GTR2 Game Review
Simbin, some love them, some hate them. However, there is one point everyone can agree on: they make hard core racing sims. What had to go was the visual lap / time indicators and the use of grass as a race line. But do these Sim-like features destroy the fun?
Presentation
GTR2 is a relatively old game, but it still lives up to the greats. When it was released, all the simulator fans went crazy and everyone else thought: I can’t drive this. But it still attracts a fairly wide audience. And that’s no surprise because it packs in some pretty impressive features. First of all, it is the only game licensed for the official FIA GT Championship. A championship divided into two groups of race cars. A fast pure racing machine class and a tight class of normal sports car. Available cars include the Ferrari F360, Saleen S7-R, and Aston martin DB9. And with machines like these and a clear drive from the manufacturers for development, this is clearly not a B-competition. Also, all cars look beautiful when the graphics are displayed. Like the slopes, which include greats like Spa and Imola. So the game includes the products as far as the license is concerned (now they lost it, hence the terrible sequel) and the graphics. That’s a great achievement from the developers at Simbin.
How to play
GTR2’s presentation attracts a wide audience, but the game appeals to simulation players. Driving on the Spa track is a pleasure. Every bump you feel in the road and some places on the track clearly have less grip than others. For example: the pit exit feels very slippery, but the race line gives you grip. The tracks are made in so much detail that I almost forgot to mention the lack of them. GTR2 is not a grand tourer. It has around 12 tracks and 35 cars, but the detail put into each track and car makes up for the lack of content. All cars feel different and sound different. I am a Ferrari fanatic and love the distinctive sound of the Scuderia engine, but others may like Porsche and will recognize the vehicle from the sound alone.
24 hours
How many games allow you to race day and night in an extreme endurance race between manufacturers from across the game? Not many, but GTR2 yes! Doing so results in a fantastic experience with real-life cars and tracks spinning day and night on your Full HD computer screen. Suddenly the rain falls, everyone sinks, it turns night, you have to press H to turn on the headlights. Then your tires wear out and you have to make an additional pit stop when the number 2 Ferrari overtakes you and wins the fight after many hours of excitement. This perfectly sums up this highly realistic game that appeals to both arcade and simulation racers. But to get the most out of it, you have to be patient and keep practicing. It’s not about picking it up and playing, but about having the sense of fulfillment of a true race victory.
4/5 starts
GTR 2 Game Review