Finally I just "finished" one of my favorite games.
Well, what I meant was just unlocking both the simulation and arcade mode credits. There are other races that I still haven't competed in, and I haven't even finished any of the endurance events - when I entered the one at Laguna Seca, I found out it's gonna be 90 laps, then I was like, "Whoa, this would consume too much of my time. Better do this one another day." I exited immediately.
I didn't have the opportunity to finish it when I was a kid - one of the I-B license tests caused the game to stop responding when I entered it - it was the first one featuring the Viper GTS. (I believed that the problem was particularly with the car, because the game also stopped when I tried to see it via the Dodge dealership, but actually it was fine in the arcade disc - I managed to race against it several times) I couldn't enter some of the events then. I still remembered repeatedly racing my red RS200 in one of the Grand Touring Car races at Red Rock Valley Speedway, and reselling the Daishin Silvia again and again for easy money so I could buy and experience the cars I was interested in, especially those which were not available in arcade mode.
So I used "other means" to play GT2 again this time. I didn't use the copy from my childhood.
It felt good to finally get through the game and unlock the credits. It always seemed that something was missing in my experience of Gran Turismo 2. I really felt that it's one of my favorite games, without doubt, but there was always this disorienting feeling that lingered inside, knowing that it was a limited experience because of my somehow broken copy. I just wanted to re-experience it again, but with a sense of utter fulfillment.
I only managed to buy three cars in my playthrough this time, two were used, and one was new. The first one was my 1986 MR2 in Blue Mica, which was also my first car when I played the simulation mode during my childhood. Another one was an Impreza STI Type R Ver. IV. Then the Ford RS200. I did manage to race a lot in the bonus cars I earned. Yes, I did use overpowered, superior cars in some races, giving me unfair advantages. But still, it finally felt good to be able to fully experience Gran Turismo 2 at last.