Gran Turismo 4 PlayStation 2 Game Review

Genre: Racing/Driving
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Rating: G

Developed by Polyphony Digital, GT4 further demonstrates its mission to provide the most authentic driving simulation available in the marketplace.New features will extend above and beyond just pure automotive racing, providing a unique destination for automotive and PlayStation 2 enthusiasts to enjoy car culture in every dimension - extending that goal will be highlighted through the new GT Photo Mode, and the highly anticipated B-Spec Mode. In addition, enhanced popular features will return with "GT Career Simulation Mode" and "GT Arcade Mode".

Following in the footsteps of the PlayStation 2 Greatest Hit, Gran Turismo 3: A-spec, and a racing franchise that has sold more than 34 million units worldwide, Gran Turismo 4 features authentic racing gameplay that focuses on more cars, courses and race modes. With an all-new physics engine and an all-new artificial intelligence engine, combined with revolutionary technology, GT4 delivers enhanced, if not perfected, game physics, graphics, and feel, acting as a near-realistic automotive driving simulator.

In GT4, the characteristics of the cars are realistically designed and calculated so that they handle to the "real life" physics of that particular vehicle, taking into account weight, speed, friction, wind, and more. Courses include various sites such as Nurburgring Nordschleife, New York City, the Grand Canyon, Tsukuba Circuit, and more. Highly detailed vehicles and environment mapping create broadcast-quality graphics, with light and competitor car reflections on the player's automobile to leaves on a tree shaking in the wind.

• Australian car manufacturers, Ford and Holden, included in the world's most anticipated real driving simulator
• New physics engine adding a higher level of realism in cars, which allows for cars to be handled easier
• More than 5,000 polygons per vehicle capture exceptional detail, right down to the disc brakes behind the wheel
• Up to 100 courses including Nurburgring, New York City, the Grand Canyon, Tsukuba Circuit, Fuji Speedway, Citta di Aria, Hong Kong, Costa di Amalfi and others. Includes courses that can be played in reverse mode
• More than 700 vehicles encompassing manufacturers from around the world with a range from vintage to modern models seen today. Gran Turismo is the key to the world's greatest cars
• All vehicles are fully customisable from racing tyres to gear ratio
• Race opponents possess advanced artificial intelligence, which allows for behaviour that captures human-like emotion
• Refined replay mode with broadcast-quality graphics
• Compatible with the Logitech Driving Force Pro Wheel - To further enhance the automotive racing experience, in lieu of the DUALSHOCK 2 controller, the Logitech Driving Force Pro can be used for the entire game providing a shifter for manual transmissions, 900 degrees of steering rotation and force-feedback

Gran Turismo 4 has Four race modes including:

GT Career 'Simulation' Mode - Via the GT Universe, players start from the bottom and race to earn money, unlock cars and courses, buy and sell cars and upgrade parts while competing in more than 200 various championship races.

GT Arcade Mode - Players compete against each other or the artificial intelligence with select cars on select courses. More cars and course are available in the GT Arcade Mode when they are unlocked in the GT Career Simulation Mode.

vGT Photo Mode - Players can travel around the globe with their car(s) and conduct photo sessions in various popular locations that include Piazza San Marco, Shibuya, Tsumago, Sagano and more. Once the photo is taken in the game, the player can save it to their memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation 2) and have the option to share with friends or print out a color copy via an Epson USB colour printer, such as PictureMate.

GT B-Spec Mode - Back seat drivers rejoice as you no longer have to be only in the A-Spec mode driving seat to play the game. B-Spec is the new strategic option that allows players to take on a managerial role and you pit a virtual driver, guided by you, onto the competitive track.