| Title | : | Gran Turismo 2 |
| Platforms | : | Sony PlayStation |
| Publisher | : | Sony |
| ESRB Rating | : | Everyone |
| Game Rating | : | 8.3 |
| Review by | : | Ken Gagne |
More cars. More courses. More music. More options.
More fun? Or just more confusing?
Gran Turismo 2, Sony's racing simulation game for the PlayStation, has much over the original best-seller that may appeal more to the gamer-oriented mechanic, than the mechanic-oriented gamer.
Gran Turismo 2, like its predecessor, is a racer that takes itself seriously. Over 500 models of real cars from Ford, Mazda, Aston Martin, and others can be bought, tuned, and raced on over twenty courses. Victories in the cups and rallies will net earnings that lead to better equipment, faster cars, and more money. Races can occur on pavement or in offroad rally; in either, cars can become worn and damaged, prompting a visit to the pit area.
GT2 comes on two discs. The first is the Arcade Mode, which offers a variety of cars and courses from which to choose for a quick, single race. The second disc contains the Simulation Mode, where most players will spend their time; it's here that custom cars are built and personal garages assembled.
The volume of options can easily overwhelm all but the most fanatic car nut. The initial bankroll severely limits the choice of new and used cars, but staggering choices still prevail. With new tires, brakes, engines, and hubcaps to consider, the paths to the ultimate car are many. After long hours at the racetrack, enough money may be collected to buy a new car — but which one of five hundred? Gamers who know their cars and understand the value of every upgrade and option will be in Seventh Heaven; the rest will be making shots in the dark and hoping for the best.
Of course, there's more to a game than its quantity. One would think GT's presentation has also improved. I'm told the graphics are cleaner, but I don't see it. In fact, just the opposite: races sometimes appear grittier, with every pixel alive and fidgeting. The background pixelation evident in the first Gran Turismo's replays is still present.
That's not to say the graphics are general poor. The car models are some of the most detailed and realistic of any racing game, from the shine on the hood to the spokes of the wheel. The instant replays offer cinematic points of view, capturing the excitement of the race. It's the lack of improvement over graphics which were jaw-dropping nearly two years ago that's disappointing.
Live artists continue to provide the Gran Turismo soundtrack. Beck, Foo Fighters, and Garbage are among the artists in the GT2 album. Although the music is good, the soundtrack seems more befitting a jammin' party than a race.
Though most time is spent in races, the interface found between trials is a curmudgeon. Icons are strewn haphazardly about the screen — or, in the case of car manufacturers, across several screens. Adhering to the city map layout of GT1, GT2 has by necessity divided its manufacturers across several maps, so window shoppers or players with many cars must do some travelling. Also, immediately after races, the game defaults to a replay of the entire race. Although these are fun to watch, going out of one's way to cancel it should not be standard.
Gamers who dreaded the license tests — trials necessary to compete in the more difficult circuits — have more to fear in this sequel. To match the increased number of tracks are more licenses required to compete on those tracks. Fortunately, any licenses earned in GT1 can be imported to GT2, to save veteran drivers from re-earning old licenses.
The cups themselves sport a new format. Many circuits can be tackled a single race at a time, with no purse for overall standing. The qualifying lap (and its purse) have also been eliminated, with the chance of starting in the pole position.
Gran Turismo 2 surpasses its predecessor, if not by superior gameplay or performance, then by numbers alone. It's more of the same, which is enough if you're a gamer who didn't get enough the first time around. Otherwise, GT2 can be, if not overwhelmingly disappointing, at least overwhelming and disappointing.
This article is copyright (c) 1999, 2007 by Ken Gagne. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed without permission.
Original publication: Sentinel & Enterprise, 27-Dec-99