Sega GT 2002

"Sega GT vs GT3"

I'm sure people are just going to compare the two, so I'm just going to give my opinion on how I feel between the two racing games.

Graphic:
the graphics look very realistic to me. I'm playing with a component video input so that might help a little. Both games only give you behind the car or in front of the car view (no inside cockpit, which is a shame.) Personally I like the Sega GT graphic a little better, but the two are really close, so I'd give it a tie.

Sound:
I have played both games on a 5.1 speakers, same one too. Spatially they are both as good, you can definitely tell if someone is coming close behind you. But Sega GT has a really great engine sound. Different car's engine sounds totally different, and you can really feel the power when you press the pedal to the metal. Little things like backfire on a turbo machine is really awesome, especially driving a Skyline GT-R34. Sega GT definitely wins this one.

Game Play:
If you love to just pick up the game and play a nice quick race, there is no question GT3 definitely win this one. It has more tracks and cars (both after unlocking) to choose from for a quick race. I haven't played thru the whole SGT yet but I still have not unlock any track for quick race. On the other hand, SGT gives you a ''more'' realistic way of a career mode. You actually want to avoid damage when you race in order to gain more money. So depending on what you prefer, each suits different types of gameplay. But overall, GT3 does have an advantage.

Customization/Tweaks:
There is no doubt GT3 wins this. There are so much more you can do on GT3. SGT only allows you to tweak little things. It might be cute to be able to buy ''furniture'' in a used part shop to decorate your garage, but the fun only last so long.

Controls:
Personally I like the controls on SGT better, mainly because of the XBox controller. Using the trigger buttons, I feel controlling the gas and brake is a bit easier (tho it takes a while to get used to.) The physics are both great. So I guess it really depends on which controller you like better.

Overall:
Both are great games, I'd say if you have only one of either systems and you are into racing games, you should definitely get them. If you have both, then you really have to ask, do you prefer playing races really quick or are you into an immersing experience of a racing career? If you can't decide, I'd say GT3 is a better game. Not by much, only because of its rich amount of tracks. Still I like SGT alot. Just have to squeeze time between this, Morrowind and The Thing.... sigh....

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/18/02, Updated 09/18/02