Gran Turismo 4 (First Look) Preview

Developer	Polyphony Digital
Publisher	SCEA
Genre	Driving
Release Date	TBA

Sony's Killer App Racing Franchise Goes Online!

As if gamers weren't already well aware of the phenomenon that is Gran Turismo, Sony has seen fit to finally unveil Polyphony Digital's new baby, and boy is it looking sweet. Not only are the graphics looking mighty luscious, but the Polyphony team is promising that this new GT is going to be host to the most robust lineup of cars ever to grace a videogame.

Photo Realism
We knew GT4 was going to boast some impressive visuals, but we weren't prepared to be blown away by the absolutely jaw-droppingly gorgeous eye candy that Polyphony has thrown at us. The textures are simply breathtaking; photo-realistic environments and car models too. Effects are stunning as well, with realistic reflections mapped onto the cars, and dazzling particle effects like dusty gravel flying from the cars as they scream down a narrow dirt path on the rally tracks.

Cars are made up of 4,000 polygons each, and there are over 500 cars currently in the game; with more on the way. Of course, each car will be fully customizable, as per the Gran Turismo standard.

The Driving Force
The meat behind the Gran Turismo series has always been the strong career mode, and it makes a spectacular return in GT4. The car categories break down into standard, convertible, modified street, and racing, which includes open-wheel and rally cars. That said, there will be special races for each, along with several others.

Drive Like a Pro

Logitech is known for making some of the most high-quality peripherals on the market. And just like Logitech's Force Feedback Wheel, their newest creation is being specifically built for a Gran Turismo game. For GT4 comes the Logitech Driving Force Pro. This sleek-looking package comes with a 10" wheel with an aluminum center hub, and a leather-like rubber mold. The rounded shift knob is inspired by Italian performance cars. The pedals are weighted to withstand extreme amounts of pressure when fully pressed, and even comes with special grips for carpet. But the best feature is that this new wheel features 900 degrees of rotation; the first and only wheel to do so. Other wheels only boasted 300 degrees or less of rotation. What's this mean? 2.5 turns of the wheel, lock-to-lock. Much, MUCH more authentic-feeling. In addition, there are shift paddles in the back for Formula-style racing. The Logitech Driving Force Pro will ship the same day as Gran Turismo 4. Pricing has yet to be announced.

Dealerships will once again sell used cars, and this time there will be classic cars in the game, as well as a museum. Although the racing pack is still just six cars (two-player splitscreen offline), the enhanced artificial intelligence promises to be smarter than ever. From what we gather, opponents will make mistakes and learn from them. Some cars will allow you to pass under certain circumstances, and others will be much more aggressive in their racing styles.

Let's Make Tracks
Along with tracks like Tsukuba Race Circuit, there are a total of 50 tracks in GT4, though we should not that many of these will be reversed or contain day/night versions. From what we've seen so far though, the courses are quite varied. One track featured a heart-racing scream around the Grand Canyon in the gravel, and yet another deep in a forest. At the opposite end of the spectrum, we were witness to a track that looked as if it goes through a small village.

All of GT4's courses are said to be much tighter in design, which will surely make for some exciting racing. In addition, Polyphony is stepping the realism up a notch by implementing a full pit crew. Now you will have a handful of specialists which will help you finish a race, upgrade parts, and make repairs. Word has it that players will even be able to upgrade the quality of their pit crew.

Online Turismo
We know for sure that Gran Turismo 4 will be online, but most, if not all, of the included features are shrouded in mystery. What we do know is that via the network adaptor, up to six racers can be in one race at a time. Racing for pink slips is also in the cards. Rumor has it that the game will also support the 40-gig HDD that Sony is releasing in the first quarter of 2004. One thing we know isn't in GT4 is voice support; Polyphony confirmed it at E3. Bummer.

What GWX would like to see is a full tournament mode consisting of hundreds and thousands of players from across the globe competing for championships and the like. Race teams would be nice too. We also wouldn't mind seeing the quarter-mile drag racing that Polyphony planned to integrate originally in GT2. When you combine racing and online, the possibilities are virtually limitless. Let's hope the online stuff doesn't end up being bare-bones and generic.

See You at the Races
What happens when you mix PS2-quality visuals with the realistic simulation that is Gran Turismo, and then add tons more cars and tracks, online support, and possibly HDD support (downloadable cars? We hope!)? Quite possibly the best damn racing sim ever made, that's what. While still a ways off, you should be playing Gran Turismo 4 no later than the first quarter of 2004. Look for a more in-depth preview on GWX as GT4 nears release.

Preview by Brendon Hivner