons:

• Graphics are a bit outdated
• Collision mechanics are a bit unrealistic as cars don’t take damage

It's a fact: 4 out of 5 gamers agree that fast cars make for fun times. Well, almost. It's not a scientific fact or anything, but with the astounding success of the Gran Turismo franchise over the past seven years, I'd be willing to bet it almost is. Here's another little factoid: 4 out of 5 gamers agree that Gran Turismo 4 has been a long time coming. With a three-year wait filled with numerous delays and an insane amount of hype backing it, any wannabe racer would agree that sooner is better than later to get their hands on Gran Turismo 4.

Does Gran Turismo 4 take the fast lane to perfection? Read on to find out.

Gran Turismo 4 doesn't deviate from the franchise's trademark formula of cars, cars, and more cars. While Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec may have been a bit lacking with its car selection, GT4's cup brimmeth over with nearly 700 vehicles, from broken down buckets to the hottest super cars out there. All, of course, are fully customizable under the hood, and with the right parts, you can even turn that '91 Honda Beat with 40,000 miles on it into a supercharged speed demon.

Then, of course, there's the franchise's other hallmark of absolute realism - well, almost. As before, the car handling feels very realistic, especially with the new physics engine, and you can't haphazardly barrel around the courses and consistently expect successful results. However, there is still no real car damage, and it's easy to cheat the limitations of the game, whether you bully your way through the packs or slam into walls instead of properly slowing down to take hard turns; it's not exactly beneficial in creating the ultimate driving experience. It doesn't distract from the otherwise lustrous shine of GT4, but it's been a nagging issue with the franchise since the first Gran Turismo.

Regardless, you'd be hard pressed to find a more realistic driving game that isn't realistic to the point of frustration. Gran Turismo 4 finds that happy medium, letting casual racing fans and hardcore gearheads play on the same racetrack without alienating either.

Gran Turismo 4, simply put, looks beautiful. Unlike any other game before it, GT4 has an incredible photo-realistic quality to it that'll undoubtedly make you do a few double takes. It doesn't always come across during the actual racing segments, but in the replays, and especially in the photo mode, it's really striking just how well the visuals capture their real life counterparts. There is some occasional screen stuttering that occurs every so often with HDTVs, but it's not bad enough to detract much from the overall visuals.

Whether you love, hate, or are completely indifferent to the Gran Turismo franchise, Gran Turismo 4 won't do much to change your mind in any of the above ways. Don't take that as a slam to Gran Turismo 4, though: if you can find the dedication to truly reap the enjoyment out of Gran Turismo, it's every bit as addictive as the other games are. Racing perfection it is not, but it's pretty close.