This was a very fun and exciting game back when it first came out and is still a very fun and exciting game today. Of course the graphics aren't as good as the new racing games of the modern era, however the game play is great and still offers a good challenge even after the ten years plus that the game has already been out. This game features driving and race conditions that are more like the arcade style racing games of the time.
It is not a simulator and therefore the game is designed to be fun although it lacks some realism. There are several different cars to choose from and although these cars don't exist in the real world they give a good variety with varying characteristics to choose from. The cars include the predator and the hurricane and as previously mentioned they both come with their own strengths and weaknesses. My preference is for the predator as I like to play racing games by smashing my way through the competition. I find the hurricane to be less durable even though it is a faster car; it just does not suit my needs as well.
When starting the game for the first time you can
take part in a training or start in a championship mode. The practice will be done on one of the two initially available tracks. The other tracks are closed. To gain access to those tracks you must first complete one of the championships. Championships consists of a number of races in different countries, taking in road and asphalt settings. The difficulty, of course, increases with each championship that is unlocked. GT Racing 97 offers the gamer some very workable graphics and tracks that provide a lot of detail and variation for each different environment
I am a particular fan of the first person view from inside the driver's seat. This way you can look at the dashboard and see all the instruments and can know up to the date stats as well as speed and revs per minute.
Remember in this somewhat cartoonish like game, the action is based on sheer entertainment, not on realism and actual driving experience. The game was created to provide a fun driving experience that can not actually be used on the real roads. I would recommend this game to anybody and I hope people enjoy playing it as much as I did.
