Go Go Gotham
Graphics:
Mmm tasty, the XBOX 360 allows for some very nice reflections and textures on the cars and tracks which bring racing games colser to real life than they've ever been.
Add in a silky smooth framerate that never stutters and a new in car view that adds even more to the immersion factor, and you've got a very pretty game indeed. If I had to find a negative it would be that it the levels still look kinda empty, you do have bystanders taking photos but that's it. And you sometimes notice textures loading up a little to late, and some may say it's not a big enough leap from PGR2, but still this is the best looking racer EVER!!.
The tracks are nicer this time in design and there is more of each city, meaning longer races and more varied and interesting routes. But there is not as many city's as in PGR2, four this time and Nuremberg makes a return to bring it up to 5.
Sound:
Great selection of tunes in this game from classical to Japanese pop it works very well if you like the styles of music on display here, I don't really like Banghra or some of the Hip hop stuff but I won't mark the game down for that, it's still a good selection of songs.
The sound effects are great for the cars, everyne has a different engine sound, and they all sound powerful and as they are meant to. The City streets are unusually quiet but that's the case in all racing games.
Playability:
This plays like...PGR2, the developers really should have tried to add a few more new things to the game as it's kinda like PGR2.5 instead of PGR3 but whatever it's still very fun to play.
This time around it's faster than ever, there is more opportunity's to drift around corners, and drifting seems easier thanks to wider roads and overall the game just seems more fun. The single player game could be longer but completing the game with all platinum medals will take a very long time as it's rock hard. Online play is as fun as ever with easy set up , online career and no lag, very nice.
Overall this game is probably the best launch title along with Call of Duty 2. It offers fun, impressive looking racing, has good replay value and is solid online. It may be a bit too similar to PGR2 for some peoples liking, but that was a good game and this is even better. My review score says 8.7 due to the marks I've given graphics, sound ect and I can't change that. So don't bother with the score, the real score is 9/10 a very nice racing game that is easily in my top 10 racing games ever made.
Burn rubber baby!!!