Project Gotham Racing

"Best racing game ever? I think so.."

The follow up to the rather nice street racing sim on the Dreamcast, Metropolis Street Racer, Project Gotham Racing has arrived on the Xbox. And quite frankly, it blows its predecessor out of the water.

GAMEPLAY

Take your car out on the roads of one of four famous cities from around the world. Take part in street races, time challenges and one on one challenges against some of the best vehicles ever produced.

This game is spot on. Handling, power sliding and overall feel of the vehicles are perfect. The AI on your opponents is excellent, if a tad aggressive... (they’ll do anything to make sure you don’t win)

The difficulties of the races start off being relatively simple too, to ease you into the world of street racing.

Overall, it’s nigh on perfect.

GRAPHICS

Amazing. Zooming around my home town of London never looked so lifelike. The vehicles are modelled extremely accurate, with visible interiors and reflective effects in place. Trackside detail is staggering. Everything is so perfect.

The frame rate never drops below 60 frames per second, even when you have five computer controlled opponents on screen.

Also, your vehicle takes visible damage, something that many racing games as of late do not offer *cough* GT3... *ahem* It looks great too. Great fun on the replays showing your £100,000 Ferrari with both wing mirrors hanging off!

Overall, It’s probably the best looking racing game there is.

SOUNDS

Superb sounds throughout, Engine noises are very accurate (Although i’ve never heard the V12 grunt of a Ferrari F50, you understand what I mean...)

Ambient noise is excellent, even more so if you are lucky enough to own a 5.1 Dolby Digital Decoder, as you’ll be able to hear your opponents in the rear channels as they swarm all over your exhaust.

The soundtrack is okay, with tunes from Gorillaz, Iggy Pop and The Chemical Brothers, as well as built-in radio stations, to enhance that street racing feel.

Of course, if you don’t like any of the songs that the game has to offer, you can always rip your own tunes to the Xbox Hard Drive and listen to them as you tear through the dimly lit streets of downtown Tokyo.

Overall, the sounds/soundtrack is excellent.

LASTABILITY

This game will last you for ages. 200+ tracks, 29 cars, a million different challenges and races, you’ll be hooked.

PROS

-Excellent Graphics
-Awesome sound
-Lots of races to be won.

CONS

-Every other racing game you play after Project Gotham Racing will seem dull in comparison.

Rent or Buy?

You’d be a fool not to buy this.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 04/05/02, Updated 04/05/02