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Updateable to current standards in 2005

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: April 22, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Although the out of box product may appear somewhat dated, please note that the Papyrus design team have released a "GPL 2004 demo" as freeware, and this is in effect a complete upgrade to this product, produced with the co-operation of many modders/designers. There are new car graphics, sounds and force-feedback effects. Combine this product with the freeware "demo" and you have a state of the art historic F1 simulation which is still a bear to drive. The out of pocket expense is ridiculously low, given the price of new sims, and I would recommend this (with the upgrade--find it yourself) without reservation. But be warned: this is an uncompromising simulation, and hardly suitable for a casual gamer.

I'm hooked

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: January 05, 2002
Author: Amazon User

It is very realistic...
it is very hard...
it is very rewarding!

All of the addons have brought this game up to date making it one of the slickest looking racing games you can get.

Add in WinVROC for online racing and there's nothing like it.

There's tons of leagues out there, so you can actually race a season, with points and driver standings and all.

Start with the trainers (novice cars) as they're much more forgiving. Search the net for tons of hints on driving and controlling the cars. There's also a hack out there that will let you run the races in the novice (F3) or advanced (F2) cars as well as the Grand Prix (F1) cars. The F1s had around 400hp (which is why you can spin the wheels at high rpms even in the higher gears). I think the F2s are around 250 and the F3s around 180. Racing with the F3s will still let you learn a good racing line and the fastest way around the track, but with more time to react and less chance of breaking the wheels free from excessive power.

As far as Jackie Stewart saying it was too hard and not enough grip; I've read that the default setups are probably all set with the cars two low to the ground. When going around a hard corner the suspension can suddenly bottom out against the stops and cause a spinout. There's lots you can do to the setups to rectify this.

Also, when racing in a real car you get the "seat of the pants" feeling that you can't (yet!) get in a simulation. That can make a big difference.

Still A Legend After All These Years

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 12, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game during its second week of release way back in 1998 and at the time had a computer that just met the minimum requirements, i.e. couldn't run the thing worth a darn. Even on 16 colour, no graphics, two cars displayed it was mighty tough. So, needless to say it sat on the shelf. Having been a seasoned racesim vet from titles ranging back to the original Geoff Crammond's Grand Prix 1 I would try to get on GPL and spun like I was on ice everytime. Could maybe string together one lap around the 'Glen, then I'd juice it coming out of the last corner and junk it all. After purchasing a new computer a few years ago, I found GPL in my stack of CDs and threw it back on. Knowing of the relevant patches released subsequently, I loaded those up, fired up the sim and gave it another go. Still just as frustrating to drive, but the beauty began to shine through. I switched for a year or so to the NASCAR sims and the EA F1 series and quickly got those down, enjoyed the multiplayer experience, etc...Then, the epiphany. About two months ago I revisited GPL after finding some sites with new tracks, editors, carsets, sounds, etc...and re-discovered the greatest racing game ever made. Period. There has been nothing else close, and unless they spool up this model and update the cars to the beasts of the '70s, will not make one like this for some time. Everything about this game is rewarding/frustrating at the same time. Nothing will get you more down than flowing through the Dutch GP until you hit the tunnel and put a wheel wrong from being the least bit ambitious on the throttle. But when you finish a race, let alone win one, you are on top and to see your name in the paper at the end, it is greatness. The best, Jerry, the best. Join VROC, get in the competition and get involved. You will not be more rewarded through hours of practise and honing your set-ups than you will in this game. I would assume if you are reading this you've picked up somewhere that this game is a must, and it is. If you are a seasoned GPL player, then you'll appreciate this write-up as I've appreciated other people's praise of the game. Enjoy fellas, and gentleman..good luck, gentleman.

Not for the faint of heart

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: June 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

If you are looking for a REAL racing sim, there is no other. If you are looking for a driving game look elsewhere. This game is older then dirt, but no one has touched it for realism and accuracy yet. Frustrating, tiring, hard, and with a very steep learning curve GPL is truly in a class by itself. But with a huge online community, several HUNDERED add on tracks, two very good mods, lots of online races, and fierce competition those seeking a real racing experience would do well to pick up a copy, download the all-in-one patch, the new graphics and carsets, GEM+ and Igor, and go racing.

