Product Description

Xbox's super-slick Project Gotham Racing lets players strap into more than 20 licensed cars and compete on more than 300 circuits in cities around the world. In addition, the game boasts 100-plus individual and wheel-to-wheel challenges, an arcade mode, and a four-person multiplayer option. You may want to put your seat back--this could be a long drive. In a unique twist, players are rewarded with a ratings system that scores their style, dexterity, and placement. Throw on the flare, boast your driving skills, and prove your daring side and you'll be rewarded.

Unlike Crazy Taxi's reward scheme, Project Gotham Racing is a true-to-life racing simulation (no bounding from rooftops here). The tracks--located in global centres such as London, Tokyo, New York, and San Francisco--are incredibly detailed, adding a thick layer of realism to the course. The cars are just as nicely rendered, each shining with the gloss of a fresh paint job and driving with the appropriate responses for its particular style. Those looking for a game with speed to match the hardware should add this racer to their list of Xbox must-haves.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6854 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Microsoft
• Released on: 2002-03-14
• Platform: Xbox

Amazon.co.uk Preview
Bizarre Creations, the developer of Metropolis Street Racer for Dreamcast, makes its Xbox debut with a sequel of sorts. Project Gotham Racing is very similar to its predecessor, except with refined gameplay mechanics and vastly improved graphics. The focus of this racer is unique and centred on the "kudos" system. Players are rewarded bonus points for sustaining slides, riding on two wheels, catching air, clean driving, and passing other drivers. Chaining any of these actions together results in high-scoring combinations. So in addition to trying to finish the race first, the player must worry about style and technique to succeed in this game. The kudos system is fun and definitely makes this game stand out from the competition.

Another highlight of the game is its detailed graphics. The more than 200 circuits based on London, Tokyo, San Francisco, and New York are extremely authentic. Those familiar with the areas are sure to do a double take at the numerous courses. The game's cars are also beautifully rendered and feature impressive reflection and lighting effects.

Gameplay is quite diverse with quick race, arcade race, kudos challenge, time attack, and multiplayer modes. Kudos challenge alone features nine different types of gameplay that ranges from races, time trials, and obstacle courses. The only significant drawback with this game is its difficulty. Most players will find that two-thirds to three-quarters of the way through, the game becomes exceedingly difficult to the point where it's more frustrating than fun. Despite this problem, it still provides dozens of hours of entertainment for most and a challenging time for the hard core. All players will find that Project Gotham Racing is a truly distinct and beautiful racer. --Raymond M Padilla

Customer Reviews

Review
This one's not for everyone. That being said, neither is the Tekken or Gran Turismo series. Both are games that require some heavy duty dedication to really find the beauty of their respective play mechanics, and Gotham is no different. It's a tough game that demands perfection more often than not, and to beat some particular races you'll be restarting the entire race the moment you've made an error. But if you're meticulous enough to enjoy getting into the meat of a deep title like this one, you'll find that the designers have really tried to create a new driving experience, and for the most part, succeeded in doing just that.

Though I wish the environments were handled with more flair, the cars are beautiful, and the gameplay is polished and fun. If you can get over the tight corners and lower-speed racing involved, you'll be amazed by the depth of the game, not to mention the technique required to master it. Add to that the most in-depth music manager of any Xbox game yet, and an amazing pack-in soundtrack, and you've got yourself an awesome reason to buy an Xbox as a racing fanatic.

Now THAT'S what I call a driving game!
I thought that this would be something like a PS Ridge Racer game - fun, but not as rewarding as a Gran Turismo/Sega GT2002 type game. But THEN...! Wow! Searingly fast. Nice learning curve. Enjoyable handling. You don't have to worry *too* much about racing lines, just drive hard.

The idea of boosting scores with kudos points (bonuses for powerslides, jumping and so on) are a touch of genius. I can drive sensibly (and pretty fast) in real life... what I can't do (and want to be able to do in the comfort and safety of my home on a games console) is hoon around in a car wrecklessly and enjoy driving dynamics Mr. Policeman would bang me up for outdoors.

This is a very fun game. Recommended!

Deep, addictive and probably under-rated
I'm constantly surprised by how much I want to keep playing this game. Reviews elsewhere seem to rate PGR as "good not great", moaning about the graphics (the cars are superbly rendered while the city environments are merely passable) but I think they've missed the point as the gameplay is the most involving I've come across in any driving title on any platform. Its a game that both offers variety and rewards single-minded persistence.

Though there are a number of game modes, it is the "Kudos Challenge" that just keeps me coming back for more. Just playing through all the different race types on all the different levels (unlocking new cars on the way) is challenging and fun in its own right. But on top of that you can easily find yourself concentrating on knocking another half-second off your hotlap time in Tokyo, or straining to beat one more car in the New York overtake challenge. Just because you know you can do it ...