GT4 on the PS2 was Sony's attempt to outdo PGR2 on the Xbox. As I wrote that review first, it probably makes sense to read it so that I can make comparisons between the two here.

As I said in that review, I am no gamer, so this review of GT4 is on the same basis - how good a winter substitute does it make? :-)

Let's start with the stuff that's the same as PGR2 ...

I believe the track is based on essentially the same data. Nurburgring GmbH has detailed DGPS models of the track which it sells to games companies as well as car manufacturers, and I believe both companies bought it.

It is no surprise, then, that both games look to have modelled the track well. There are odd sections here and there that feel slightly wrong in both games, but pretty much things look & feel right.

Both games feature graphics which look great overall, though the cars and track surface are better than the grass and scenery.

Both games have steering that feels quite binary in nature.

Both games allow you to choose your view: inside the car or behind it (behind it is easier, inside is more realistic).

Now let's look at the differences ...

First, although the graphics in both look good while driving, there is no doubt at all that the GT4 graphics are superior. There is a lot more detail in track, grass, armco and scenery. Here's a direct comparison of both games approaching Pflanzgarten 1 - both simply photos of the TV screen (crude, but pretty realistic!):

PGR2

GT4

Here's some more photos:

GT4 races start at T13 rather than the gantry

Exit T13 ('Bastard Bend')

Hocheichen

Exit Adenauer-Forst

Breidscheid

Approaching Kleiner Karussell

Second, although GT4's claims to be a simulator rather than a game are rather far-fetched (at least when using the PS2 controller), there is no question that GT4 also has the more realistic handling. In particular, it doesn't have the annoying PGR2 characteristic of allowing you to brake and steer at the same time with impunity.

This greater realism in handling makes it both more and less controllable than PGR2 - but both in a good way. More controllable, because doing what you would do in a real car is also the right thing to do in GT4; less controllable because it behaves more like a real car when you screw up. :-)

I haven't yet driven GT4 enough to assess the realism of the bend speeds, but first impressions are that it is at least a bit more realistic than PGR2.

So far as steering wheels are concerned, I hear excellent reports about the Logitech force-feedback wheel, so I shall try to blag one of these to test the game with that.

GT4 also features a very sophisticated photo mode: you get full manual control over a virtual camera, and can then save your photos onto a memory card. The resolution of the photos is much higher than the resolution of the TV output - see the example at the top of this page.

The main weakness for Ringers is the lack of an Xbox Live service - at least, as yet. Although there is a hack floating about on the net, this does not appear to be for the faint-hearted!

Overall verdict? Without the Live functionality, it would be a no-brainer: GT4 is significantly better than PGR2, with superior graphics and more realistic handling. But as seasoned Ringers will know, the social side is as important as the driving - and there the Xbox with its easy networking and headsets has a very strong edge.

The PGR2 smartgroup for Ringers welcomes people playing either game - you will find the list here.

There is a laptime competition here.