PGR3
Bizarre Creations Project Gotham Racing(PGR) was one of the finest titles to be released on the Xbox launch day over 4 years ago, the sequel appeared two years later and lived up to its hype. Now Project Gotham Racing 3 is a launch title for the Xbox 360 console and it's graphical and technical prowess showcase exactly what the Xbox 360 can achieve.
Jumping straight into career mode allows you to earn the credits to unlock plenty of cars that you will need to compete with the best over Xbox live. There are cone challenges, timed races and one on ones. Although these modes are pretty standard in racing games, the superior graphics and car handling system make them an enjoyable treat rather than a chore.There are plenty of opportunities to earn trophies and badges to increase points, which are uploaded onto the online leaderboards.
The cars handle superbly and you'll find that the only two buttons that you need are your left and right triggers, one to accelerate and one to break. Those new to the racing genre will initially find themselves sliding left to right into barriers and oncoming cars as they try to get to grips with the speed and controls of the cars. This soon passes as you become accustom as to when to break or loose the right trigger in order to navigate those awkward corners.The hand brake is a vital tool if you wish to rack up Kudos points.
Click for larger imagePGR3 leans heavily on Kudos points which are are earned by performing ‘tricks’. The more Kudos you gain, the more likely you are to unlock badges and trophies which will earn you those all important gamer points. Kudos is what makes PGR games more playable than any other racing game.These tricks include drafting other drivers, sliding around corners, overtaking other cars, lifting two wheels off the ground, catching air, performing 360s and many more. Easier tricks get smaller amounts of Kudos points whereas tricks, like 360s, get higher points. The exceptions are drafting and sliding as you gain more kudos depending on how long you are performing the trick. A great thing about the Kudos points is that you can make a combo of tricks which increase your multiplier, much like in the Tony Hawk games. This alone is very addictive.Badges can be earned by completing set objectives such as completing 10 races back to back or achieving 5 Kudos moves in a row. This keeps the action fresh and encourages you to play the game relentlesly in order to bag these goodies.
Click for larger imagePGR3 is arguably the best looking racing game ever made. The cars twinkle in the moonlight and the bonnets dazzle in the sunshine, the tracks are exact street re-creations of the likes of London, Manhatten and Las Vegas. Driving past Big Ben and the London eye has never felt so real, although the steets do feel somewhat lifeless. London is buzzing city yet the stunning graphics fail to capture the vibrancy of the capital, but who cares? Your primary objective will be to keep your car on the winding roads. If you get a chance to look around check out Las Vegas which dazzles with it's neon beauty and is a pure delight to ride around in night time mode.
The soundtrack is great and features the Chemical Brothers, and up-and-coming Indie Rock artists including Death Cab for Cutie.Whether it be hard rock, alternative or indie hip hop , this eclectic mix of popular music keeps the heart pumping on and off the track. Driving around Manhattan with the classical masterpiece that is Verdi's Requiem ringing through your ears is a heart warming experience.
Click for larger imageProject Gotham Racing 3 also offers online multiplayer via Xbox Live.Unless you have unlocked some of the Ferrari's in the single player campaign you will find it difficult competing in some online matches. The Ferrari appears to be the car of choice for experience racers and they will leave you chasing the pack in last position, unless you grab one for yourself.A new feature called Gotham T.V allows you to watch the best racers from around the World and offers you the chance to send them a friend's invite, you can then challenge them and make a fool of yourself. This is a welcome addition and provides some light entertainment in between racing.It's also great for picking up tips from the pros
The game does have its small flaws. It would be nice to be able to have a Super Sports Car series and really test the rubber on those tyres. The radio stations from previous games are also missing, but with the option to play whatever tunes you want, this isn't really an issue. The graphics are sometimes too dazzling and it's easy to lose concentration (is this a flaw?) and of course the damage modelling could have allowed for car wear and tear.
However Project Gotham Racing 3 is a sexy, neon infested, addictive racing game that lives up to previous PGR games.It's PGR2 with better graphics! Any fans of driving games will love it! Did I mention the superb in-car view ,which incredibly seems to add an extra bit of tension and realism, "am I really not driving this car?
