Project Gotham Racing 3

"A realistic racer...with an arcade twist!"

It's worth mentioning right up front that I'm not a big racing game fan. That being said, there's just no way I can describe to you the sheer enjoyment I've experienced while playing through PGR3. The game takes the realistic physics of driving these exotic beasts around different locales, and manages to add in an arcade style of play control to form an absolutely astonishing racing experience. Not only that, but the game also shows the type of polish that you'd never expect to witness in a launch title for a brand new console. The game's easy enough for even unexperienced racing gamers, but offers enough challenge in "hardcore" mode to blow even the most veteran PGR player off the track.

Graphics: (9/10) - There's no denying PGR3 is absolutely gorgeous in almost every facet of the game's visuals. You won't find a more detailed or dynamic racing game on any system around. Every single one of the many exotic cars found in the game show an attention to detail that's bordering on staggering. Even when the cars are in full motion zooming down the track, they all manage to look terrific. As if the good looking cars weren't enough, PGR3 also surrounds you with some of the most lavish and realistic-looking environments you can imagine, ranging from the strip in Las Vegas to downtown London at night. The developers have made some very creative uses of the Xbox 360's special effects to give the cars and surroundings a truly realistic look of real-time lighting and it adds a level of speed and realism that's just never been seen before in a racing game. To top it all off, PGR3 also gives you a new racing perspective of actually sitting inside the car behind the wheel complete with authentic car dashboard and dirty windshields. No detail was spared when the developers decided to make this the most realistic racing game ever crafted. If you're looking for a game to show off your brand new Xbox 360 to your friends, this is the game to get. Not only does the game run at an unbelievably smooth framerate, it also manages to do so at an incredible rate of speed. Simply amazing!

Sound/Music: (9/10) - If you can't find at least a few music tracks that you like in PGR3's soundtrack, then you're one finicky music lover. Ranging from alternative rock all the way through the scale to classical Mozart, PGR3 has a very wide range of songs from a truly wide assortment of artists. Each song seems to set the tempo of the race perfectly, even the more melodic and relaxing classical tunes. But as amazing as the soundtrack is, it's really the ultra-realistic sound effects that make the game shine. Each and every car has its' authentic engine noise duplicated to perfection. From the gutty roar of the GTR, to the Indy-style squeal of the Ferarri F50 GT, it all comes together to make you feel like you're actually inside the car itself. It's just incredible what the sound developers were able to accomplish when putting these realistic sound effects together, and the work was well spent as players now have the true car sounds to go with the sights in the game. PGR3 has one of the most complete and engaging video game soundtracks you're ever likely to encounter in a video game and shows what can be done when the time and effort is properly put into it.

Gameplay: (9/10) - It's difficult to describe the gameplay in PGR3 because it's honestly smack dab in the middle of two different types of racing games. The physics in the straight ahead approach of the game lends itself to more of a racing simulation, but somehow the developers have taken all of the nit-picky racing details and reformed them around an arcade-style control system. What you get is a very realistic looking and feeling racing game, but with the ease of use and all-out fun of an arcade racer. It all manages to come together quite seamlessly, and makes playing the game possible even for those not accustomed to racing games. The game also gives you a range of choices in difficulty for each race ranging from the super-easy "novice" setting all the way up to the insanely challenging "hardcore" setting. Gamers of all abilities will find something to love about PGR3.

What would a racing game be without the ability to buy cars. And PGR3 has some of the most powerful, not to mention beautiful, cars you could ever dream of owning. As you win races and accomplish tasks in the game, you will acquire credits. You can use these credits to purchase new cars along the way, including the million+ credit "A" rated cars. The only thing lacking in the game that might be sorely missed by some gamers is the lack of being able to customize your cars. You can buy them, but you can't change them, except for the color of the body when you first purchase it. But let's face it, customization has never been a point of the PGR series, as the series has always made the actual racing the focal point of the game leaving these expendable optional features to other racing games.

Online: (9/10) - The online play is actually one of the game's stronger points, if you can believe that. Not only does the game play lag-free, but it also uses the matchmaking system to automatically place you in races with other players of your same ability level. This way you won't get thrown into a race with the hardcore racers and get blown off the track plus it also gives you a chance to start slow and work your way up the ranks. Of all of the Xbox 360 games so far, PGR3 offers the smoothest overall online experience to date.

Overall: (9/10) - Simply put, PGR3 is one of, if not THE, strongest launch titles of the bunch. It shows polish, creativity, and offers one of the most realistic looking racing experiences you could ask for in a game. The game offers plenty to do, and serves up a 15+ hour offline gaming experience, not to mention limitless online options to keep any racing game fan happy for some time to come. The only downside that there seems to be found with PGR3 is that it might be awhile before we see PGR4. Whether you're a racing game fan or not, you owe it to yourself to at least give this game a try. It's one of the most stunning games to come along in, well, forever. Top shelf all the way!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/18/06