Gran Turismo 4 vs. Forza Motorsport

Well, the time has come. After several weeks, hundreds of laps, hours of unlocked cars and oodles of miles gathered, I've managed to put together the ultimate battle between Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo 4 for the PlayStation 2 console and Microsoft's Forza Motorsport for the Xbox.

It wasn't easy. You'll notice that a little while back I compared Konami's Enthusia game to GT4, and Polyphony's baby came out smelling like a rose due to Konami's inexperience in a few areas. But Microsoft took the necessary precautions to avoid disaster, delaying the game several times before unleashing it on the public before E3 2005 and giving Xbox owners a taste of real racing. Now the question is who reigns supreme in this battle of the big-time racers? Here now, with a blow by blow account, is how the games fare.

Modes

Gran Turismo 4 possesses some unique modes. Take, for instance, the enjoyable B-Spec Mode, as well as the interesting Photo mode, where you can print out some impeccable photo moments. Sure, they're gimmicky, but they add depth to the game and provide a reward for the hardcore racing enthusiasts. Forza, meanwhile, provides a few modes of its own, including a very enhanced Career Mode that digs in with both claws and a Free Run mode that lets you get a hang of the tracks. Both games contain Arcade, Time Trial, and Multiplayer Modes, so they're tied there. In the end, however, GT4 speeds just a little ahead due to its innovation.

Winner: Gran Turismo 4

Soundtrack/Sound

Both games contain authentic racing sounds, but it seems to me that Polyphony's paying just a little closer attention to particular engine noises for each of their cars. However, while GT4 contains a unique soundtrack with artists ranging from classical composers to modern bands, Forza provides some great tracks in itself, along with giving you the ability to rip your own soundtrack. That balances out this category and the battle ends in a tie.

Winner: Tie

Controls/Handling

The way that both games handle is very precise to the real thing, and really makes this a tough judgment call. With GT4, the only real issue I found with the control is sometimes cars aren't so affected by their body damage during a race, while with Forza, it's almost instant that some kind of effect sets in. However, in terms of natural feeling, I slightly favor the feel of GT4, just because of the balance that goes into each individual car and not having to frustratingly try and get out of a jam. Forza is no slouch, however. In the end, the nod goes to GT4, but only barely.

Winner: Gran Turismo 4

Challenge Level

Gran Turismo 4 has plenty of challenges to overcome, but sometimes the AI can be a little bit "bouncy" in terms of letting you take the lead, then taking it back, and so on and so on. Meanwhile, Forza will eat you alive in some of the later races, making it a bit harder for those who are seeking that kind of level of play. Both games have suitable opponents, but it seems like Forza is more on the ball in terms of realistic driving behavior. Score one for Microsoft.

Winner: Forza Motorsport

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