| Gran Turismo for the Playstation game console was the first truly realistic racing game for the automobile enthusiast. Before its release, most racing games were lame party tricks. Sony found a way to appeal to enthusiasts and gamers in general by combining the hobby/obsession of modding everyday street cars with a lifelike physics and graphics engine. It's mainly Japanese-spec automobiles, but you can upgrade every aspect of them and have them behave on the track like they would in real life (simulation mode).
Unfortunately, you won't find the Sentra SE-R in the game, but there is its SR20DE-powered cousin, the Nissan Primera (aka Infiniti G20 in the U.S.). There are a number of cars in Gran Turismo that we only wish were available in the U.S., including the Nissan Skyline GT-R: | 
It's safer (and a lot easier on tires) to perform all of your drifting antics on a Playstation. |
Simulation mode isn't designed to have your car catch big air over every undulation in the road like some games, but... |
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 ...using an AWD car with over 900hp we can make an exception. |
You don't see cars getting this much hang time very often. "I'll save this replay." |
300hp from a naturally-aspirated SR20DE is reserved for Nissans in the British Touring Car Championship, but you can make your own monster Primera (the closest thing to a hot-rod SE-R in Gran Turismo). While racing mine in the Japan vs. U.S. championship, a rare fluke occurred: while bouncing off the rumple strips on the last corner on Trial Mountain II, my Primera drove up the side of the red Viper and was launched into the air: |
Other recommended games:
Gran Turismo 2 - Playstation - anticipated sequel to GT1. More cars and tracks, but it was prematurely rushed to stores to make a pre-Christma$ release. A decent follow-up to the original, but minor bugs and errors prevented it from maintaining the same level of enthusiam as GT1.
Colin McRae Rally - Playstation - A sleeper hit that was released in the U.S. a year later than in the rest of the world. McRae is still driving a Subaru in this 2000 game, but that doesn't make it any less fun. CMR's great physics model captures the intensity of rally, but has neither overly-complicated or dumbed-down controls.
Gran Prix Legends - Windows 95/98 - The only good thing Windows machines are good for: games. Gran Prix Legends is about sixties-era Formula One before aerodynamics were a major factor, and it shoots for high realism. Steering wheel and pedals are recommended - power and skinny tires make the cars too nervous to enjoy with just the ten-key pad.
Granturismo 3 - Playstation2 - Might be better titled Gran Turismo 2.5. Awesome graphics, but otherwise not much new from the other two GT games.
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