Gran Turismo 2

The Gran-daddy of racing simulations for the PlayStation has a second childhood with Gran Turismo 2. With tons more tracks, cars and options this time around, it has the makings of being a virtual racers' dream, but can GT2 live up to the original?

The Gran-daddy of racing simulations for the PlayStation has a second childhood with Gran Turismo 2. With tons more tracks, cars and options this time around, it has the makings of being a virtual racers' dream, but can GT2 live up to the original?

All You Want And More
Highly anticipated, eagerly awaited sequels to million selling blockbusters usually have a knack for disappointing, but with Gran Turismo 2, the PlayStation's premier racing sim only gets bigger and better. For drivers who loved the challenge of the first, but who long for more cars and courses, your prayers have been answered with over 500 cars, and auto makers like Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes-Benz joining the mix, as well as classic cars from the 60s and 70s. A Rally Mode has also been added for more replayability and different racing strategy, as well as a game status screen that gives you the lowdown on all of your racing accomplishments.

Even with these new extras, GT2 is still solid as a rock. Each new car has been added with the same painstaking detail as the original, and the new tracks (as well as some old favorites) also hold up pretty well. There have been some minor changes in gameplay, like the addition of tire and car damage occurring during the race (and massively affecting your handling), and horsepower limitations have been placed on most races, placing more of an emphasis on handling rather than on power alone. All in all, GT2 does a remarkable job of staying true to the original, without seeming old or tiresome.

Push It To The Limit
The glorious graphical detail of the first GT has been tarnished slightly with noticeable seam breaking and pop-up, which have to be a product of disc limitations (even though GT2 is a two-disc set) and the PSX showing its age. But the car models are still top notch, the sense of speed remains accurate, and the replays are still a joy to watch. The minor graphical complaints would probably not be so distracting if we weren't living in the age of Dreamcast.

Sound in GT2 is again top notch. The cars sound real, down to minute changes in tone after you make high-powered modifications. The game includes a great modern rock soundtrack from the likes of Garbage, Stone Temple Pilots, Foo Fighters and Filter. These tunes will keep you from popping in your own CDs to cover up the usual videogame racing fare.

The GT series will always be remembered for its control. Not only while racing, but also for the unlimited tinkering one can do on their car. More modifications have been added this time around, but the feel of driving remains the same. Newcomers may find it difficult to compensate for the differences between front, rear or four-wheel drive, but for old GT pros it will come back as second nature.

Return To The Mean Streets
Even though Gran Turismo 2 shows its age (and its system's age) and Rally Mode doesn't live up to the rest of the game, GT2 is still as close as you can get to the real thing and always worth the drive.

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