Vorlage:Infobox CVG Gran Turismo 4 (also known as GT4) was released on December 28, 2004 in Japan and Hong Kong (NTSC-J), February 22, 2005 in the United States (NTSC-U/C), and March 9, 2005 in Europe (PAL), and has since been re-issued under Sony's 'Greatest Hits' line. It is on DVD-9 format. After being delayed for over a year and a half by Polyphony Digital and having its online mode removed, Gran Turismo 4 was still one of the most anticipated console games of 2005, and sold a million copies in its first week at Japanese retail. It featured 721 cars (in the PAL version) from 80 manufacturers (although it should be pointed out that this list includes cars with multiple small variations, such as 20 Subaru Imprezas, 25 Mitsubishi Lancers, and 48 Nissan Skylines), from as early as the 1886 Daimler Motor Carriage, to the Nissan 350Z Gran Turismo edition, a collaboration between Nissan and Polyphony Digital, and as far into the future as concepts for 2022. The game also features 51 tracks, many of which are new or modified versions of old Gran Turismo favourites. Notable track inclusions are the Nordschleife variant of Nürburgring, Suzuka Circuit, Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe, tracks modeled after world famous attractions such as New York's Times Square, Hong Kong, Paris, and the drag strip in Las Vegas.
A PSP port, entitled Gran Turismo 4 Mobile was previously shown and does not currently have a release date.
Features
New Career Modes and Photo Modes are included in the game, as well as compatibility with Logitech's Driving Force Pro steering wheel and USB storage and print devices for its photo modes. This game is able to produce a selection of screenshots with variable compression rate (Normal/Fine/SuperFine) and size (up to 1280x960 72dpi) from within the user can choose to save or print with an Epson compatible USB printer. It is also the first game on the PS2 to support 1080i resolution, it also supports 480p and widescreen modes (NTSC only). Compared to its predecessors, Gran Turismo 4 adds a race-manager-style role (called B-Spec, as opposed to 'normal' racing A-spec) in which players attempt to train the game AI to drive progressively better cars and harder races by dictating when the car should pit, pass, how hard to push (on a scale of 1-5), and all the pit-stop options available in A-spec mode (including the option to switch between A-spec and B-spec). B-spec is especially useful in endurance races that can last up to 24 hours in real time, although in B-spec time can be sped-up 3x. The Photo Mode lets the gamer control a virtual camera, taking pictures of their cars on track, or at specific locations, including the Grand Canyon. Another new addition to the game is the Driving Missions, which are similar in experience to the license tests, but come with points to unlock tracks. A PlayStation 2 Network Adaptor can be used to communicate to additional PS2s, in order to create a multi-monitor setup. In addition, the network adaptor can be used to play games on a local subnet, for up to six players, though player customized cars can't be used in a LAN game.
About 5000 polygons are used per car. 500 to 700 parameters define the driving charaterstics of the car physics model.
The game includes, as prizes, many cars of historical interest, for instance 1886 Benz and Daimler "horseless" carriages, and a Model T Ford. Because the complexity of their digital models runs into limitations of the PS2 hardware [1], these cars are not useable in races, but, instead can only be used in single car "time trials", or in photo-shoot mode. Even some modern cars with complex body shapes, for instance the Chrysler Prowler, or the Caterham Seven Fire Blade, also cannot be used in races. Players interested only in the racing aspect of the game might be tempted to sell such cars, and then be disappointed because, while most prize cars can be sold for money, you do not get money for most such "special cars"--instead you must simply give them away for nothing. One car, the Auto Union Streamliner, is only capable of being driven on the Nürburgring, the Test Course, and the Las Vegas Drag Strip. To some players, a goal of the game is to collect all the cars the game has to offer, and so, to them, it is not really important if the car can not be raced. And, in any case, there are plenty of historical cars which can be raced, including a 1961 E-type Jaguar, 1954 Mercedes 300SL, and a 1954 Citroën 2CV.
Cars range from about 4,000 credits for the oldest used cars up to 4,500,000 credits for the top end race cars.
An advanced player will be able to judge his performance by the realistic lap times. According to the developers, a professional driver was invited to set times using the same car on the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit, and the GT4 lap times were within 2% of the real life equivalent. However, in stark comparison, Jeremy Clarkson of the British automobile show Top Gear attempted to beat his GT4 time on Laguna Seca in a Honda NSX , but came up short. His fastest real life time of 1:57 was greater than his GT4 time of 1:41.148. It is disputed, though not confirmed, that Clarkson may have used an NSX-R to clock the lap time in the game, judging by the video footageVorlage:Fact which shows both a standard NSX and an NSX-R. The NSX-R is a lighter and faster version of the standard NSX. Therefore, Clarkson's virtual and real-world comparison could have been flawed. Furthermore, Clarkson also mentioned that in the game, he is compelled to take bigger risks than he would in real life and that in the game, the car did not suffer from brake fade.
