Project Gotham Racing

"Kudos to this racing gem!"

Racing fans unite! This is the game you've been waiting for. Project Gotham Racing is one of the best racing games ever made, period.

Graphics (10)- Look closely you'll probably miss a lot in this game. The detail is amazing! From reflections of buildings on your cars shiny finish, to real time damage from hitting that guardrail on your last slide. They've packed so much eye candy into this game that watching your replay is enough to keep you satisfied for a while. There are plenty of cars to unlock (over 25) and each one is an exact replica of the real life model.

Sound (10)- Everything about the sound is great. You can choose between listening to radio stations, CD's, or tracks that you've burned onto the hard-drive. The DJ's have accents of the country you're driving in, and they don't just play songs, they introduce the music, announce contest winners etc. The car sounds are nice also. From revving engines, to buckling metal you'll hear it all.

Control (10)- Ever play racing games and loose interest because your car just doesn't drive like you want it to? Not with Project Gotham. The controls are so precise it's amazing. Pressure sensitive accelerator and brakes gives you that added sense of realism. Use the handbrake to rack up Kudos on a tight corner. What you tell your car to do is exactly what will happen. The game makes control challenging with added features like fog, rain, and catching air, which makes your car uncontrollable. There's really no learning curve, once you remember the tracks layout you'll amaze yourself with some awesome slides and overtakes.

Features (10)- This game rewards you for playing longer! It tracks your: total miles driven, miles driven in each car, overall time spent racing, medals earned (bronze silver gold), and total Kudos earned. Project Gotham uses a unique scoring system called Kudos. Earn Kudos for great slides, overtaking cars, achieving a certain speed, etc. These Kudos are the key to unlocking new cars and challenges. Some might worry that there’s only 4 cities to drive in. Let me ease your mind. There are tons of tracks and layouts in each city. You’ll always see new scenery!

Replay (10)- Don’t expect to be done with this game in a weekend, or even a week. There are plenty of circuits to drive on, and you must achieve a bronze, silver, and gold on each one to complete the game. Race with up to 3 of your friends for house bragging rights. As addicting as this game is you’ll probably be playing for months to come.

In conclusion, Project Gotham Racing is a must buy for any Xbox owner. Save your pennies and skip the rental!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/08/02, Updated 01/08/02