Gran Turismo 4: Prologue PS2 Review Dallas TX

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There is no doubt that Gran Turismo 4 is one of the most anticipated racing games of not only 2004, but of all time,and it is with good reason. Polyphony Digital have shown game after game that they still have the knack to obliterate the competition and truly produce the premiere driving game. With the wait for Gran Turismo 4 still about six months, SCEE has decided to release Gran Turismo 4: Prologue, a game designed to give people a taste test of the upcoming game and prepare them for the significant changes which are coming. It may not offer the best value in comparison to the other games in the series, but for any GT fan it is definitely worth a look.

Gran Turismo 4: Prologue is divided into two sections; the school mode and the arcade mode. The school mode is an area which basically teaches you how to drive the cars in Gran Turismo 4. Forty one lessons take you through techniques such as braking with light and heavy cars and how to overtake and take corners at speed. If you've never played Gran Turismo before then Prologue is definitely a good start.

The school mode is not an easy task to beat either, although most racing veterans could probablyfinish it in a day. Before each task you are introduced to the task and given a demonstration of a replay showing what has to be done. Even then it is highly unlikely that you will pass all forty one tests first time because Polyphony Digital have not made it easy. There arethree different levels of trophies to achieve, bronze silver and gold. Unless you have played Gran Turismo in an ongoing fashion for years, it is likely you will struggle to get even near the gold times and this enhances the replay value of Prologue somewhat. The school mode is one of the most useful tools available for Gran Turismo fans and there is no doubt that you come out a much better GT driver, especially if you're new to the series.

As you pickup the different trophies the cars are unlocked to use in the arcade mode. The arcade mode is basically choose a car and a track and go for it. Fifty four cars have been included in the game and they offer a decent variety to try in the new engine. Cars ranging from the Subaru WRX to the Toyota Prius and more exotic cars such as the Skyline GTR are all included and some feature very unique features. For instance in the school mode when using the Prius you have to manage fuel efficiency. This is because the Prius can run on both fuel and electricity which adds a unique touch to the game and gives a sneak peek at the level of detail we can expect to find in the final game.