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Gran Turismo 4

(2005, Video Games - Action/Adventure, Rated E, Play it on: PlayStation 2)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 6.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Realistic racing experience for the entire family.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The game is all about high-speed racing, which may have your child believing that this is the only way to drive
  • Violence & scariness :

  • Language:

  • Consumerism:

    The game is full of commercialism, with advertisements from major car manufacturers like Audi and Chevrolet, along with sponsors like tire makers Bridgestone and Dunlop visible throughout the game.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Gran Turismo 4

Parents need to know that this game provides players with more cars, more racecourses, and more high-speed fun than earlier versions, though gameplay is only slightly different from its predecessor. While the game is a good alternative to Need for Speed Underground games, parents may be concerned about advertising in the game, and the speeds at which cars travel around the racetracks.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about marketing. All of the cars have logos from top automakers prominently displayed. Ask kids: How did you decide which car to drive? Which brands did you notice while you were playing? Why do you think these ads are in the game? What do they do to your opinions of the brands? This might lead to a broader discussion of advertising and the desire for labels. Also, a discussion about safe driving practices is a good idea (especially for kids around the 16-year mark).
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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about Gran Turismo 4?
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See all 5 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    Lives in Nevada
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    An Excellent Driving Game

    This game imitates real driving physics very well, specially when using the 900 degree wheel. While "commonsense" made a bit of an issue about "commercialism" in the game, it really isn't, for there's a difference between names of car manufacturers and "get ripped quick pills" ads. The game can be fun for everyone, but the realism of it may not be something kids can handle. There isn't any car damage(crashes), so wreckles driving isn't an "iffy", and it all takes place in closed legal tracks.

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 3.0

    Disappointing but OK

    The game is to the limit on image and very weak on substance. The driving experience/controls are about as realistic as Asteroids was comparable to controlling a space craft (actually less so - I think since there was some physics behind the Asteroids game and the control was in some ways more sophisticated). It is hugely disappointing that they cannot do better than this after so many years. I can hardly keep the car on the track at 40 MPH - I'm sure it gets better when you learn how the game wants you to drive. Still.. its kind of fun and the images are cool so at $20 its OK.

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Delaware
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

    A Realistic Driving and Tuning Experience

    This game goes deep into real driving dynamics and requires mastery of the dynamics of driving to get the full experience. Modified cars have a fantastic range of adjustments for the brakes, suspensions, gear ratios, aerodynamic downforce and more. If you are interested in learning not just how a high performance car behaves, but how to tune a car to extract it's true maximum potential, then this game has what you are looking for, big time.

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0

    Great game for all

    There are so many great things about this game! First of all, it does not invole getting out of the cars at all, or any violence whatsoever. You simply, drive, try to win cars and fix cars up. It's great if you have time to devote, because this is not a "I'll beat it by tomorrow" kind of game. The graphics are phenomenal - movie like in certain parts.

  5. Teen Reviewer
    Age 13
    Lives in
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 0.0

    Horrible Game in the fun department

    This game is probably one of the most boring, stressful games I have ever played. It is absolutely impossible to handle the cars unless you are extremely farimiar with the series. The only reason I still play it is because I like taking pictures of my car. At the same time, the game was not inappropriate at all in my opinion. All of the Ads make it look like a real world.

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