Sega GT 2002

Whereas the Gran Turismo series emphasizes its wide variety of modern cars, Sega GT 2002 is more of a "classic" racing game.  Never before have there been so many classic cars available in a video game.  There are a lot of modern cars as well, but one of Sega GT's standout features, the Chronicle Mode, takes you back to the early 1970's.  To heighten the mood, the whole picture is given a light brown coating that's meant to resemble an old film.  Shortly after the race begins, the normal colors begin to come back.

As far as the gameplay goes, Sega GT 2002 is great.  Any gamer -- casual or hardcore -- will be able to pick up an Xbox controller and play this game with a little practice.  Sega passed up the chance to take advantage of the Xbox controller's analog buttons, giving gamers an easier, but less precise driving experience.  The controls are slippery, but not to the point where you must pick a great car to win a race.  Visible body damage is not incurred when you crash, since all of these cars are real, and most car manufacturers don't want to see their vehicles get trashed in a game (not yet, at least).  However, you do have a damage meter (in Sega GT 2002 mode) that affects how much money you earn at the end of the race.  All damage must be fixed, and even the slightest bump can cost $100.  If you race perfectly, you'll receive a bonus in the form of extra cash (which can be used to buy new cars and upgrades).

At first, Sega GT 2002 may feel like an overly familiar experience.  In many ways it is.  The first course in Sega GT 2002 mode is nearly identical to the first course in Gran Turismo 3.  For owners of more than one console, this is not good news.  But if you've never played Gran Turismo 3, will you even care?  Probably not.  This game wasn't made for PlayStation 2 owners.  It was made for gamers who chose Xbox instead.  But that doesn't mean that PS2 owners won't love this game.  In the end, they may get more out of it than everyone else.

Sega GT 2002 contains two really solid game modes, Sega GT 2002 (named after the title) and Chronicle.  Sega GT 2002 mode is the closest anyone has ever come to mimicking the Gran Turismo series.  There are a few differences -- license tests aren't an integral part of the game.  You do have to be tested, but tests only occur every three courses.  So you'll get to have a lot of fun in between the tests.

Not surprisingly, only a couple of the vehicles available are cheap enough for you to buy.  The game starts you out with a measly $13,000, and most of the vehicles retail for $20,000 or more.  This means that you have to start out with an old, ugly car that can't do much of anything.  Upgrading it is a waste, but you won't be able to win very many races if you don't enhance your vehicle's performance.  That comes with the territory though.  If you have a lot of free time on your hands, you'll be in awe, because this game will keep you busy for a really long time.

Upon winning a race, you'll be awarded with cash.  Win enough races and you'll get a new car (which should probably be sold for cash).  This is all very familiar to Gran Turismo fans.

Everything is in place -- good graphics, subtle sound effects, decent controls, etc.  But for a simulation game, it Sega GT 2002 doesn't feel that realistic.  It's not as much of a simulator as it is an emulator of the Gran Turismo series.  With that said, it does a superb job of emulating a game that emulates real driving.

Chronicle is like an arcade mode, but with more depth.  In this mode, you earn points, not money, which can be used to purchase one upgrade after every race.  There are only six races, but more than six upgrades, so you can't buy them all.  The first race takes place in the 70's, complete with opponents from that era.  As you race through each time period, your opponents will try to beat you with a number of shiny-new cars.  Your car will stay the same though.  A new car will be unlocked once you've passed all of the courses (i.e., achieved third place or better).  While a tad repetitive, Chronicle mode is one of the best parts of Sega GT 2002.

Sega GT 2002 isn't perfect, but it is a stellar racing game.  I'd have to say that overall, it is the longest racing game available for Xbox.  Length is very important to me, and I know that it's important to many of our readers, so rest assured, this is not a beat-it-in-a-weekend kind of game.  You could probably conquer most of the Chronicle mode in that amount of time, but don't even think about beating the GT mode that quickly!  It won't happen, period.  For me, that's great.  With as busy as I am, I know that Christmas will come and go before I've done everything there is to do in this game.

When you take this game for a spin, don't over or underestimate its quality.  Just go into it with a very open mind, and be sure to set aside at least two hours for your first game.  That way you'll have a chance to fully explore its many options and decide if you truly like the game or not.

Gameplay: 8.5
Grab a 64-ounce bottle of Pepsi (or whatever soft drink you like), a pillow (to take naps when your eyes begin to water uncontrollably from exhaustion) and prepare to start your engine and keep it running for a very long time!  If there are two words that can best describe Sega GT 2002, it's time and consuming.  If RalliSport Challenge wasn't long enough for you, Sega GT 2002 should satisfy your gaming needs.

Graphics: 9.3 
Beautiful real-time lighting (complete with a realistic, glowing sun), stellar reflections, good backgrounds and intricate car models are just some of the impressive eye-catching effects you'll see in this game.

Sound: 7
The sound is unusually subtle, with revving engines, skidding tires and other ear-catching car sound effects.  There is very little music in this game, which is for the best, since I'd rather hear nothing than a song that's annoying.  It would have been nice if Sega had included a soundtrack creation feature though.

Difficulty: Medium
The hardest part of Sega GT 2002 is having the patience to save up enough money to buy a good car!  The computer-controlled cars have a fair amount of intelligence, and the courses have enough twists and turns to make you screw up the race on multiple occasions.

Concept: 6.9 
Sega GT 2002 is very entertaining, but it could easily be renamed to "Gran Turismo Jr."

Multiplayer: 7.5
It's fun to play against a friend or a relative every now and then, but the heart of Sega GT 2002 is the single-player modes.

Overall: 8.5
Want a great racing game that'll keep you busy for a very long time?  Then look no further than Sega GT 2002.  Even if you don't want to be stuck in your room all day and all night, you'll still probably enjoy this game.