This video reveals how classic racing games were rigged.

      Sega

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      Classic video games are often recognized for two main aspects: they tend to be remembered as being slightly better in our minds than they actually were, and cheating. The latter is particularly evident in racing games due to the clear ways they can skew competition, such as by making opponent vehicles significantly faster than yours. A prime example is Sega GT 2002, one of the original Xbox’s standout titles and exclusives. The video below showcases the game’s deceptive practices quite clearly.

      Modder Xenn, who has also enhanced classic Gran Turismo games with various adjustments, brought this to my attention years ago. Sega GT 2002 functioned as Microsoft’s competitor to Gran Turismo prior to the emergence of Forza and was developed by Sega’s Wow Entertainment. It’s an enjoyable and delightfully quirky racing "sim" for its time.

      The video is simple: it features a replay of a race solely between AI cars, from beginning to end. The bottom right corner displays a window showing the power multipliers for each competitor in real time, hinting at the underlying mechanics.

      Notice the changes in the numbers as the race unfolds? Indeed—these CPU cars begin the race with 2x horsepower, which they maintain for roughly half a lap. Subsequently, the multiplier drops to a range of 1.3-1.8x for the remainder of the race, with leading cars receiving a smaller advantage while those lagging behind benefit from a relatively greater boost to maintain competition.

      I first encountered this video a few years ago, and it amazed me, as I recalled being just 10 years old and puzzled by how Supras and Evos could outpace my modified Ford GT in this game. Sega GT 2002 features a steep difficulty curve; it starts off fairly easy but becomes increasingly challenging about halfway through the career mode. At that point, it becomes apparent that rival cars have become significantly faster, especially in how they overtake you on straightaways.

      To complicate matters, certain AI vehicles also receive weight reductions as the game progresses, resulting in cars such as the Caterham Super Seven R500R effectively boasting 500 horsepower while weighing significantly less than 500 pounds. Other lightweight options with great power potential, like the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/2 Stradale and Jiotto Caspita (which is really impressive, by the way), also begin to dominate around this time. Without acquiring one of these game-changing cars for your garage, competing becomes quite difficult.

      The Ford GT was still a concept when Sega GT 2002 was released, and it appeared on the game cover alongside the GT40 Mk II and GT90.

      While all of this may seem nostalgic, especially considering that this game is 23 years old, some contemporary racing games employ similar tactics. In Gran Turismo 7, for example, you might notice that AI-controlled cars in certain races can easily leave you behind, especially in the game's many catch-the-rabbit races where the lead car completes laps that are literally seconds quicker than the rest. This too is a result of an artificial speed boost at play. You can lessen this effect by selecting the Easy difficulty level in GT7’s settings, but competitive sim racers typically don’t shy away from high stakes. Personally, I have no qualms about taking the easier route. Regrettably, there is no similar option in Sega GT, so as the saying goes, you’ll just have to practice and improve.

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