In addition to the tuning parameters familiar from the previous games in the series, GT4 allows weight to be added to the car. This can be positioned to affect handling, or merely used as a form of handicapping.
A-spec and B-Spec game modes
The new B-Spec mode puts players in the place of a racing crew chief: telling the driver how aggressively to drive, when to pass, and mandating pit stops (by monitoring tire wear, fuel level, and oil dirtying). The speed of the time in the race can be increased up to 3x, allowing for Endurance races to be completed in less time than would take in A-Spec mode (normal first person racing).
B-Spec points are given out for each race completed in B-Spec mode. This increases the skill level of the AI driver in different skill categories. Players can thereby use B-Spec mode in harder races as the game progresses.
Similarly, a player now accumulates A-spec points if they win races in A-spec mode. Each race event can yield up to a maximum (sometimes only theoretical) of 200 A-spec points. Generally, a win using a car with less of an advantage over the AI opponents gets more points, but the algorithm used to evaluate "advantage" seems flawed at times. Points can only be won once, so to win further points from a previously-won event, it must be re-won using a car with less of an advantage over the AI. After a large number of events have been completed against challenging AI fields, a player's A-spec point total corresponds somewhat to their skill level.
Prologue
As GT4 was intended to be released in time for the worldwide 2003 Christmas release but was delayed, in consolation, Polyphony brought out GT4 Prologue as a sneak preview (including a documentary bonus disc) to the full experience of 'GT4'. Though it was necessary to limit the number of cars and courses included, this product still included some of the main features of the Gran Turismo franchise such as races, time attack and license tests. The sneak preview also expressed the latest technology Polyphony Digital had accumulated over the past two years. Featuring 50 of GT4's 500 cars (which later increased to a massive 720 cars) as well as five courses, this expanded demo was designed as a stop-gap until the complete version was released.
Criticisms
- One criticism is regarding the continued lack of rendered damage. Instead of damage, the cars simply "bounce" off either walls or each other, they don't even produce an accurate sound when hitting other cars or walls. Just the generic thud.[2] The game has also been criticized for lack of online play which had been promised during early development, but was announced as being removed at the time of release.[3]
- One reviewer expressed disappointment that open top cars lacking a foldable roof can only be used in single-car time-trial or photo-shoot mode and cannot be raced against other cars.[1]
- IGN.com's Playstation 2 division expressed disappointment in the game's AI system, noting that "virtual racers will follow their (driving) line with little concern for where the human driver is at any one time."[4]
- Reading deeper into Top Gear's NSX on Laguna Seca segment, Jeremy Clarkson himself had to be shown by a race driving instructor where the line was between the game and reality. Clarkson pointed out that adjusting one's braking mid-turn in a real car could cause loss of control. In the game the beginning part of the track is straight but in reality it isn't. It questions whether the makers created an accurate representation of the real life track. His observation prompted discussion on whether the game is truly an accurate driving simulation.
- Players noticed that cars like the Caterham 7,Chrysler Prowler,Auto Union C-Type Streamliner and select other cars could not be driven anywhere else but on the test track by itself.
Trivia
- The car on the cover is a Ford GT.
- Both the first release of the Japanese and Chinese version of the game was sold with a 212-page reference guide, with a message from famous car reviewer Reychiro Fukuno, an introduction to the physics of racing, lessons on using the GT Force Pro steering wheel, a machine tuning guide and parts catalogue, a tutorial for the photo mode from photographer Chikara Kitabatake, a race course index, a partial cars index and also a complete music index. The game and the guide were cased together in a special box of the same size as a DVD case. A similar guide was included with the first release of the Japanese Gran Turismo 3: A-spec.
- The Asian releases of Gran Turismo 4, like its previous releases, features the theme song Moon Over the Castle, composed by Polyphony Digital's Masahiro Andoh, during the opening. The North American and European releases of Gran Turismo have had various different songs, with GT4 featuring Van Halen's Panama.
- The Hong Kong course is located in the Tsim Sha Tsui district, which at the clockwise route, starts at Salisbury Road, then through its waterfront and then at Nathan Road.
- Ferraris,Lamborghinis and Porsches were suppossed to be included in the game but the developers decided not to but instead added RUFs,The Cizeta V16T Moroder (which resembles a Lamborghini Diablo a bit)and Pagani Zondas,which have been compared to Ferraris numerous times.
