Regional Differences

This is a sub-page of Gran Turismo 2.

Gran Turismo 2 saw releases in all three major regions (Japan, North America and Europe) and, not unlike the previous installment of the GT series, each region saw several changes that range from different in-game music to vehicle availability.

Car BadgingSome cars in GT2 bear different badging depending on region.

Title Screens#

The North American versions of both Arcade and Simulation Mode discs have title screens different from the other releases, with the logo being the major notable difference.

Also, the title screen differs between the two discs, with Arcade Mode (Disc 1) featuring the front of a 1999 Honda S2000 (AP1) (as seen on the Japanese cover) and Gran Turismo/Simulation Mode (Disc 2) featuring the engine of a 1999 Aston Martin DB7 (as seen on the European cover):

Japan & Europe	North America

FMVs#

Intro#

Various details in the intro FMV are different across all three regions. The Japanese version is longer, features different gameplay footage and uses the traditional Gran Turismo theme, "Moon Over the Castle." The Western versions have The Cardigans' "My Favourite Game" (from the album properly titled Gran Turismo) as the intro song — with the European version using a remix by British electronic group Faithless.

End Credits#

While The Cardigans' "My Favourite Game" isn't featured in the Japanese opening movie, the Faithless remix is played in the Arcade Mode ending, with the Gran Turismo Mode ending featuring "Blue Line" by Masahiro Andoh (composer of "Moon Over the Castle"). In the North American release, the Arcade Mode ending features "My Hero" by Foo Fighters and the Gran Turismo Mode ending features "Where It's At" by Beck. In the European version, only the Gran Turismo Mode ending exists, featuring an instrumental version of "My Favourite Game (Faithless Remix)".

Arcade Mode Endings#

GT Mode Endings#

Music#

Unlike its predecessor, Gran Turismo 2 features the same menu soundtrack for the Japanese release as well as Western versions. The race music, however, is again different for each region. The Japanese in-race soundtrack was composed entirely by Masahiro Andoh, while the overseas soundtracks feature licensed music by various artists and bands. Songs used during races include:

Also mentioned in the North American licensing credits but not actually included in the game are the Filter song "Hey Man, Nice Shot" as well as the Gearwhore song "Accelerator". The former was included on the compilation album GT2: Music at the Speed of Sound along with other songs not effectively featured in the game, with the latter used as the main menu for the bonus disc that came with the aforementioned album (which, in addition to a mid-development demo of the game, also contains menu to download pre-completed save games as well as having several videos).

For Replay Theater, "Blowing Away" is used in the Japanese version, "Cold Rock the Mic" is used in the American version and "Big Dog" is used in the European version.

Demonstration Replays#

Each region offers a different set of demonstration replays for viewing. While the Japanese versions showcase the various additions to GT2's roster, the Western versions focus on North American and European models.

Bold indicates the "player" car in each demo replay.

Japan#

North America#

Europe#

Esso vs Exxon#

Due to trademark issues regarding the use of the 'Esso' brand in some American states, Polyphony Digital went on to change all references to 'Esso' and 'Esso Ultron' into 'Exxon' and 'Exxon Superflo' for the North American version. This resulted in certain cars — Peugeot 206 GTi, Peugeot 206 Rally Car, Peugeot 406 Sedan, Toyota 2000GT (not to be confused with the TRD-tuned MR2) and Toyota GT-ONE — having duplicates, sporting either Esso or Exxon sponsor decals. Both variants are present — in road and race flavors — in all regions and may be acquired with the assist of cheats.

The GT-ONE is the only Exxon badged car to retain car information text; all other cars will give an error beep should the player attempts to read the information text. In addition, because the prize car list cannot handle region lockouts and were not changed in all American revisions of the game, the GT-ONEs obtained from prizes (Gran Turismo World League for the '98 car and all-gold S License for '99 car) are actually Esso versions when players receive it, meaning the only time the Exxon version is used for the player are in the license tests featuring them (IA-10 and S-10, respectively).

Peugeot 206
Esso (fp26r)

Peugeot 206 Rally Car
Esso (fp2wr)

Peugeot 406 Sedan
Esso (fp4tr)

Toyota 2000GT
Esso (t22gr)

Toyota GT-ONE '98
Esso (t2g8r)

Toyota GT-ONE '99
Esso (t2g9r)

It is worth noting while the Japanese version uses Esso for car sponsor decals, Exxon trackside advertisements are not disabled in that version.

Car Availability#

Deeper examples of regionalization involved not only mere label changes, but reflected directly in which models are available in each region. The division between North American and Japanese models of the Honda Integra and Honda NSX — which generated the North America-exclusive Acura dealer — and the division between British and German models of General Motors' vehicles — which resulted in the conception of the Europe-exclusive Vauxhall dealer in addition to the generally available Opel dealer, are the biggest examples of Polyphony's efforts on providing a more realistic experience in Gran Turismo 2 (or maybe just a product of executive meddling).

Honda vs Acura#

Honda-badged versions of the NSX and Integra are available from the Honda dealer in the Japanese and European versions of the game, while players from the US version can find these vehicles at the Acura dealer, exclusive to the North American release.

The biggest difference apart from different badging is the availability of Racing Modifications. All Honda-badged vehicles are ready to be graced with a racing paint scheme and bodywork, while Acura-badged cars are more restrictive, thanks to typos in the car parameter data: only the '98 Integra GS-R, as well as the '91 and '97 NSX models may receive the upgrade normally — the other six Acura vehicles are only race-modifiable through cheating. The '91 NSX racing modification also use the design used in the '97 models.

Honda Dealer Comparison#

Due to the non-existence of the NSX in the North American version's Honda dealer, the front page picture is different from the one seen in the other versions — featuring the S2000 as well as a different description.

