Grand Tourismo is a wonderfully designed game with all of the details you'd expect.
There's the traditional arcade mode that is common throughout all the racing games.
There's a two player head-to-head mode, again, common. But there's another mode, not
common to todays racing games. Simulation mode. This mode simulates an actual
racing career. It's not just race after race after race. You have to take a
number of tests to obtain a license, purchase and trick out a car, and run through lots of
courses.
The graphics are very well done and
rival Need For Speed III (The playstation version). The windows reflect the passing
trees realisticly, the car's wheels appear to counter-rotate as speed increases,
your car even rumbles satisfingly as it goes through the grass. The one thing
lacking graphically in tis game are skid-marks. It's always fun to go back to the
scene of a nice pileup to see all the skid marks.
Sound in this game is up-to-par
with all other games currently on the market. If you have a nice set of speakers,
combined with a rumbling controller, you get a real feel for the game. The only
thing left to be desired in my mind was a better sound-track. All you get is some
softcore techno beats which even Daft Punk would be ashamed of.
I particularly enjoyed the feel of
the game. The way your car fishtailed through turns, the way you could brake and
spin around joyously. All of these things combined to make it fun to just run around
the track.
The other great thing about this
game is that it is analog and rumble controller compatible. This makes it a real joy
to play. Watching your car bob up and down in the grass and feeling it rumble is
very satisfying. Hell, it makes it fun to go in the grass and lose!
All in all I give this game a
rating of 8.5 out of 10. If the soundtrack had been better, it would've earned a
better score. If you're in the market for a new racing game, this one's for you. |
