Gran Turismo 4 Review

Sanford And Son’s Dream—Cars and Interface

If you’re looking for a racing game with over 700 cars from more than 70 manufacturers, then Gran Turismo 4 is your baby. Choose cars from the early days of the “Horseless Carriage” (yes, you can drive a 1886 Daimler Motor Carriage) to 1960’s and 1970’s muscle cars, modern vehicles, and special concept cars that may have only hit the drawing board. Most of these cars are for show and you’ll probably either re-sell them or putz around the track for a Sunday Drive. I mean, try winning a race on the Grand Valley Speedway in a Ford Model T.

One of the best improvements to the game is found in your Garage Menu. You can now sort your collection by country, drivetrain and manufacturer, which can save loads of time when you’re looking for that one car to enter a specific race.

Interstate X—Tracks

So you have your cars, right? Where can you drive them in Gran Turismo 4? Besides the familiar Grand Valley Speedway and Deep Forest raceway (among returning favorites), you can pick city courses like Hong Kong and Seoul as well as real-life tracks Suzuka and the Fuji Speedway. One new track that will test your patience is Nurburging Nordschliefe. It’s over 12 miles long and contains over 170 turns. It will test your perseverance and your wrist strength. The new tracks are good additions to the series, but the old familiar ones still feel comfortable.

Still Pretty After All These Years—Graphics

If you didn’t think it was possible, the graphics are even better in Gran Turismo 4. The cars look incredible, making you wonder who would have the nerve to race them. There is no slowdown and the detail of the tracks the PS2 offers makes it visually pleasing.

Spectators take a more active role by snapping pictures and crowding behind you as you race past. Also, with no damage model, Gran Turismo 4 uses a blur effect when you hit other cars or a wall. There doesn’t seem to be a point to this. Bring me dented fenders and smoking engines!

License to Thrill—License

Don’t worry, you still have licenses to earn before you kick up the challenge level to earn new, faster cars and wads of cash. The Super License in Gran Turismo 4 is extremely hard to get because one teeny mistake and you’re done. You’ll be trying to keep up with a pace car without passing it and passing a snow track with mere seconds as a grace period.

Precision, Precision, Precision—Control

On the track, you’ll feel every bump and dip in the road and hear every whine to your engine and each tire rolling on the road. Gran Turismo 4 has done a nice job in keeping the controls consistent to past games. Using the analog stick (the ONLY racing game I use it for) is the best way to go because any slight movement works. Even better is if you have one of the precise racing wheels (especially one made for Gran Turismo 4) to use. That way, you can put ‘The Real Driving Simulator’ to the test.

The Management—B-Spec Mode

If you get tired of playing the Gran Turismo 4 ‘meat’ modes (arcade, simulation), try B-Spec mode. In this game, you’re a race manager that’s put in control of a few functions. Give direction on speed, when to come in for a pit stop and when to pass a car. You have access to a management screen that gives you times, a track map, and info on your opponents. Don’t expect too much from this part of the game except thumb rest.

The Negatives

There are three negatives to Gran Turismo 4. One is the load time. It’s absolutely deplorable. Enough said. The second negative is the soundtrack. All genres are represented, but nothing I’d race to. Weirdly, and maybe it’s just me, the best Gran Turismo soundtrack was in the first Gran Turismo, where Polyphonic Digital defined cool when it came to using licensed songs.

Lastly, it’s disappointing that there is no damage model. I find it ridiculous that I can use my opponents as bouncer when speeding around a corner. Basically, bouncing is when you take the inside line on an opponent in a turn and push them into the wall without heavy consequences. You’ll lose some speed, but most likely you will gain a position. Just doesn’t seem fair. Hopefully, in Gran Turismo 5, the game maker will shed the car manufacturers complaining and just incorporate damage.

Thompson’s Two Cents

Gran Turismo 4 is still the premiere driving game. Anything negative about GT4 is easily forgotten with the impressive graphics, the huge amount of cars, easier-to-use modification interface, and the level of challenge the tracks offer. Even if you own the other three Gran Tursimo games, pick this up because after playing GT4, you’ll never drive your real car the same.