Sega GT Online

Online racing: more delicious than Fudgesicles? Only one way to find out!

Sega GT Online is an updated version of Sega GT 2002 with Xbox Live capabilities. But fear not, the $19.99 price tag ensures that veterans and newcomers alike will enjoy worldwide competition. If you?ve already built up a garage full of cars in Sega GT 2002, you can import your saved game and be online instantly.

A Tune-Up for 2002
With over 165 cars to choose from, Sega GT Online covers a wide range of eras and styles. Forty new additions beef up 2002?s roster. The gameplay is much more technical/simulation oriented than in arcadey racers like Midnight Club II. The graphics are almost too slick with cars remaining in showroom condition at all times. Real-time destruction on the track would have gone a long way toward intensifying the action as well as making you feel like you got something for your repair dollars instead of merely paying down a damage meter. The sound does its job effectively to the point where you can hear when your engine needs an overhaul. The in-game music is unobtrusive and works as a counterpoint to the inherently annoying engine revs and tire squeals that permeate the game. A Garage Tunes section offers music and videos from an assortment of so-called ?indie rock? labels for those who enjoy whiny Green Day clones.

A new slate of offline single-player challenges, dubbed Gathering mode, provides a place to hone speed, cornering, and trick-driving skills. Gathering mode is also a good place to feel out the controls? precise demands before stepping out onto the network. Plus, completing challenges will unlock new cars in Sega GT 2002 mode.

Let?s Take It to the Stage
Online play is easy to set up and allows real-time voice chat. Up to 12 players can race head-to-head for glory or pink slips. Opponents? sprites stutter occasionally but not to the point of affecting the outcome. Otherwise, technical performance is identical to that of the offline modes. A Trade option turns Xbox Live into a virtual swap meet. If you?re a Sega GT 2002 owner without broadband, you may lack motivation to pick up this title. But if you?ve been dying to show the world your skills, remember to observe all applicable speed limits and traffic regulations in your rush to the store.

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