Gran Turismo 2000

Polyphony Digital's flagship racing game is set to launch with the PlayStation2 in March 2000. This is the PS2's showcase title, along with Tekken Tag. Based on Gran Turismo 2, GT2000 will feature additional cars and tracks (the GT team will be spending all its time on GT2000 once GT2's wrapped up). One of the very cool graphical touches that you can see in a few of the screens here is heat waves coming up from the pavement during daytime replay shots. The game moves at 60 frames per second with no visible slowdown or graphical glitches--pop-up is a thing of the past. It also takes advantage of the new Dual Shock 2--analog buttons for gas and brake add a whole new dimension to the overall realism.

Even as Gran Turismo 2 continues to tear up the PlayStation sales charts, Polyphony Digital is hard at work porting it to Sony's powerhouse PlayStation2. Needless to say, it's going to be an extremely pretty racing game.

Most of the improvements in Gran Turismo 2000 are slated to be strictly visual. Improved vehicle and track models are the most obvious features, along with a really impressive, real-time reflection effect on the surface of your car. The lines in the road and track walls are clearly visible on the car's finish as you drive by them.

Gameplay-wise, Gran Turismo 2000 is currently supposed to contain the same tracks, cars and events as its PlayStation counterpart. However, the game will take advantage of the DualShock 2's analog buttons. No more "feathering" the gas and brake to make those tricky turns; now it's a matter of how much pressure is applied to the controller buttons. There's still no release date set for GT2K.

What's the deal?

Back in 1998, Sony all but snatched the driving crown right out from under Namco's nose when they released Gran Turismo upon an unsuspecting American public. It was so revolutionary with its testing system and ridiculous amount of licensed cars (many just everyday vehicles racing side by side with exotic dream machines) that it redefined the genre and has yet to be topped by any other racing game. Sony knows GT is one of the most bankable properties in the industry, so they're readying GT2000 (or GT on steroids, if you will) for release on the PlayStation 2.

While this title was originally announced as basically an upgrade to Gran Turismo 2, rumors abound that GT2000 will contain more cars and tracks than its PlayStation predecessor, not to mention the obvious graphical enhancements made possible through the PS2 hardware. You'll spy a shimmering heat wave as the cars scream over the hot pavement, and some of the most impressive lens-flare effects yet will add an unprecedented level of realism to what Sony hopes will be the definitive racing simulator on any console.

So why is it a must-get game?

The simple fact is the Gran Turismo games are the most realistic racing simulators available on home consoles today. Plus there's just no substitute for the myriad of licensed vehicles at your disposal. Whether you're racing a Honda Civic or a McLaren F1, the feeling of authenticity when you're screaming around a hairpin turn is more than enough reason to shell out the cash for this bad boy.