In the year 2001 Polyphony Digital released a new Gran Turismo in Japan which was called Gran Turismo Concept. While it may have been a concept to use the concept name, the conceptuality of it resulted in conceptulisation of the name of the GT Concept game.

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Basically this game was really not part of their initial (evil, perhaps?) plans. It came about after car manufacturers actually approached Polyphony, instead of the other way around, to ask if they could make a new game with their new concept cars in it to help spread the word about their planned automobiles. PD naturally said no. Oh wait, i mean yes! Sorry.

So Polyphony agreed and the game was born (not sure in which hospital). Later on in 2002 they released a new version which was only being sold in Europe (i was able to buy a copy too, because i live in New Zealand and not Europe - i don't know how that works either). This was called Gran Turismo Concept: Tokyo-Geneva 2002. Do i need to explain the name? If you insist; it included concept cars from the Tokyo Auto Show, Geneva Auto Show and also some from the Detroit Auto Show, and was released in 2002. A selection of 94 cars were (and still are, FYI) available along with five tracks to race them on. One of those five tracks was having it's first PS2 outing (noob!), but was not new to Gran Turismo (oh, maybe i shoulda read the whole sentence first). Have a read below to find out a little more.

RACES

If you're the kind of person who likes long games then this one isn't for you as it can get finished in under two hours! And its only about 10cm long if you measure the DVD. But don't let that put you off. You can still do the licence tests and the races with three difficulty levels, with some cars having a much closer race than others. An incentive to doing the races and getting gold on the licence's is that you win a car for every race completed. So long as you finish first. And by first i mean before the other cars, not the first car to finish in last place, as that would be last and not first last. Well, it probably will be first last, but also last last, but if it is either first or last last, then it is still last and not first.

Free Run allows you to do just as it says. You can do eight million laps of one track if you wanted (i'm positive i wouldn't be able to sit for that long though, i'd be too excited to sit and would be dancing all around the room while racing).

If the thought of licence tests puts you off then you might like to know that this is by far the easiest Gran Turismo game in existence. It is basically meant as a GT for beginners (like cwute widdle bubbys who can't even speakys yet), although experienced players can also find a challenge or two. This game is roughly just the arcade version of GT3. You can even join the two games together with super glue*.

*DISCLAIMER: Neither game may ever work again if you try this, be warned; throwing super glued DVD's around a field is highly addictive.

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CARS

Cars are what this game is all about. But then again that's what all the Gran Turismo games are about. Hhhmmmm... But this one is more so about cars than the others? Probably. I think. Maybe... I'm not making any sense. But hey, when do i ever!

There are actually more than 94 cars in the game, there are over 250 but that's including all the GT3 cars which are unfortunately not driveable (although you can race against them). You can pretend to drive them during replays, where you can select another car other than your own. Just don't expect the controls to be very responsive.

There are 20 of them below but if you want to check out the whole lot then click here.
- Ford Ka
- Mazda 6
- Lexus SC 430
- Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R M-Spec
- Chevrolet Corvette Z06
- Volkswagen Golf GTI
- Mercedes-Benz SL 500
- Jaguar S-Type R
- Audi RS4
- TVR Tuscan Speed 6
- Daihatsu Copen
- Pontiac Solstice
- Nissan Z33 350Z
- Suzuki GSX-R/4
- Hyundai Accent WRC Rally Car [race car]
- Honda Mobil 1 NSX JGTC [race car]
- Nissan Pennzoil Zexel R34 GT-R JGTC [race car]
- Toyota Esso Ultraflow Supra JGTC [race car]
- Audi ABT Sportsline TT-R DTM [race car]
- Ford Falcon XR8 V8 Supercar (Tickford) [race car]

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TRACKS

As slightly mentioned way, way, WAAAYYYY up the top of this page, there are five proper tracks in GT Concept and one bonus track. All but one of them have been in Gran Turismo games previously and they all have improvements from their last outing in either GT1, GT2 or GT3 (GT Zero doesn't exist). They are mainly visual enhancements, but they all look much more realistic now and that only makes for better replays, realism, realisticness, realization, reasoning and razzamatazz.

Midfield Raceway
- Was last seen in GT3 and improvements to the track surface such as more tire marks have been made (so don't let the Police tell you that you aren't improving the surface of the road with those tyre marks you just left!). Now the most realistic looking track in replays. Well, not now now, but then now.

Tokyo R246: Akasaka
- Was last seen in GT3 and like Midfield it has more tire marks on the track surface making it look extremely realistic also. Apparently there is a new car outside the Honda building on the main straight. There is a high chance it could be a Honda, but don't quote me on that. It may be a Mazda pretending to be a Honda.

Swiss Alps
- Was last seen in GT3. Noticeable improvements are on the wooden bridge you cross over at the halfway mark it now has white signs on the bridge ends so that you can tell where the edge of the bridge is without smashing into it like many of you probably have. I haven't. I'm too good for that. Too good. Never hit it. Nope... *cough*

Tahiti Maze
- Was last seen in GT3. To be honest this track is absolutely perfect as it is so i haven't really noticed any improvements but there must have been some because it too looks much better now. Maybe its in daylight now. Actually no, its always been daylight on this track in prior GT games, i musta just had my eyes shut. :(

Autumn Ring
- Was last seen in GT2. All i can say is that it's about time it returned (and i just did). Here it is under the power of PS2 and by George has it made the transition, from PS One to PS2, well or not! It's also the most 'interactive' out of the five tracks. The usual brake markers etc can be hit and flown into the distance, but this track (a first for Gran Turismo) has moving ground... in a way. If you drive on the grass under the trees which are browning in the Autumn wind, the leaves lying on the ground will fly up behind you - the faster you go the higher they get! Looks really good in the replay!

Toyota Pod Track
- A little tiny track for little tiny cars in a little tiny race with huge manmade hills to climb each lap.

A race is pointless without a replay. Just like doing your hair without a mirror. Having a Big Mac without the buns. Yes without no. And so on.

For more information on the tracks please click here.