same breath, a race car driving adventure where it's all about your collection and the

prestige that follows it. It's not hard to see why the PlayStation had so much success

with this game, as it was released in an age where 3D graphics took center stage. Showcasing

the beautiful machines from the United States, Europe, and Japan in Gran Turismo 2 and making

them look good was just as much of a challenge as making the driving controls themselves

as accurate as possible. But Polyphony Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment did their

job in making their acclaimed racing series as close to a test drive or a car commercial

as possible while at the same time providing the exhilarating feel of the gorgeous and

zippy automobiles that the world has come to know and love. In Gran Turismo 2's Simulation

Mode, it's up to you to challenge world-class races, earn enough scratch to collect all

the cars in the game from Aston Martin to Volkswagen, and make sure your driving skills

are up to snuff with other racers that are trying to do the same. To get into any race

in this game, you must first earn your license of choice, starting with B-class and working

all the way up to International A. With six license tests along with the Super License,

it's gonna take more practice than driving your mom's Buick through the supermarket parking

lot. Just like when I was 16, this was no easy task. Certain challenges must be met

before tackling a race such as acceleration and braking at a specific point, or looping

around a corner as smoothly as possible while following the yellow lines. Complete each

challenge with at least bronze level and you'll eventually receive the license, giving you

carte blanche to choose any race that corresponds to it. It's in the races that you'll find

out just how much work you have to do in order to earn a car that doesn't handle like an

oil tanker. The main menu reminds me of the layout of the Final fight or Fatal Fury stage

maps. Apart from your home base there's four cities that all represent the cardinal directions,

each of them consisting of dealerships that will sell everything from Dodges and Chryslers

to Daihatsus and Renaults. It will probably take a few months to amass a respectable if

not huge collection of just B-class cars. There are hundreds to choose from, some of

them so gorgeous and so sleek that to say it will break your piggy bank is being kind.

The most fundamental challenge in GT2 is learning how to drive like you're racing. The aforementioned

license tests aren't there just for novelty, they are there for you to earn gold status.

Your first race may very well be met with frustration and a last place finish, since

the game's handling is extremely sensitive to say the least. Looking for openings and

being opportunistic as well as having fundamentally sound driving skills is imperative to your

success. Do not discount the track design, as each one is well crafted to test your skills

and your vehicle's performance, with sharp curves, tricky angles, and usually just one

straightaway that leads to the finish line. To say that Gran Turismo 2 Simulation Mode

is the best racing experience of its time is merely scratching the surface of the game's

significance. Even today the game is so profoundly entertaining that I would suggest it to be

one of the greatest games in Playstation history. Play arcade mode with your buddies and simulation

mode for a more personal challenge. Either way, you’re looking at one of the all-time

most accurate and fun to play racing simulators.