Next gen Twisted Metal
The career mode is better than most racing games. You get a few primary objectives (ie: come in first) and some secondary optional ones. The more objectives you complete the more stuff (Weapons, cars, skins, levels) you unlock. This adds a ton of replay value to the game. Most levels aren't that hard and can be beaten in one or two tries. Later on they get pretty hard, and you have to work for it. And that's what makes it fun. You have to suck pretty hard to do bad at this game though, it's the first racing game I've ever liked and I'm on the last level right now.
The default controls suck, but once you change it to the legacy/classic controls that are pretty much the same as the 360 version it's smooth sailing.
The graphics are amazing. Full 1080p, high framerate except when you blow up large buildings, reflections and bump maps galore. And the detail in the cars, and the damage modelling. The city is highly detailed to, and it's just plain bliss to level it to rubble.
The audio is great. The rev of the engine, the explosions, the weapons firing, the soundtrack, all sound great in 5.1. I especially like the computer voice which sounds like Ziggy from Quantum Leap.
Some enhancements have been made over the 360 version. Most noticably a framerate increase, and a complete removal of the v-sync tearing which plagues many 360 games. You now can select both weapons rather than a weapon theme pack. The sense of speed is increased to the point where sometimes it's hard to process all that's wizzing by at break-neck speeds. SIXAXIS's superior triggers solve the Crazy Taxi finger pains associated with the Dreamcast style thin triggers of the 360 controller. Arena mode (which lets you drive around Twisted Metal style) is a very welcome addition, and is worth the price of admission alone. The turbo gauge no longer has to be full for you to use it, which is a major change. And there are now Twisted Metal style power ups like temporary infinite ammo or turbo, nuclear bombardment, health, etc. And last but not least, load times have received a significant upgrade.
Pros: It is in every way superior to the first game. Better graphics, controller, physics (environments are even more destructable), career mode is better than most racing games short of Gran Turismo itself. Arena mode is a lot of fun.
Cons: Some later levels get pretty difficult.