A tough but very satisfying driving sim

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: November 10, 1999
Author: Amazon User

Definitely a big-league racing simulation - not for beginners. In fact, I'm not sure I've ever gone more than 2 or 3 laps without crashing! However, this is the perfect toy for someone who is ready to graduate from some of the less challenging racing games. The differences between the cars is dramatic; the twitchiness of the cars will give you new appreciation of what it takes to keep a high-strung race car under control. Virtually impossible to drive without a racing wheel attachment for your PC -- way too frustrating with a joystick. Serious gamers use this for online racing leagues; I'm not ready for that yet, but hope to be there some day.

Grand Prix Legends

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: April 29, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Be not misled...Grand Prix Legends is by far the best and most challenging racing sim to date. Very difficult to master, as, after three years of trying, the best I've done is a 7th at the French Grand Prix (always start 20th), just missing my first championship point and several 8th place finishes at Monza and Watkins Glen. I run in GP mode all the time. The car I drive is a Repco Brabham, and I have fastest lap ever at Monza, bestting Jim Clark but using too much guardrail in one turn. Very addictive, excellent sim. Don't hesitate, and never give up. When your turn a lap at speed without crashing or spinning out, you'll be thrilled. Best ever effort? Running fourth at French Grand Prix with one to go (had points and 4th in the bag) when engine let go on long straightaway. Overall Papyrus/Sierra is number one in this league, and I also highly recommend all of the NASCAR titles, too. Greg Z.

All the thrills of real racing in the comfort of your home

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: April 15, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Yes, this game is realistic. Yes, this game is hard like everyone else mentioned. But in the end I still play this game regularly almost 2 years after I bought it. It is definitely worth the $50 I payed for.

This game taught me to be a better driver in real life because it taught me to not just crank the steering wheel (such as in arcade racers) when emergencies comes up, the car will just loose control and skid in those situations. A lot of the arcade racers out there like NFS give people a wrong sense of what they can really do in a real life car.

Grand Prix Legends is FUN and EDUCATIONAL! Now when was the last time you heard those two words in one sentence?

Intense rush

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: February 06, 2001
Author: Amazon User

A few posts back a guy said the game was too hard because his montero suv could take a turn at 30 mph without spinning. Well, take the motor of that suv out and put it in the back, Put extremely hard thin tires on it, and trail brake into an off camber turn and see what happens, hehe. This game is the most intense experience once you get it right. Yes you can steer with your foot. Yes the pitch of the road matters to how the car reacts. Yes the throttle is very touchy, (400 hp 1100 lbs no ground effects). No you can't trail brake, ever, don't even think about it. If you can master this game I will guarauntee you will be a better driver in real life. This physics model is very real. Even your braking lines have to be accurate to take into account what the track is going to do. You always have to plan well in advance of any steering or throttle adjustment to the car which requires a very indepth knowledge of the track. The real guys were able to do it quicker cause they could feel the track. We can't. Nothing in my entire gaming life has come close to the thrill of being able to throw one of these machines around these tracks with a perfect mix of pure skill and reckless abandon. Step one, master the arcades, Step 2, master the cart and f1 sims, Step 3, learn to drive these cars. Too bad the Ferarri is slow and hard to handle because the sound that comes out of that engine is too cool to describe. BUY IT, LEARN IT, LIVE IT.

The best racing simulation, but just not for Windows XP!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: August 29, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I've been a fan of auto racing and racing simulations for many years, and GPL is probably the best ever in terms of realism. Problem is I just bought a new PC with Win XP and find out that Sierra or Papyrus do not have an updated version available either for sale or download. It's a shame that such a brillantly designed program should fall into the scrap heap in favor of the typical arcade-style junk that seems to be the hot sellers. Maybe some brave soul will come to the rescue and bring this little piece of racing history back to life for those of us who were pretty much forced to upgrade our PCs.

The king of simulation

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 17, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Update the game with patches, mods, and tracks and you will update your game to 2004 graphical standard....
It is not a game, it is a virtual racing. Superb realistic car physics. I got it for only UK$7 from UK including delivery to Australia.

Four wheel drifting, driving like rally cars. The game community is still hot even now. 7 years since release, can you believe this? To keep the people hot for 7 years!!!

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