GP4 was the last of the fabled Grand Prix series of games from Geoff Crammond and MicroProse. It featured the 2001 F1 season and finally featured a proper 3D visual update and some physics and weather improvements, with each car shape now unique but still sharing a generic steering wheel. There were some limitations such as no internet play (only LAN), an obscenely CPU-demanding engine, and issues never addressed due to Infogrammes being dissolved, MicroProse obliterated, and the F1 license becoming monopolized by Sony. Fortunately there was an enthusiastic community to pick up some of the slack and sort some of the issues but it took about 3 years of (free) hard work from fans. The game can still look good enough in the 2020s thanks to the surviving modding community and the quality of the work done in the late 2000's and early 2010's. The rendering is superior to F1C 99-02. There are still gross limitations due to the engine, and some irreparable visual bits, but as long as you have GPxPatch, you will at least be able to play it in 202x. It's extremely accessible for keyboard players, it can be used with gamepads and steering wheels, it features the most accurate tracks for the time - only matched/slightly beaten by GT Legends and GTR 3 years later! -, it has mixed weather racing that expanded on GP3's sensational tech, and it featured delightful AI racing. In closing, GP4 was not the disappointment that GP3 was compared to GP2, being released 2 years after GP3, and it was a better F1 game than EA's alternatives (F1 2002 and F1C 99-02), but it was another missed opportunity in a staple series. The rush to get the game out or design decisions hampered what should have been the "Nascar Racing 2003 Season" equivalent of F1 games. GP4 is very playable today when paired with dgvoodoo2 or with GPxPatch.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I love racing and this is a very challenging game, with great graphics for it's time. I have had some trouble with it blinking out on windows 7 and the patch does not help. I still love the game and am trying to figure out the glitch, I will try it on XP and see if it blinks out. You need a racing wheel or don't bother, a very intense game that makes My eyes water,let's see you do 70 laps full throttle every lap or else watch you fall behind. I rate this GOOD only because I have a glitch and haven't figured it out yet.Otherwise it would be without a doubt Excellent.
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