(Played it on a PS 2 emulator)
Many people assume that a racing game's quality is determined by how new it is. It is a logical conclusion. After all, why play a two-decade old game when a modern counterpart exists? It is because of where the line between simulator and game is drawn. Gran Turismo 4s success doesn’t come from it being a realistic simulator, but rather due to its well-paced career mode. The large car roster and high polish typically seen in the Gran Turismo series are just the cherry on top. While playing, I always had something to do, and I was never required to grind to unlock more of the game.
This is why I believe that even after 20 years and with many newer releases, Gran Turismo 4 is still a worthy classic for anyone that is a fan of the simcade genre.
Story
There isn’t one. For once, that is a good thing. A meaningful storyline would be next to impossible to implement, and anything else would detract from the experience.
Mechanics and gameplay
When you first begin career mode in GT 4 you have to pick a started car, that inevitably will qualify for a racing series. After the completion of that series, you are rewarded with money and a prize car, that qualifies for a different race series. That is the main gameplay loop that keeps GT 4 engaging. There is always a new race yet to be attempted or other events like licence tests that require only skill to complete. I found it incredibly fun to simply not grind for anything and get by with what I was given.
The 700+ cars and 50 tracks certainly help keeping things fresh.
I can’t tell you how realistic the handling is, due to never having driven an actual car. What I can say is that driving feels satisfying and gives enough of a challenge to where being exceptionally good requires a lot of skill and effort.
Graphics/Artstyle
It is a PS 2 game, so amazing graphics shouldn’t be expected. With the magic of emulators, one can make de-age GT 4 by 5 to 10 years and make it look pretty good. Unfortunately, nothing can fix the car sounds. They are honestly the biggest flaw here.
I don’t see much praise given for how aesthetically pleasing GT 4 is. Almost every part of the game has a very “clean”, professional look, treading a fine line between overly minimalistic and excessively artistic. It gives it a look that is rarely seen in any other game, probably due to the attention to detail required to pull it off.
Atmosphere/Immersion
Weirdly immersive. I feel like an aspirating racecar driver, and the UI is their way of visualizing where/what to do next.
Soundtrack
The OST has a similar aesthetic that I mentioned earlier. It fits very well with the rest of the game and is very memorable. I played GT 4 a few months ago, and somehow the race menu music already evokes nostalgia.
During races there is a radio that plays a plethora of songs from many different artists, they are alright, but can get somewhat boring at times. My personal favourite is “Soul Surfer” by Daiki Kasho.
Final Thoughts
I spent an embarrassingly long time (like 6 hours) trying to get gold on B-5. It was harder than any boss in any video game I’ve played.
Many people assume that a racing game's quality is determined by how new it is. It is a logical conclusion. After all, why play a two-decade old game when a modern counterpart exists? It is because of where the line between simulator and game is drawn. Gran Turismo 4s success doesn’t come from it being a realistic simulator, but rather due to its well-paced career mode. The large car roster and high polish typically seen in the Gran Turismo series are just the cherry on top. While playing, I always had something to do, and I was never required to grind to unlock more of the game.
This is why I believe that even after 20 years and with many newer releases, Gran Turismo 4 is still a worthy classic for anyone that is a fan of the simcade genre.
Story
There isn’t one. For once, that is a good thing. A meaningful storyline would be next to impossible to implement, and anything else would detract from the experience.
Mechanics and gameplay
When you first begin career mode in GT 4 you have to pick a started car, that inevitably will qualify for a racing series. After the completion of that series, you are rewarded with money and a prize car, that qualifies for a different race series. That is the main gameplay loop that keeps GT 4 engaging. There is always a new race yet to be attempted or other events like licence tests that require only skill to complete. I found it incredibly fun to simply not grind for anything and get by with what I was given.
The 700+ cars and 50 tracks certainly help keeping things fresh.
I can’t tell you how realistic the handling is, due to never having driven an actual car. What I can say is that driving feels satisfying and gives enough of a challenge to where being exceptionally good requires a lot of skill and effort.
Graphics/Artstyle
It is a PS 2 game, so amazing graphics shouldn’t be expected. With the magic of emulators, one can make de-age GT 4 by 5 to 10 years and make it look pretty good. Unfortunately, nothing can fix the car sounds. They are honestly the biggest flaw here.
I don’t see much praise given for how aesthetically pleasing GT 4 is. Almost every part of the game has a very “clean”, professional look, treading a fine line between overly minimalistic and excessively artistic. It gives it a look that is rarely seen in any other game, probably due to the attention to detail required to pull it off.
Atmosphere/Immersion
Weirdly immersive. I feel like an aspirating racecar driver, and the UI is their way of visualizing where/what to do next.
Soundtrack
The OST has a similar aesthetic that I mentioned earlier. It fits very well with the rest of the game and is very memorable. I played GT 4 a few months ago, and somehow the race menu music already evokes nostalgia.
During races there is a radio that plays a plethora of songs from many different artists, they are alright, but can get somewhat boring at times. My personal favourite is “Soul Surfer” by Daiki Kasho.
Final Thoughts
I spent an embarrassingly long time (like 6 hours) trying to get gold on B-5. It was harder than any boss in any video game I’ve played.