Gentlemen, start your engines. Nearly four long years after Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec was released, anxious drivers have finally got their hands on the latest in the creme de la creme of console racers, Gran Turismo 4.
It was worth the wait -- the game is as much a work of art as it is a racing simulator.
GT4 has all the cars you wished you could own and tracks from all the places you wish you could visit.
There are more than 700 cars from more than 80 manufacturers, from a 1915 Model T to mid-'70s muscle cars to early '80s imports to modern day luxury, high performance and concept cars.
If you can't find the car of your dreams in this game, it probably wasn't worth owning.
Just like the gamer can tune the cars in the game, developer Polyphony Digital has done some tinkering under the hood with a few new features and a sharper look.
CRACKS IN THE CONCRETE
GT4 has been given a graphical makeover, starting with cars and trucks that are recreated in precise detail down to exact specifications. The same can be said for the 50 plus tracks, many of which have been seemingly recreated right down to the cracks in the concrete.
As any gamer familiar with the series already knows, the allure of Gran Turismo isn't just the tight graphics and wide selection of cars.
GT4 is a true simulation, which means perfect cornering, shrewd braking and smooth acceleration are the trademarks of a winning driver.
While the game features an arcade mode, there is none of the arcade silliness of other racers where the driver can simply put the pedal to the medal for a few laps and expect a first place finish every time.
MEAT OF THE GAME
Gamers can get a hearty taste of the wide selection of vehicles and tracks in arcade but the meat of the game comes from the GT mode, where drivers start with a few thousand credits and have to race their way up to better cars and bigger prizes.
Gamers eventually fill their garage, earn special licenses to enter races and can purchase upgrades to improve the performance of their cars.
The new features that have been added are more style over substance, including a photo mode that allows drivers to snap shots of their cars to transfer them to their PC as a desktop or print out real-life memories of their favourite races.
There is also a B-spec mode, where gamers take the role of race team manager and order the computer A.I. to compete while they watch a broadcast of the race.
The most glaring omission is the lack of online play, a staple for nearly every new game these days. Gamers have to settle instead for LAN play that can pit as many as six drivers against each other. There is also no vehicle damage, which is a tad surprising considering the hard-core simulation game play.
GT4 does laps around the competition when it comes to console racing games, regardless of the system. If you love driving, there quite simply is no better choice.
