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Preview: Sega GT
12/28/99 Update: Sega has released a brief, albeit informative car list that shows what we can expect when the game hits in Japan this coming February:

DAIHATSU - Opti Aerodown Beex
DRS - Storia X4
GT - GTC1999 Castrol Tom's Supra, GTC1999 Pennzoil Gismo GT-R
HONDA - Beat, S2000, NSX Type S Zero
ISUZU - Gemini C/C
NISSAN - Fairlady Z CZ32, Skyline GT-R V-Spec, Silvia specs-S Aero, Pulsar Series VZ-RN1 Version II, Silvia Autech Version K, MF-T
STI - Impreza 22B Sti
SUBARU - Legacy B4 RSK, Alcyone SVX S4
SUZUKI - Alto Works RS/Z 4WD, Cappuccino
TOYOTA - MR2 G Limited Super Charger, Supra TRD3000GT, MR-S S Edition, Altezza TRD Racing Model, Celica SS-II Super Strut Package

Gran Turismo was one of my favorite games on the PSX. During a time when you were lucky to get four tracks and ten cars to choose from in a racing game, developer Polyphony Digital practically re-invented the wheel, giving gamers a whopping 166 totally upgradeable cars, along with the most enthralling gameplay ever. Enter Sega GT, dubbed the Gran Turismo 'killer.'

Based on the F355 engine, Sega GT promises to give the Gran Turismo franchise a run for its' money. Sega has obtained the licenses of over 200 cars from Japanese manufactures like Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, and even exotic ones like McLaren. You can expect even more when the game hits the states, as I hope that U.S. cars will be included.

Sega GT will utilize the Dreamcast's amazing graphics capabilities to make sure that the cars are photo-realistic. The results are already impressive, with the cars sporting great lighting effects and cool reflections, making the game surpass Gran Turismo easily, and even rivaling Gran Turismo 2000 for the PS2. Also worth noting are the environments, which look stunning as well.

The gameplay in Sega GT will be along the lines of Gran Turismo, in the form of Championship Mode. Here, the player will start with a limited amount of money which is earned by winning races, and the winnings can be used to modify your car, or even buy a new one. A neat feature is having a car manufacturer sponsor your races and giving you access to their cars. Races will be divided into classes, and, like in Gran Turismo, you must earn your license in each class to be able to race in it.

But what's a racing simulation without having the ability to tinker with your car? Fear not--a tuning mode is promised, and will let you get down and dirty under the hood. You can alter engine, brake, drive train, muffler, supercharger, suspension, and weight reduction variables. Sega also stated that you can actually modify how your car looks, which should make a lot of people happy.

Sega has made some bold claims when it came to Sega GT, and let's hope they can live up to them. My only worry is that this is their first real attempt at racing simulation, as opposed to most of their other racers you can find in the arcade. However, they assure us that the physics and feel will be spot-on realistic, so these fears are calmed. If they can pull it off, then expect quite a big upset in the world of videogame racing when Sega GT hits shelves sometime next Fall.

--- ElDuderino