Papyrus/Sierra's Grand Prix Legends was nothing less than a breakthrough in racing sims upon its 1998 release, and it remains the most demanding, the most complex, and arguably the most realistic sim to date. Modeled on the 1967 Formula One season and including the legendary cars, drivers, and circuits from that great age of Grand Prix racing, it is not for everyone - the high horsepower and low grip of the F1 cars of the era makes them incredibly challenging to learn. Throw all your previous sim-racing experience out the window, and think finesse. No more shift without lift; no more jamming the brakes; no more mashing the accelerator. Frustration is inevitable - but once you've learned the ropes, the satisfaction is almost indescribable. Still, just because you can get around Watkins Glen or Monza at reasonably high speed without running off course doesn't mean you can turn more than one consistent lap at the notorious 14-mile Nürburgring circuit, or that you can flawlessly navigate the streets of 1967's Monaco. The learning never ends; there's always room for improvement. And there's always a thrill.

While a few authenticity issues exist fresh out of the box - Coventry and Murasama replace the proper Cooper and Honda teams, for instance - all such issues are easily corrected with third-party patches. In addition, there is plenty of setup assistance out there for newcomers, who will find in short order that a school of sorts has sprung up to encourage interplay among GPL racers as to how best these mighty beasts might be tamed in the garage.

If you're disturbed by the thought of hundreds of laps and many times that number of off-course excursions and spectacular crashes before even a glint of competitive promise, stay away from this little vixen. As well, if you wish to avoid the danger of an all-consuming addiction which will see you lying in bed mentally replaying lap after lap at Zandvoort, you are well advised to steer clear. If you're a serious sim-racer with a passion for the golden era of Formula One who has dreamed of besting Clark, Hill, Stewart, and Gurney at the 'Ring - and you've got a touch of masochism - then waste no more time. The ultimate experience awaits.

The advertising material for GPL perhaps best captures the aura:

In 1968, they changed the rules of Grand Prix racing to cut down on driver fatalities.

Welcome to 1967.