Sega GT 2002 impressions wanted

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Sep 01, 2002 2:07 pm

Hi all:
 
 If anyone picks up Sega GT 2002 for the Xbox this week, please let me know what you think of it.
 
 I´m very hesitant to buy this title, for these reasons:
 
 1. Sega GT for the Dreamcast sucked. A lousy Gran Turismo clone with floaty physics and boring tracks.
 
 2. Many previews of Sega GT 2002 have complained about the lack of tracks.
 
 3. One preview said floaty physics still remained.
 
 4. No previews or reviews have said anything about the racing AI. Is this just another car-collecting game with a lousy racing model, like all three of the Gran Turismo games?
 
 But this game intrigues me a bit because:
 
 1. Vintage muscle cars and old cars.
 
 2. Damage model. No damage appears on the car, but the car´s performance does degrade to damage, and money is automatically deducted from your winnings for repairs.
 
 3. Nice graphics.
 
 4. I´m a sucker for new racing games.
 
 Sega GT 2002 buyers, please leave your impressions in here!
 
 Thanks,
 PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Sep 03, 2002 9:30 am

Here´s another fear of mine about Sega GT 2002: Will it be that much different than Project Gotham Racing, one of my favorite racing games?
 
 Will the only difference be the "car collecting" aspect, which I found to become incredibly boring in the Gran Turismo series?
 
 Inquiring minds want to know. Chime in with your impressions of Sega GT 2002 if you get it this week!
 
 Take care,
 PK

mixdj1 · Post by **mixdj1** » Thu Sep 05, 2002 12:53 am

Well, I went ahead and picked it up and I´m not entirely sure how I feel about it. I guess the best thing would be to address your points one at a time:
 
 1. Sega GT for the Dreamcast sucked. A lousy Gran Turismo clone with floaty physics and boring tracks.
 
 I agree with your assessment of SGT on DC. The good news is that the floaty physics are gone. In fact the driving model isn´t bad for an arcade style racer. With the traction and spin control turned off you actually have to manage your entrance and exit speeds to make it through the corners without tapping the wall or spinning out. Unfortunately it appears to have the same anti-lock brakes enabled on all cars just like GT3.
 
 2. Many previews of Sega GT 2002 have complained about the lack of tracks.
 
 This could be a problem. I´ve only put an hour or so into the game but even with that the tracks don´t excite me. I miss my Laguna Seca. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_frown.gif"> They´re not bad tracks and they race well but there is little personality to them. Not a big problem yet but we´ll see how they wear on me.
 
 3. One preview said floaty physics still remained.
 
 They seem pretty good to me. Definitely not GPL or N2002 physics but more of a GT3 feel to it. I can´t really put my finger on it but there´s something about the feel that I like better than GT3´s control. Probably the triggers for precise acceleration and braking control.
 
 4. No previews or reviews have said anything about the racing AI. Is this just another car-collecting game with a lousy racing model, like all three of the Gran Turismo games?
 
 Again this is going on a few races in an hour of playing but I think the AI is going to disappoint. It´s not as bad as GT3´s "I´m following this racing line no matter what" AI but the racing still felt artificial. (pun intended) I need to do some more experimenting but it appears the races are manipulated to be bumper to bumper, door to door the whole race. I´ll update you after I´ve spent some more time with it.
 
 But this game intrigues me a bit because:
 
 1. Vintage muscle cars and old cars.
 
 Yup, definitley got the sweet cars in there. Chronicle mode is pretty cool but most of the older cars are Japanese imports. I did start the chronicle mode with the 70s corvette and that was pretty fun. Definitely more enjoyable than the little Peugot I started with in career mode.
 
 2. Damage model. No damage appears on the car, but the car´s performance does degrade to damage, and money is automatically deducted from your winnings for repairs.
 
 This does make you try to follow a proper racing line more than you would in GT3. Unfortunately even when the AI hits you from behind you still take damage. I think this will be more of a factor when the cars get bigger and faster. I know if the damage meter would have been running in chronicle mode my poor corvette would have been totaled. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 3. Nice graphics.
 
 The car models are very detailed and the lighting is nice. I don´t like the colors though. Not sure what it is but it just doesn´t look real. I know I´m nitpicking but I just like the look of PGR better. There is also a special effect that causes some blurring at the edges of the screen that really adds to the sense of speed. It´s kind of distracting at first but it´s starting to grow on me.
 
