Review: Gran Turismo 4
"The Real Driving Simulator" sums up Gran Turismo 4 perfectly, from its real time shading, lighting and reflections to the brand new physics engine which lets you hold through the corners using the right line and braking, or flying off at a tangent by using too much acceleration at the wrong point.From the outset, this game spells realism: be it getting your first racing license, buying your first car, or winning the first cup. With over 700 cars that can be raced on more than 50 tracks, the playability of this game is immense. The racing can take place in many leagues, from Sunday leagues to international races, aspiration defined racing to drive train limited races and more.
One thing that separates this game from its competitors is that the player is able to modify the car in more ways than ever before, setting an all new precedence in racing games. By allowing the gamer to buy in new car parts, alter the cars characteristics, and fully customize the cars racing profile, Polyphony Digital have made this more than just another arcade racing game, and have defined the term "racing simulation". Modifications stretch from performing weight reduction operations to changing the gear ratios on your brand new racing standard gear box.
New to this game is the ability to take part in 24 hour races. Unlike previous titles where this meant an enormous amount of laps, but not necessarily taking up 24 hours, GT4 actually boasts three impressive races that are won by accumulating the most amount of laps in a 24 hour period. Of course this may come across as a little daunting for the casual racer, so to account for this, Polyphony Digital have incorporated another new feature which allows you to activate an "alternative driver" in B-Spec mode, allowing your car to be driven around the track by a computer player as you give the driver instructions to aid them to win the race.
Of course, not everything is perfect, but the downsides to this game are greatly out-weighed by the better parts, and this along side the fact that there is so much to do in game, means that GT4 will still be played for a long time to come.
Now available for only 18 of your hard earned English pounds, this game is possibly the best quality racing game available at such a price. Coming from a long line racing simulations, reaching back to 1997 - each pushing boundaries in its own respect - GT4 was destined to provide the gamer with something special.
FFWD
Related Links:
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