Japan & Europe	North America

As noted above, the North American version of Honda lacks all Integra and NSX options found in the other versions. The older Honda models are found in the Used Cars section, while the older Acuras are placed in the New Cars section of the Acura dealer.

South City#

Japan & Europe	North America

Acura Dealer Menus#

Model Comparison#

An oversight and evidence that assets were based on those from the North American version of the first Gran Turismo, the windshield decals on the 1995 models of Honda Integras have Acura logos on them.

Opel vs Vauxhall#

Similar to the Honda vs Acura case, PD wanted to allow British players to experience their own versions of the General Motors vehicles available in the game. The Opel dealer is available in all versions — including the European release if the language is set to any other than English. The Vauxhall dealer is exclusive to the European version, replacing Opel if the language is set to English. Changing between languages allows the player to complete both Opel and Vauxhall race events and reach up to 100.91% completion. Apart from the usual different badging, the two brands' cars differ slightly cosmetically — the differences range from different wheels to different colors available for some Racing Modifications. In all cases, Vauxhall is advertised on all versions of the game during races.

Because regional car lockout flags also apply to opponent car list, forcefully going to Vauxhall one-make race screen outside of European release with English language setting or vice versa will cause the game to lock if the race is started or previewed.

Menu Comparison#

North City

JP, NA & Europe (non-English)	Europe (English)

Dealers

Opel	Vauxhall

Model Comparison#

Opel Corsa (gocon)	Vauxhall Corsa (bvcon)

Opel Calibra Touring Car (gocdr)	Vauxhall Calibra Touring Car (bvcdr)

Opel Tigra Ice Race Car (goiir)	Vauxhall Tigra Ice Race Car (bviir)

Opel Astra (goasn)	Vauxhall Astra (bvasn)

Opel Tigra (gotin)	Vauxhall Tigra (bvtin)

Opel Vectra (goven)	Vauxhall Vectra (bvven)

JDM Nissans vs USDM & EDM#

Certain Nissan cars have regional variants available in the North American and European versions of GT2. Implemented after the initial Japanese retail build, most of these vehicles replace existing models on the manufacturer's used car list as well as races, containing only slight cosmetical differences on their road bodies.

FAIRLADY Z Ver.S 2seater. '94 (nzx3n)	Nissan 300ZX 2-seater (nax3n)

Z Ver.S 2seater TwinTurbo '94 (nzxsn)	Nissan 300ZX Turbo (naxsn)

FAIRLADY Z Ver.S 2by2 '94 (nzxvn)	Nissan 300ZX 2+2 (naxvn)

USDM versions of three Fairlady Z models are present and available for purchase in the North American versions of the game, replacing the JDM originals on Nissan's used car cycle. These vehicles contain different bumpers and lack the marker lights next to the front wheel arches.

These models also have different color names:

NISSAN PRIMERA 2.0Te-V (n2p2n)	Nissan Primera '98 (nep2n)

NISSAN S14 SILVIA K's '95 (ns14n)	Nissan 200SX '95 (ne14n)

NISSAN S14 SILVIA K's '96 (ns15n)	Nissan 200SX '98 (ne15n)

EDM versions of the Primera 2.0 Te-V and S14 Silvia K's had bodies added to the initial North American release, but their performance data only exists in parameter files used by the European version of the game, where they replace their JDM counterparts in both the new car lineup and the used car cycle as well as race events. The older 1995 Silvia only features marginal marker light and license plate differences, while the later 1996 model and the Primera come with smaller spoilers.

Summary#

In addition to the previously mentioned examples, other cars were added to the roster between releases, either as effective additions or as replacements for other machines already available. Below is a summary of all vehicles that are absent in one region or another and where they're readily available without cheats:

Gameplay Features#

Units of Measurement#

Just like in Gran Turismo, units of measurement were changed — mostly between North America and Japan & Europe — in another attempt of better suiting players from different regions.

Note: Although suggested in the game's User Manual, changing between the Imperial and Metric measurement systems is not possible at all.

License Times#

Many of the target times of license tests were tweaked after the original Japanese release. While some tests were made easier by increasing the time limit for one or all prizes, others — most notably rally tests — were given stricter goals.

While Kids Prize times were not altered in the North American version, the European version not only rebalanced many of those but also changed the number of required attempts — tests that originally demanded 30 failures were lowered to 20 and Super License tests went from just 5 to 10.

Out of 60 tests, only 7 remained entirely untouched between releases:

Dirt Tire Behavior#

Data for non-Pikes Peak dirt tires was altered between regional releases. Rally cars are more prone to oversteer in both Japanese versions of the game than its overseas counterparts, which also saw increases in grip level. This may explain the drastic changes in license target times for the rally tests, as the compound differences greatly impact lap times.

Another effect of these changes is that rally event ghosts are not compatible between the different versions of GT2. With the European version also running at a lower framerate, all three regions feature different ghost data, with the only partial exception being the two trials involving the Suzuki Pikes Peak Hill Climb machines — these remain intact between the Japanese and North American releases. The finish times for all 27 rally opponents are as they follow:

* Time achieved in the two revisions of the US release, as the ghost replay data for the Peugeot 206 Rally Car opponent is played out of sync in the original US version.

Race Event Requirements#

• In the Japanese version, the player is neither required to complete the GT Nationals events in order to compete in the Euro-Pacific races, nor required to finish any of the events prior to the Gran Turismo World League before entering it. In the Western versions, the player is presented with an error if attempting to enter later events without completing the earlier ones.

• Also in the Japanese release, the three Muscle Car Cup events require A-grade, IC-grade and IB-grade licenses, respectively. In the Western builds, all three events require an IA-grade license to be entered.

Japan	North America & Europe