Review: 'Sega GT' qualifies as great racing simulation

By John Robinson
CNN.com Nature Editor

(CNN) -- Probably the most important aspect of a realistic car racing game is how well it handles. Controlling the cars should be intuitive yet difficult enough to present a significant challenge. Some would argue that flashy looks are also necessary, but without good control the experience is just not complete.

"Sega GT" for the Dreamcast handles the control part of the equation quite well while boasting some pretty neat graphics to boot. As should be expected, the realistic control presents a moderately difficult learning curve for beginners.

Fortunately, the Dreamcast controller makes that learning curve more tolerable thanks to the precision control offered by its analog joystick and triggers. Holding a 500-horsepower racecar at half-throttle as you gracefully slide through a long, sweeping corner is no problem after some practice.

Sega GT's gameplay is broken down into three main categories with the Championship mode housing the bulk of the action. There are also Single Race and Time Attack modes to try out as well as a split-screen versus mode.

Like other games of this genre, the Championship mode starts you off with just enough cash to buy a very slow used car. From there, you must enter races, win cash and earn licenses so you can buy better cars, enter more races and earn more cash. It's a tried and true formula that isn't original but works well in this game.

A total of 22 tracks, including the ones that are reversed, are available to test your racing prowess. Many of the tracks have cool-looking background features such as working windmills and warning lights that blink as you approach. Though the tracks are generally well conceived, some nasty shimmering occurs with some of the track surfaces -- most apparently with the cobblestone.

What has to be the coolest aspect of Sega GT is the Carrozzeria. Much like the Create-A-Player mode found in most sports games, the Carrozzeria allows you to build a car from the chassis up and then take it out to the track to race. If you want to build a turbo-charged, 900-horsepower monster all you need is a lot of cash and the patience to learn how to drive it.

On the other hand, something that is a little disappointing is Sega GT's sense of speed. At the onset, the game feels rather slow but it does get better once you become accustomed to the presentation. The faster cars available later in the game are understandably more convincing when going at high speeds. Still, going 100 mph in a three-cylinder economy car should be a little more thrilling than it is.

With over 100 car configurations to choose from, there is no lack of variety in Sega GT. Fans of American and European cars may be a little disappointed though because nearly all of the cars are Japanese.

The cars are, for the most part, well designed and look very much like their real-world counterparts. The sounds are also nicely done with a convincing, throaty roar emanating from the more powerful models. The only notable flaw with the cars would be with the windows. For some reason, all of the cars have shiny, black-tinted windows that don't look quite as good as the rest of the car. Transparent or semi-transparent windows would have really boosted the overall look of the game.

If you want a racer that's easy to pick up and play, you may want to stay away from Sega GT, or at least try to rent it first. There is a touch of that classic Sega arcade style in the game but generally this is a hardcore simulation. With that in mind, Sega GT is a complete title that offers a deep racing experience sure to satisfy gear-heads and grease monkeys for a long time to come.

Review: Madden NFL 2001
September 6, 2000
Review: Spider-Man
September 5, 2000
Review: Ultimate Fighting Championship
September 4, 2000
Review: Hidden & Dangerous
August 25, 2000
Review: Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future
August 18, 2000

Sega.com

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.