PlayStation 2 : Gran Turismo 4

• Developer : Polyphony Digital
• Publisher : Sony Computer Entertainment
• Series : Gran Turismo
• Release date : December 28, 2004
• Genre : Racing
• Mode : Single Player, LAN, Multi-Player
• Media/distribution : 1 DVD-9

Game Info :

Gran Turismo 4 is the fourth installment of the popular game series Gran Turismo made by Sony. This version offers over 700 usable cars with many GT original, as well as real world renowned, tracks to choose from, giving the player many different possibilities leading to many different experiences. Gran Turismo 4 also shows off a new feature: Photo Mode. This new mode allows drivers to take as many shots of their cars as they would like. Gran Turismo 4 also takes everything from the car's own horsepower to everything technical, such as downforce, gear ratio, and limited slip to offer even the most enthusiastic players a challenge. Even more, this verson offers not only the traditional first person racing, refered to as A-Spec in this game, but also gives the player a third person setting on the player's own descretion, which is refered to as B-Spec. This views the race in progress with the player having the "director" job in a race crew, allowing the player to give various commands such as how fast to go, when to overtake, and when to pit stop.

A-Spec and B-Spec game modes

Players now accumulate points by winning races in the normal first-person driving mode, called A-Spec mode. Each race event can yield up to a maximum of 200 A-Spec points. Generally, a win using a car with less of an advantage over the AI opponents is worth more points. Points can only be won once, so to win further points from a previously-won event, it must be re-won using a car with less of an advantage over the AI. There are also the 34 Missions which can yield 250 points each. Despite this, A-Spec points are experience points, not money.

Screen Shot (Click on any picture to view full size)

The new B-Spec mode puts players in the place of a racing crew chief: telling the driver how aggressively to drive, when to pass, and mandating pit stops (by monitoring tire wear and fuel level). The speed of the time in the race can be increased up to 3x, allowing for Endurance races to be completed in less time than would take in A-Spec mode. The 3x feature, however, must be turned on after every pit stop because it resets to normal time. The game manual says that the player may speed up B-Spec mode by up to 5x, but this is believed to be a typo.

Criticism

Reviewers criticize the game for its continued lack of rendered damage. Instead of actual damage, the cars (depending on the speed and angle in which the collision occurred) simply bounce or spin off of the car, wall, or obstacle.

Reviewers complained of the continued ability to take unrealistic short cuts, such as the ones on Fuji Speedway 90's, Driving Park Beginner Course and Circuit de la Sarthe I, where the driver can cut right across the chicane, allowing a player to win by cheating. One reviewer also complained that cars do not have enough grip.

Adapted from : granturismo.neoseeker.com

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