Retro Sunday #2.

Following on from last Sunday's one of these, Sunday-gone, I sat with my offspring and attempted to find an old-school game they could both agree on! Easier said then done, let me tell you! However, the library of games I'm choosing from is vast! There's plenty of games that both children will appreciate. 

As they both enjoyed Sonic 2, I used 2D platform games as a starting point. That didn't go very well, ALL the Super Mario games were met with an overwhelming, "Meh" from both parties, (don't judge them too harshly, they're only five and three). Alex Kidd couldn't hold their attention either and even a Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck combo in World of Illusion weren't interesting enough to intrigue these kids! Undeterred, I continued my quest, and a console-plus-genre-change later, we arrived at Gran Turismo 2 for Sony's Playstation.

I was pleasantly surprised with the reaction to this game. Maybe it was because up until now, we'd only been playing 8 and 16-bit, 2D games, and GT 2 is 3D, with considerably better graphics and sound, I like to think the "Woooo" noise that the kids produced was because they knew they were in for a real treat though!

I, myself first enjoyed this game in my late teens and it is still one of my favourite racing games to this day. It's absolutely wonderful and both youngsters agreed. They were glued to the screen, I mean, (figuratively) GLUED! No comments, questions or attention loss, which was a massive shock to me, as them kids of mine can't do anything for more than 5 minutes without getting distracted in some way or other. During the half-hour or so of Gran Turismo 2 gameplay, I barely heard a peep out of either of them. Bliss! :o)

Sadly though, this one isn't such an easy game for the chronologically-challenged player due to the controls. It requires a good deal of hand-eye coordination to drive effectively, something that most small children lack. However, there are a couple of very simple oval-shaped tracks to play which the halflings found much easier to deal with. Buying/upgrading cars was difficult to explain to young children too, and even when I did, it went in one ear and out the other. That aspect was too complicated for my very young kids, but that didn't stop them going, "Woooo" while Daddy was drifting round Laguna Seca in a TVR Speed 12!

As it is a racing title, it isn't hard to understand why my little boy found the game so captivating, my Daughter was sat nodding her head and tapping her foot to the soundtrack. When I asked her if she liked the music, she replied with an overly-enthusiastic nod of the head. Of course, I was very pleased indeed.

It is worth mentioning that I was playing the European release of GT 2 and, aside from the usual difference between Euro and US releases, (different refresh rates, not even noticeable), the tracklisting is better in the Euro version of GT 2. Well, in my humble opinion anyway.

This was certainly a spectator sport today, but when both children are older, the multiplayer mode, (on Disc 1), will keep us entertained for hours. 

So get Gran Turismo 2 fired up right now! It comes highly recommended by a 5 year old boy who bites his toenails and a 3 year old girl who drinks bathwater!!

Lewis, (5), and Miya, (3).