 4. I´m a sucker for new racing games.
 
 Me too. Like I said before, it´s not a GPL or even Jarret & Labonte, but that´s what we´ll have Pro Race Driver for. Sega GT 2002 is exactly what I expected it to be: a GT3 clone with some personality of it´s own. Overall I´m happy with it but you need to know going in that it´s a GT3 type game. I think it will be my "sports car" game at least until Pro Race Driver comes out. If my opinion changes in the next couple days of playing I´ll be sure to let you know.
 
 mixdj1
 [ This message was edited by: mixdj1 on 04-09-2002 21:57 ]

grtwhtsk · Post by **grtwhtsk** » Wed Sep 11, 2002 1:55 pm

I´m curious to hear more impressions of this game. Anyone? <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon21.gif">
 
 Later,
 
 GreatWhite

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 10:39 am

This game gets better every time I play it.
 
 LIKES
 
 1. Challenge. The AI pushes you hard in every race. You really have to drive on the limit in many races, especially as you get higher-ranking licenses, to win.
 
 2. Damage system. Finally, a GT-style game that penalizes you for shitty driving. It´s demoralizing, yet fair, to see $3,000 of your $4,000 winnings drained automatically from your bank account to fix your Lotus. And what´s even more cool is that it costs more to repair exotic cars than it does grocery-getters, just as in real life.
 
 3. Parts wear. I was driving my tricked-out Renault Clio V6 24 V last night for about an hour when I thought its performance really started to drop. So I went to my garage, and alas, the engine, brakes and tires were worn. So I had to spend around $4,000 to get these fixed. This is a great feature.
 
 4. Sound. The sound is fantastic in this game. The Dopplegang (Doppler?) effect when passing cars is amazing, and I don´t even have a surround-sound system.
 
 5. Drag racing. ´Nuff said!
 
 6. Realistic handling model. Each car drives as it should, forcing you to alter your driving style to adjust to front-engine, RWD, front-engine, FWD, 4WD, etc., vehicles. Plus the floaty handling from Sega GT for the Dreamcast is long gone, thankfully. The handling model is excellent.
 
 7. Tracks change within each race. This is a fantastic feature. Sega GT is ripped for a low number of tracks -- eight to 12, depending on which review you read -- and it´s a legitimate complaint. But at least the tracks change within each race every time you drive in that race. For example, let´s say you drive the Speed Cup race on Course X. Then you play the Hatchback Challenge and One-Make Race before deciding to return for another Speed Cup race. Well, the Speed Cup may not take place on Course X again. It might take place on Course R or S or Z. (Sorry, I can´t remember the actual names of the tracks). So at least the game stays more fresh.
 
 8. Intelligent AI. Computer-controlled cars will drive proper lines and attempt to block, etc., unlike the drone-like racing AI in the Gran Turismo series.
 
 9. Used parts reliability. You can buy used parts instead of new ones, but they might break in the middle of race, crippling your car´s performance. Very cool!
 
 10. Chronicle Mode. Race old cars from various eras through a series of races against cars from every era through the 60s to today. Fun.
 
 DISLIKES
 
 1. Sound. The music is Sega-awful. Imitation bad 80s guitar rock.
 
 2. Not enough tracks. Mentioned above.
 
 3. Mediocre graphics. The graphics in this game are solid but not revolutionary. The backgrounds lack detail, but the cars and road surfaces look nice. Still, Project Gotham Racing -- a launch title -- looks just as good if not better than Sega GT. Plus Sega used this streaking graphical effect on the screen to heighten the sense of speed. It doesn´t really work that well.
 
 All in all, Sega GT 2002 is a very, very good addition to any Xbox owner who enjoys racing games. This is one of those rare games that didn´t wow me when I first played it but gets better and better with repeated plays.
 
 I´m working on a full review of Sega GT 2002 for Digital Sportspage.
 
 Take care,
 PK

mixdj1 · Post by **mixdj1** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 1:27 pm

Yup, I definitely agree with you PK. My initial impressions probably seemed lukewarm but that was because I hadn´t spent enough time with it. Sega GT doesn´t "Wow" out of the box but the more time you spend with it the more you appreciate the handling, AI, and car maintenance system in the game.
 
 BTW, you mention going to the garage to check the status of the car. Did you realize you can check the car status and eligible races by using the right and left trigger while in most of the game menus? It´s very handy.
 
 MixDJ1

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 2:56 pm

Mix:
 
 I had no clue! Thanks!
 
 Was that in the manual? If not, I´m so sick of poor game manuals. The NFL 2K3 manual was atrocious, as many of the special moves and features aren´t even mentioned!
 
 Thank God for Internet forums and cool guys like you.
 
