Gran Turismo 2 Playstation Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Developer: Polyphony Digital Players: 1-2 Difficulty: N/A Camera: N/A Additional Pictures Screen 1 Screen 2 Screen 3 Screen 4 Screen 5 Screen 6 Screen 7 Screen 8 Screen 9 Screen 10 Screen 11 Screen 12 Screen 13 Screen 14 Screen 15

As With The Original, Gran Turismo 2 Has Some Excellent Graphics With Very Little Slow-Down Expect More Than 500, Yes 500, Different Cars That Are Available To Chose From The Whole Driving Interface Has Not Changed Much Over The Past, But Why Change Something That Is Perfect In The First Place

A little over two years ago a game came out to the public that totally revolutionized the way gamers raced cars in video-games. That game was known as Gran Turismo for the Sony Playstation. Gran Turismo alone is probably, now, one of the most well-known games today. When you hear Playstation, Gran Turismo jumps into your head as one of the system's great games along with Crash Bandicoot, Resident Evil, and a few others. The original Gran Turismo provided gamers with some very well-known car manufacturers and their cars. The old Hunk-O-Junk in the garage was probably a playable car in Gran Turismo. One could race their old Mazda or a new Dodge Viper with unparalleled game physics. The cars dipped and dodged like their real-life counterpart as well as soaring through the air. It was a no brainer that the creators of the original, Polyphony Digital, and the publisher of the original, Sony, would create a sequel to the most widely-known racing game of all time. Finally that time has come. Even though the release date has been delayed, Gran Turismo 2 will soon be here in the states for the first time and here is the preview that you have been waiting for!

Sony sent us a short, two-minute preview of Gran Turismo 2 in the mail recently. We wish we could post it but we can not. Sorry to all the fans out there but if we could we would. Soon, hopefully, Sony will be releasing more movies of Gran Turismo 2 for the public and as soon as they do we will post them. Anyway, back to the video. What we are able to do though is discuss what we saw. All that I can say is, "O My Gosh!". Those three words sum up my entire feelings while watching the video. It was a short two-minutes but they seemed like an eternity. It was so wonderful. What is obvious from the get-go is that the graphics have been tweaked slightly from the original. The glare on all the cars is a lot more noticeable then the previous game and the glares look great. Also the games look much more smooth around the edges. Cars now have a slick new look. Tracks as well look a lot better. There are more textures on the ground, sky, stadium, and lighting effects this time around.

Now for the good stuff. Gran Turismo 2 will have OVER 20 tracks to race on. In all there are over 40 different track combinations that are available as well. Most of the tracks in the original were all street tracks. Well the street tracks will be returning in GT2 but Sony is introducing a new Rally Racing Mode were there are dirt tracks that are playable. Not only can you race the regular dirt-racing vehicles but you are also able to take a spin around some dirt with a Dodge Viper or a Mitsubishi Eclipse. Also some of the tracks from the original will be returning to the sequel. Tracks like Grand Valley Speedway, and the Trial Mountain Circuit are returning. Some new tracks available are the Roma Circuit, Tahiti Road, Laguna Seca Raceway, Seattle Circuit, and Pike's Peak International Hill Climb Race are some of the new tracks featured. Most of the tracks can be raced backwards as well as forwards; some can even be raced at night providing a much different feel.

Here is probably the GREATEST news that any racing fan can DEFINITELY apprieciate and that is that Gran Turismo will contain ........594, yes 594 PLAYABLE CARS!! We were fortunate enough to find a tentative list of the cars scheduled to make an appearance in GT2. The list was much too large to fit here so if you Click Here you will be redirected to the list of the manufacturers and their cars. P> The following news literally sent chills down my spine. As with the original you are able to fine-tune your car to maximun performance. This time around there authentic automotive brands such as Alpine, Bridgestone, elf, Michelin, and Quaker State. But that is not the good news. GT2 will have world-renowned real-life garages like AMG, Audi Sport, Ford Racing, and TWR Racing. BUT that is still not the good news. The good news is that gamers will have the opportunity to develop their own custom cars FROM SCRATCH!! Is this a blessing from God? I think so!

As with the original, GT2 will "incorporate handling, maneuverability and throttle response that mirror true car physics, authenticity is further enhanced by recorded audio of actual cars...highly detailed, updated car models...the 3D-calculation program in Gran Turismo 2 has been improved 20% since Gran Turismo". If Gran Turismo 2 does not make you happy then I have no idea what could possibly make you happy.

"The original Gran Turismo delivered an experience that we thought could never be repeated, but Gran Turismo 2 demonstrates that gameing can be taken to a whole new level of entertainment."

-Ami Blair, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America

Ami is a genius. She has hit the nail on the head with that statement. Gran Turismo 2 has pushed the Playstation to almost its limits but this game shows there is still life in the Playstation even after all these years. Any racing fan that does not own a Playstation should go pick one up for only $99 anywhere! If there is a single gamer out there that does not think Gran Turismo 2 is good enough then I have no idea what will satisfy them.

-Nick Steinhauer