Before I get this started, I'd like to mention that this post is mainly for those who have multiple consoles. I'd also like to say that I'd really appreciate it if we keep the console biased bullshit out of everything because this has nothing to do with this post. This is a comparison between 2 racing simulators that happen to be on opposing video game consoles. Price will not be taken into account because Forza 2 is sold at a reduced price now.

I've got a brand spankin' new shiny PS3, and I've decided to invest in two new games. Unreal Tournament III, and going back to my racing sim roots, Gran Turismo. Gran Turismo really brings back good memories I had with my PSOne during those slow days after school. I sunk so many hours into GT 2.

Part of what drew me into the game was the hundreds of cars to choose from. The list was massive. From used dealers to new cars, it was insane. I'd go in and buy cars, mod them, and test them to see what went with which track. I was so fascinated with how different a lot of the cars handled from one another. It was good times indeed, but boy how have they've changed.

Up until now I've gotten my racing sim fix from Forza 2, but that wasn't by choice. I've only recently gotten my PS3, but if things go the way they've gotten with Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, I'm sticking with Turn 10's game. Forza, although not as pretty, plays better and is better in every other aspect aside from graphics.



The most important thing we've got that just kills Gran Turismo is it's lack of car damage. Now, I know this has been said, but people who haven't played Forza 2 don't understand how well this works when you're dealing with people bumping into eachother. I mean, in Forza 2 you don't use other cars as bumpers to keep your speed while going through a turn. You do that and you're dead.

I watched the GTTV (a collection of videos inside the game) and it the creator's reasoning for keeping damage out of Gran Turismo was "beauty." He said something about not wanting to see a beautiful car destroyed, blah, blah, blah. It's a poor argument when you're talking about playing against people on the internet. You don't want them abusing your shitty system, and penalty time is that shitty system I'm talking about.

The second most important thing that Forza 2 pretty much destroys GT: 5P is online. Gran Turismo online is absolutely retarded. There is no way to get people into a room to race. There's only a crappy matchmaking system. That means you'll play with strangers all the time. Also, there's some connectivity issues. Japan, I don't know what the fuck's up, but get your asses together when it comes to online games.

Forza 2 also has a community site and is heavily integrated into the web. Car sales are constantly going on, screenshots are being shared, and driving techniques are always being discussed. It's just more alive.

The classes are also all over the place. A Lexus is automatically lumped in the same class as a Ferrari. Pretty soon players are going to find the one car that dominates everything and there goes diversity out the window. Especially since there's no way to do anything to the vehicles which is what these sim racers are all about.

While Gran Turismo is pretty, it's pretty crappy when compared to the now cheaper Forza 2. There's only so much shock and awe I can give to a pretty dash view; especially since the 3rd person camera kind of sucks. Sometimes I just want to look at the car and I hate the way it's positioned and how it's pretty much stationary behind the car. It's pretty dull. Forza 2 also has better physics. It just feels the way a racing sim should in a video game. GT cars almost feel slightly more arcady.

I do really wish Forza 2 had a drift mode. That was really fun...

Anywho. Back to UT III.