Ever since I started playing games I have always come across a blockbuster racing title for every console that I have owned. The SNES had the classic Mario Kart, the PlayStation had Gran Turismo and the Nintendo 64 had Diddy Kong Racing. It's become a tradition for each individual console to release a racing title that will better all of its competitors. In the case of the Xbox the rule hasn't changed, however instead of just bettering its predecessors Project Gotham Racing manages to take racing to a whole new level. The game manages to hit the perfect blend between arcade and simulation as it rockets you into the driving seat of some of the fastest cars in the world. If you are a fan of cars or just of great gaming in general then you will want pole position as you enter the driving seat of Project Gotham Racing!

I was unsure of what to expect of PGR; I had read many previews about the game and with Microsoft supporting development I was anticipating it whilst being cautious not to hype it up too much. Being a racing fan I have previously completed all 3 Gran Turismo games and had many hours of fun on Mario Kart 64. From the moment I opened the case for PGR I could sense the sweet air of success. With the inclusion of the epic companies Ferrari and Porsche I couldn't hide my excitement any longer and I had to try out what I was hoping would be one of greatest games of all time.

At the start of the game you are introduced with a superbly directed cut scene that shows off some of the cars you get to handle and it exposes some of the environments on offer. The cut scene wasn't designed using the in-game engine but the cars shown aren't too distant from the ones in the main game. The menus are very easy to navigate through and every section is self explanatory. A very clever addition to the game is the ability to change your driver's helmet and customise the licence plate on your car. If you go to the customise section before starting a race you will know that every little detail has been included to make the game stand out from the crowd.

At the start you are limited to only a small selection of cars but don't let this put you off, as there are some beauties deeper in the game to unlock. There are 25 cars available for control throughout PGR, which may not sound a lot but once you get hold of one of them you will know that Bizarre Creations opted for quality over quantity. The game physics for each car are without a doubt the most impressive I have ever experienced in a console game and full credit goes to Bizarre Creations for spending the time on the most important area of the game. Each car has a lot to offer; the early Porsche Boxter offers superb handling whilst the Porsche Carrera goes for speed over anything else. Having never driven a Porsche (she will be mine, oh yes she will be mine…) I can't really say that the car handles just like the real thing. However, from the basis of the game it seems that every car has been designed in conjunction with its real life counterpart and the final results are stunning.

There are over 200 circuits to race across and they are based in four different locations around the world. Be it the dark streets of LA, the rain and clouds of London, the brightly lit streets of Tokyo or the hills of San Francisco, you will be impressed with every aspect of every course. Some of the circuits are reversed or changed slightly, so you may be lured into the false sense of security in thinking that you know the course when in fact the next corner is only moments away as you burn your BMW over 120mph straight into the side of a barrier. Possibly the best addition to the game is the car damage. For those who have played the GT games, you will be aware that damage does not play a part in the gameplay; however, in PGR it does affect the outcome of your race and the damage modelling is very realistic. One other major area of the game is the Kudos points system. By performing slides and jumps whilst avoiding the barriers you gradually build up your Kudos. By collecting a certain amount of Kudos you can unlock new areas and new cars to race in.

Every possible detail has been included to make this a benchmark title. From the rewarding learning curve and the extensive lifespan to the great range of cars, you won't be disappointed with what's on offer. Previous racing games are made to look average compared to PGR, which is the highest compliment I can pay it. I can't stress enough just how good PGR really is. If you have never been a racing fan then I can't think of a better game to try. A mixture of speed and skill is required to succeed in all areas of the game but for both casual and hardcore gamers alike there is something in this game to be enjoyed. In the words of Microsoft "speed alone will not win this race" - however speed alone is all you need to get yourself down to the shops to pick up one of the most enjoyable games ever created!

As I mentioned above, the opening cut scene is very cinematic in its approach but it does not run off the in game engine. Is this a problem? No! When you begin your first race you will see the best-looking car models of any racing game, ever. Every reflection, dint and piece of dirt appears on your car as you race around the world collecting Kudos points. Unlike the GT series you don't get to modify the cars but when you see them in action it will have you in a cold sweat even thinking about opening the body of a Ferrari 360 Modena. The reflection effects need to be seen to understand the amount of detail involved and every object in the game is mapped so that it will reflect off the cars. If you look very closely during a race you can see the cars racing up behind you through the rear view mirror and if you go into first person mode the rear view mirror plays a crucial part of the racing.

The game environments are a little basic when compared to the cars; the environments are all bitmapped so they don't move and some of them even look two-dimensional. It seems that the developers wanted to concentrate on the cars and that the backgrounds were just a nice addition. It would have been good to see some interactive backgrounds that used the same graphical engine as the cars, because I am sure that if that had been the case then this would be the greatest looking video game of all time.

As it stands, the graphics are split down into two very contrasting categories. At one end of the spectrum you will find some of the most impressive effects used to map each car. However, the backgrounds lie at the bottom end of the spectrum as just an addition to the game. Taking everything into consideration, it wouldn't be fair if I didn't say that graphically this isn't in a different division to other games in this genre. When GT3 was released I couldn't believe how spectacular the game looked, however now it is just a mere contender to the number one driving sensation that is PGR.

In almost every area, PGR manages to excel and the sound is no different. Dolby Digital owners will be treated to what I would class as an audio masterpiece. The deep bass of the engines, the speaker-to-speaker transfer as cars approach from behind to overtake you and the custom soundtracks that blast out; it's simply fantastic. The deep bass of the engine kicking in will have your sub growling like an angry tiger. When you play the game for the first time, combining all of the different sound elements, you will wonder how some games seem to overlook the sound and leave one of the most important components almost untouched.

The radio stations in the game are taken from real radio stations across from each city the racing takes place in, but this doesn't mean that you have to listen to their (admittedly vast) collection of tunes. You can also copy your CDs to the Xbox hard drive and put your own soundtracks into the game, so that real presenters announce each song and do captions in between. Without a doubt, this not only impresses graphically but also manages to set new standards for other developers to try and reach.

It is always great to see a new console released and in the past most have waited to release their killer racing game. In the case of the Xbox, Project Gotham Racing was available as a launch title and if this is the start of a new era of video game racing then I am eager to put my foot on the accelerator and see more. This not only pushes the boundaries of racing games but it also sets new standards in almost every aspect. I urge you to get hold of this as soon as you can - it is simply the finest racing game around and a must-have for every Xbox owner; it is oozing with the kind of class, style and quality that you bought your Xbox for.

Reviewed by AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).