Project Gotham Racing 2

"What's all the fuss about?"

As a racing fan, I was really excited about this game, needless to say I was let down. Owning all the major consoles, and playing racing games since I was three, I have some reference to what I'm saying. After playing this game, Gran Turismo 3 still stands at the top of my racing mountain.

Graphics: 8/10
The cars and tracks of the game are good, just not exceptional, the graphics are not what they should be. After two years and a graphically better system this game has little to offer that hasn't been seen on Gran Turismo a couple of years ago. One plus is the damage, the way the cars are slowly picked apart from bad driving is done extremely well.

Sound: 9/10
This is where the game does take GT3 since you can import your own music here and don't have to listen the developer's choice of music. The car sounds are good and collision could be better but is such a small error that it is almost unnoticeable. But the game has a good score just not great.

Gameplay: 6/10
In my personal opinion, I think the game acts too slowly. Too often cars wouldn't turn no matter how slow or fast I was going. This was especially true with many of the weaker American cars. Also the game seems to have little difference between cars that have different drivetrain.

Replay: 5/10
All these points come from online play. I think that the entire game seems like the GT3 licence tests. Also the lack of the car customizing is a huge factor to many serious racing game fans. There is just something special about perfectly gearing you car to your own preference, this game lacks this feature, which I think is a major part of any simulation racing game. And for the game using a duel layer DVD there should be more cars.

Overall: 5/10
I don't think this game is worth it's money. If I want to race I'll play GT3 and would suggest the same to sim racing fans, if you don't have a PS2 get the also value priced Sega GT 2002 online. Both of the latter games are cheaper and better simulations of real racing games(instead of the car damage). So unless you don't like fixing up your own car and have an extra thirty dollars get this but otherwise stick to the classic and it's sega clone. Final statement, not worth the money, seriously.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 02/02/04