Sega of Japan is no stranger to racing games as they have produced a number of arcade hits throughout the 1980s and 90s. Such titles as Daytona USA, Hang On, Out Run, and Sega Rally have all made a name for themselves in arcades and on home consoles. However, after Sony's huge success with Gran Turismo and Gran Turismo 2 on the PlayStation, Sega decided they needed their own "Real Driving Simulator" rather than another arcade-based racer. The result is Sega GT.

Sega GT features four modes of play -- Single Race, Dual Race, Time Attack, and Championship -- as well as a replay booth and Internet options. In Single Race players simply enter one race after selecting their car, track, one of three difficulty levels, manual or automatic transmission, and either drift or grip racing style. Dual Race is the two-player split-screen mode that allows players to use cars from Championship mode. If one player is more experienced than their competitor then a handicapped start can be enabled. Time Attack is where users attempt to set the fastest times possible on each track. After each race the data can be saved at which time it is converted into a ghost car. The ghost car data can be used for players to help pace themselves in future Time Attack races or it can be uploaded to the Sega GT website and downloaded by other players who can then race against the ghost car.

Championship mode is where the heart of the game is. The first order of business is to acquire licenses a la Gran Turismo. Each license has a variety of tests to choose from but they do not all need to be passed in order to obtain the license. Selecting the car manufacturer will determine what track the test will be run on and how much time a lap must be completed in. For each license the user can choose which manufacturer's car to use and that will determine the actual test. Once a license test has been passed the selected manufacturer's works car can then be entered in a Works Cup race.

Other races in Championship mode include Official, Event, and W.S.K. (World Speed King). Official races are run in order of class and feature a point system. Finish in first place and players will receive a premium car. Event races can be single races, a series of races, or tournaments. There are different sets of rules and prizes depending on the race. Some races will reward players with prize money while other will reward them with regular prize money and sponsor prize money. W.S.K. races are held for each drive-wheel type. These races are for elite drivers only as they will not be available until every other race in Championship mode has been completed.

Of course, to enter the races in Championship mode at least one car will have to be purchased. Users begin the game with $10,000 to put toward the purchase of a new or used car. More than 130 cars are available from such manufacturers as Mazda, Mitsubishi, Honda, and Toyota. Tired of racing the same old cars? Then go ahead and build your own car. That's right, Sega GT allows players to build their own car from scratch -- there are more than two million possible combinations! Select the engine, chassis, body, color, and even the name. However, before you can build the best of the best you will have to pass a number of trials and get your hands on the top factory licenses.

For saving a standard game a VMU with 42 blocks is needed. Ghost car data requires nine more blocks as do replay data files. Free up 128 blocks and you can also play the Pocket GT mini-game. Pocket GT features Training and Quick races that are played from an overhead view. Win all of the cup races in Training mode and a special car not available in the main game can be acquired. Extra money can also earned in Pocket GT.

Sega GT (Sega Dreamcast, 2000)