- Due to the tight schedule for releasing the Chinese version, obvious textual errors can be found in the game, like the names for the two '90s used cars section being swapped, and the descriptions for the damper bounce and rebound also being switched. Other minor, but curious grammatical errors can be found.
- Advertising for this game was once a task for the two teams to complete on the reality show The Apprentice.
- This is the first of the series to feature a custom car, a Buick Special. It is also the first to feature pickups, such as the Ford Lightning and Dodge Ram. It is the first game in the series to feature the De Lorean, using the stage II spec engine (developed in 2004, hence the 2004 designation). It is the first game in the Gran Turismo series to feature a diesel powered car, the 120d version of the BMW 1 Series. It is also the first GT to feature tuning companies.
- All games in the series featured endurance races, requiring well over an hour to finish. However, GT4 was the first to have races much longer than even that--up to 24 hours in length. Luckily B-spec mode was added. B-spec allows the player to hand-off driving to the computer and also speed-up time by a factor of three.
- This is the first game in series to include nitrous oxide. However, if the nitrous oxide is equipped, the players must use it wisely. The nitrous oxide may result in loss of fuel to the car.
- While Gran Turismo 2 did have a one-off F1 engine version of the Renault Espace, GT4 was the first of the series to feature a stock minivan. The van used was the Honda Odyssey.
- A special version of GT4 featuring three tracks and four vehicles (the 118d, 120d, 118i and 120i) was given by BMW to their customers who purchased their 1 Series automobile before it was released.
- The Chinese version of GT4 failed to fix a bug that resulted in the game being left at 99.8% after all races have been cleared because the Formula GT race has been badly corrupted, thus players will be unable to unlock the final car (once it reaches 100%). There is also a similar glitch in the North American version of the game. If the first driving mission is not completed first, before the other missions are attempted, the game will not record the mission as complete. Therefore the highest completion percent will be 99.8%.
- In the game, the American Pontiac GTO 5.7 has more horsepower than its Australian version, the Holden Monaro, despite the fact they both use the same engine.
- The Ford Escort Rally Car is the hidden car that is not shown on Ford dealers. Instead, the Ford Escort Rally car can be awarded as the prize car and it can be driven.
- Although the manual says you can speed up the time x5 in B-spec mode, in truth, you can only do it 3x faster.
- On the Nürburgring track, drivers are able to penetrate the pit wall, entering backwards, and then drive in the air above the center of the track. As far as anyone knows, it has not occurred that someone has penetrated into the wall of the other side, going into the area of the F1 course and the oblivion of the background that follows. This is just one of many glitches that have been known to occur in Gran Turismo 4.
- Some players found that even sped up to x3 with the AI driving,some endurance events took hours to complete.
- Certain Vehicles,such as the Lotus Elise Type 72 and numerous Le Mans racer editions of stock cars,cannot be seen in showrooms.
- The Nike showroom only appears after the car has been unlocked
- There is no showroom for the Formula Gran Turismo car.
Awards
- E3 2003 Game Critics Awards: Best Racing Game
- Included on Game Informer's "Top 50 Games of 2005" list
Soundtrack
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Japanese Version Soundtrack
- "Moon Other The Castle ~ Orchestral Version~"
- "Kiss You Good-bye"
- "Get Closer"
- "Freedom to Win"
- "Nobody"
- "Green Monster"
- "Drive You Crazy
- "Vette Lug"
- "The Motorious Zone"
- "Hypnosis"
- "An Old Bassman"
- "Mission Impossible"
- "Don't Kick Yourself"
- "Be At Home"
- "From The East To The West"
- "Endless Journey Ver.I"
- "Light Velocity Ver. III"
- "Horizon"
- "It's All About You"
- "Soul Surfer"
- "What To Believe"
- "Break Down"
See also
References
- ↑ a b Bytesector review URL accessed September 26, 2006
- ↑ Toronto Globe and Mail review URL accessed September 26, 2006
- ↑ GamesIndustry.biz article detailing lack of online play URL accessed September 26, 2006
- ↑ IGN review of GT4's AI system URL accessed September 26, 2006
External links
- GTPlanet - Fan site (most popular Gran Turismo series website/forum).
- Gran Turismo Tuners Vault - "Comprehensive database made specifically for Gran Turismo tuners."
- Gran Turismo 4 - Gran Turismo 4
- Gran Turismo Series Center - Fan site.
- Vorlage:Moby game
- Gran Turismo 4 official site