- The world's most advanced racing game returns with thunderous new features..
- Over 500 racing machines from world-class manufacturers..
- - All vehicles are designed according to their exact specifications and are fully customizable..
- - Insane Arcade mode with power slides, burnouts, jumps and excessive speeds.
- - Killer soundtrack from star-studded bands.
Product Description
-------------------
Get all the tire-screeching excitement of real-life
racing with Gran Turismo 2. Tear through 20 hair-raising tracks
from Seattle to Tahiti in one of more than 500 incredibly
detailed, brand name autos. Then customize your car by purchasing
parts with your winnings. Made in USA.
Review
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Thanks to glowing reviews and a fan base of rabid racing
purists, Gran Turismo has built up a reputation as the definitive
driving simulation for the PlayStation. While that proved good
news for Sony's coffers, it posed a tough challenge for its
developers: How can the sequel surpass the original? For better
or worse, Gran Turismo 2 has taken the Star Wars: Special Edition
approach to tackling this challenge. The bulk of the game's
top-notch graphics and gameplay remain true to the original, but
this version is packed with extra add-ons - more tracks, more
cars, more races and more secrets - that have turned the game
into a mammoth two-disc experience. The sequel may not play or
look noticeably better than the original, but it's certainly a
bigger meal to digest. With that said, prospective buyers will
fall into four categories: * Fans who loved the original Gran
Turismo and have actually all the game's secrets: The
purchase of this game is a no-brainer. * Fans who loved the
original Gran Turismo but lacked the patience or skills to unlock
all the game's secrets: The addition of an off-road rally racing
mode won't be enough incentive to rehash a gameplay formula all
too similar to the original, despite having more cars and tracks.
This might not be your cup of tea. * Those who haven't played
Gran Turismo but who love cars and seek a pure racing simulation:
The purchase of this game is also a no-brainer, assuming you have
a lot of free time ahead. * Casual video gamers looking for fun,
easy racing entertainment (or for those shopping for a kids'
gift): It's a toss-up. The skill needed to master the nuances of
this game, as well as its depth, might prove too much for those
looking for a less sophisticated, less demanding racer. The
arcade portion of the game will still sate most gamers' needs -
but a whole half of the game might go to waste in the meantime.
For an in-depth review, keep on reading.... Gran Turismo 2:
Crunching the numbers A by-the-numbers look at this pure driving
simulation shows how much depth this game offers. First off, the
game comes on two CDs. The first CD offers arcade-mode racing,
which features one-player races and two-player split-screen
competition. When a player places first on a track, a hidden car
is . The second CD is the more valuable of the two; it
offers the Gran Turismo simulation mode. In this ultra-realistic,
one-player-only mode, you earn credits by winning races - credits
that you can then use to buy additional cars and upgrades. To
unlock more races, you must pass a series of driving tests (at
least 50 to start) to obtain licenses. These licenses can then be
transferred (via memory card) to unlock new tracks in the arcade
mode; in addition, the cars created in the Gran Turismo mode can
be raced head-to-head in the arcade mode as well. For those
who've played the original, all this will be familiar territory.
For those new to the series, it'll be an overwhelming experience
to wade through. Back to the numbers: The game features more than
400 car models from various years, covering everything from lowly
compacts such as the Volkswagen Golf to muscle cars like the
Chevrolet Corvette. There are also special off-road rally cars
and high-performance super sports cars (for the wealthy). These
are not mere graphical swaps either, as each car has its own
unique performance and handling specifications. The attention to
and depth of detail imprinted on each car gives this game
virtually enough credibility to stand as an interactive
encyclopedia on performance racing cars.--Nelson Taruc--Copyright
© 1998 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole
or in part in any form or medium without express written
permission of GameSpot is prohibited. -- GameSpot Review