I've never been an avid console game player. I grew up playing games on the PC and that's what I've stuck with. However when I moved in with my roommate, he brought down his N64 and PlayStation. I hadn't touched a console since the original Nintendo.

The PlayStation may be old when put side by side with consoles like the N64 and Dreamcast. However Gran Turismo 2 is one of those games that was way ahead of it's time. Kind of like Decent III for the PC.

PROS
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Acute physics. Rear wheel drive, front wheel drive, four wheel drive. Pick your poison. Car bouncing too much? adjust the suspension. Brakes not stopping you? Time to get racing pads. Acceleration sloppy? Change the gear ratios. Tires not gripping? Get some slicks. Change anything and everything.

Real world cars. Real world price tags. Drive an Accord. Drive a Focus. How about a Corvette? Sedan? Coupe? Station Wagon?? There are literally too many cars to choose from. It's not just the fast million dollar sports cars we're talking about here. Everything from minicars to full blown GT racers. If you've got the money, you can buy it and race it.

With real world cars come real world tracks. There's a good mix of beginner and expert courses. Beginner courses have smooth, easy going turns and lots of straightways. Expert courses throw everything at you but the kitchen sink, and that means double opposing 90 degree turns at breakneck speeds.

So you like off roading? Well, Gran Turismo 2 satisfies your appettite with a rallying option. Ever watch ESPN where the rallying cars do powerslides? How about those jumps off of small hills going 90mph? It's all about mud, dirt, and guts. This game recreates the thrill of high speed dirt racing with awesome powerslide maneuvers and stump hopping action. It's almost an adrenaline rush.

There's nothing like good music to make the drive better. The GT2 soundtrack is by far the best to date I've heard of for any racing game I've played. Pump it up!

CONS
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Outdated graphics. With the prevalence of 3D games for consoles with 3D chipsets these days, it's easy to see why the graphics in this game are outdated. However we should also note the age of the PlayStation. You can try GT2 in the PS2. The graphics still have the "jaggies", but its slightly more smoother and loads faster.

There's no version for the PC! I guess I'm pointing this out because I'm a PC gamer. Though Gran Turismo 3 is on the horizon, you still need to purchase the rare PS2 to be able to play GT3 (luckily my roommate got one for Christmas).

No damage modelling. Though you feel it when you rub up against the car next to you, there is no damage involved. Same when you slam into siding. But due to the limitations of the older PlayStation, it is clear why this was not an option.

IN THE END
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This isn't a game for 5 year olds. This isn't a game for people who only play games like Crazy Taxi or Mario Cart. This game is about real physics, real tracks, real cars, and of course, real skills. It takes a while to master the skills necessary to win the races, and everytime you switch a car, you must get used to it's handling characteristics.

Recommended: Yes