Gran Turismo 2 (commonly abbreviated as GT2) is a driving simulator/racing game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment exclusively for the PlayStation. The game is the sequel to 1997's Gran Turismo.
Gameplay[]
Gran Turismo 2 is fundamentally based on the racing game genre. The player must try to win races against opponents. The game uses two different modes: Arcade Mode and Simulation Mode (Gran Turismo Mode in PAL and Japanese versions). In the arcade mode, the player can freely choose the courses and vehicles they wish to use, and can enable damage. However, Simulation Mode requires the player to earn driver's licenses, pay for vehicles, and earn trophies in order to unlock new courses. Gran Turismo 2 features nearly 650 automobiles and 27 racing tracks, including rally tracks. The player can go to each city and purchase vehicles.
Compared with Gran Turismo, the gameplay, physics and graphics are very similar: the only real noticeable difference in vehicle dynamics was the brakes, which became much less likely to lock up and cause the vehicle to over-steer. The major changes are the vastly expanded number of cars, tracks and races in simulation mode. The game is considered as an updated version of Gran Turismo.
Development[]
After the unexpected success of Gran Turismo, lead developer Kazunori Yamauchi planned to make the sequel "an even better product".
Upon the game's release, players shortly found various errors and glitches. SCEA did not ignore the complaining and offered a replacement if any problems occurred. For example, the maximum attainable completion percentage was 98.2%. The other glitch was that no matter what, even if a player saves the game, cars can disappear from their garage.
Reception[]
Gran Turismo 2 was well-received critically, achieving many positive reviews. GameSpot rated it 8.5 out of 10, recommending it to any gamer, car enthusiast or not, while IGN rated the game a 9.8/10. In Japan, Famitsu magazine scored the game a 34 out of 40. It was a bestseller for two months in Japan and the UK, and has sold 9.37 million copies worldwide. The Official UK PlayStation Magazine listed the game as the 4th best of all time.