 Thanks again.
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 13-09-2002 11:57 ]

mixdj1 · Post by **mixdj1** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 4:59 pm

I´m not sure if it was in the manual or not. I came across it by accident. My main hope is that all the rumors of the Append Discs being released in Japan make it over here are true. They are supposedly releasing add-on discs with additional cars, tracks, and multiplayer (link and/or Live)
 
 MixDJ1 [ This message was edited by: mixdj1 on 13-09-2002 14:00 ]

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 6:24 pm

Me, too. That would be bitchin´!
 
 Take care,
 PK

JOZ · Post by **JOZ** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 12:46 pm

Guys, I´m not a huge racing fan but I was thinking of getting either Project Gotham or Sega GT. Any recommendations?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 7:31 pm

JOZ:
 
 If you´re not a huge racing fan, you´ll like Project Gotham better.
 
 Wilder powerslides, more interesting gameplay modes for non-petrolheads. Plus you can get PGR for less than Sega GT 2002 since it was a launch title. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 I love PGR. I´m a racing freak, but PGR still probably is one of my five favorite racing games of all time.
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 14-09-2002 16:31 ]

JOZ · Post by **JOZ** » Sun Sep 15, 2002 6:24 am

Thanks PK.
 
 I went to Best Buy the other day to maybe pick up G.T. But as I was looking I seen PGR as well and couldn´t make up my mind between the two. I got neither because I was leaning towards PGR and knew it was a launch title. It was still $50 though. I figured I could get it cheaper somewhere else.
 
 Also, I liked MSR once I downloaded the everything unlocked save. If I can do this on PGR, I´ll probably get it.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Sep 15, 2002 9:20 am

JOZ:
 
 If you liked MSR, you´ll love PGR.
 
 Take care,
 PK

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 8:22 pm

I picked this one up over the weekend, and spent about 2 hours with it so far.
 
 At this point I really like it.
 
 AI: The AI is pretty good, they seem to drive a pretty good racing line, but won´t just smash into you ala GT3 to stay on the line.
 
 Graphics: Excellent. Not stellar compared to the graphical stars out there like MotoGP, Halo and Rallisport, but pretty good.
 
 Control: Feels just right to me. I really liked it when I had the old Vette in Chronicle mode, and put on some new tires and a better suspension. It really helped the handling out. It´s nice to have noticeable feedback for making a change to the car.
 
 License tests:
 
 Well, they´re nowhere near as tough as GT3. This is a GOOD THING. None of this "make one mistake-- your screwed" stuff. You have to drive relatively clean to make it in time, and stay on the road pretty well or you get disqualified for too much off-road stuff (what is that meter called again?)
 
 And the kicker:
 The penalty for damage really makes this game for me. Unlike GT3, you can´t just smash into everyone and use other cars or the railings to guide you around corners. And, there is even wear on the tires. This is a HUGE thing. Not only do you have to avoid smashing into things, but unclean driving where the tires are squealing does more damage to the tires than clean driving. Damage = money, and in this type of game money is very important. RIGHT ON!
 
 I´m really enjoying this one.
 
 ... James_E

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 10:57 pm

James:
 
 Spot-on, brother.
 
 Another great aspect of this game is the difficulty in earning money. There are no "money" cars -- at least early in the game -- with which you can rake in the dough.
 
 In GT2, I remember it took me about two hours to earn $1 million. Seriously. There was a race -- a race, not a series -- in which you won a Ford GT40 as the prize. Hell, I took that GT 40 and won four of those races in a row with ease and sold those four bonus GT40´s for $250,000 each. It was an easy million and a big turnoff.
 
 It takes time to build up a car strong enough to earn a lot of money in Sega GT 2002, and the damage and parts costs do cut into those profits.
 
 There probably is one cheat to easier profits. Avoid taking the harder license tests. As soon as you pass a tougher license test, your competition will become a lot faster. Instead of racing against Mitsubishi Lancers, you´ll go against Vipers and NSX´s!
 
 But f*ck it: I had to get that better license and tougher competition, even if my wallet is pretty thin now!
 
 Another small tip: The best "budget" car in the game that I´ve found -- by far -- is the Lotus Elise for around $30,000. The handling is absolutely perfect. The Lotus Exige -- a $55,000 ride -- is even sweeter.
 
 Anyways, I´m with you all the way with Sega GT 2002. I actually didn´t like the game the first hour I played it and considered returning it. Now I´m approaching 10 hours of clocked play time with it and liking it more and more every time I play it.
 
 A definite keeper and a fine racer.
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 16-09-2002 19:58 ]