Racing fans were greeted to a new type of racing title on the original Xbox when PGR was released. This racing game not only went for high speed and fancy cars, it also awarded players for finesse and taking the turns the right way. For most fans it was an instant hit thanks to the part arcade and part sim combination; and those sweet cars and tracks made the game a must own for many.

There are some out there who either hate PGR or love it and perhaps this is because while the damage is cosmetic, the Kudo system is rewarding but can be strict. It takes time to get the hang of the right amount of speed and braking to do well in PGR and this makes it have appeal. I personally enjoy the challenge and throughout the original and the sequel I liked the changes but wanted more. Everyone has read about Project Gotham Racing 3, one of Microsoft and Bizarre’s launch titles. We heard about the Gotham TV feature, the new tracks, the brand new online features, and more cars. The question is after 2 games in the series is the third worthy of being a flagship title for the 360? Read the Full Project Gotham Racing 3 review to find out.

Gameplay

PGR 3 has a ton of new features but the gameplay has not really changed. The solo career mode still requires you to place in the target position or higher while raking up kudos to rank up and buy new cars. The major change is now you get to pick which car to race each event in and the change is for the better. At first your choices are limited but as you earn kudos and rank up you start filling your garages up with the sweetest cars ever created. You also will see more prototypes added in this version and one change that may take a little bit to get used to. Porsches are in the game but since another company has the exclusive rights to the name they are under another manufacture known as RUF. This is a minor detail and not the first time a game had to substitute a name to allow them to be in the game. The details are fantastic including the way the light reflects off the cars. Even paint changes colors depending on how the sun hits it. They look incredible. Players will also see a few new angles for racing. In the cockpit you will see twice the details of any of the past versions.

The solo career is impressive and the rankings are still the same. You can go for steel, bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Each level is harder and the rewards are greater. They changed up the challenges a bit and while keeping all the favorites, added a few new ones to add variety. Racers will find themselves in such location as New York , Las Vegas, and Germany; and that’s just touching on a few of the places. I will say the solo mode feels the same and I don’t mind that although I do miss the arcade mode, which was fun but also added more ways to grab kudos to buy cars. The car list is huge and garages are added instantly when you fill each one up. Of course as fun as the solo mode is, the online mode is where fans of the series want to play the most. Supporting eight players, it seems a bit weak being a next-gen system but now you have new modes and can even add A.I cars. There are two online modes including playtime where all cars are open except for the special ones that need a certain number of kudos earned to unlock them and you just race for fun. This mode is great and the host can set it up for several different game types and conditions. Then you have the online carreer which will be covered in the Xbox live section. Gamers needing a break can hop on Gotham TV and watch their friends race in carrier mode or hop on the heroes channel and see the best of the PGR 3 racers battling it out. While at first this mode seemed more of a gimmick, I have to admit watching some of the races can really help teach new ways of cornering and how to keep a lead. It really is amazing and looks like a live TV broadcast.

They did change the cone challenges and made it a bit harder, sort of back to the first game and that I really was glad to see. It just seemed too easy to rack up too may kudos in the last one so most gamers will like the change. The rest of the events are pretty much the same but with new tracks and all the great scenery the game is amazing and plays very smooth. Each car has the same listing as before and the amount of cars is probably doubled from PGR 2. The favorites are back but a few have a new look or special paint and this offers more for long time fans to enjoy. The details are great but one thing that had me a little disappointed was the fact the damage is still cosmetic. While it still is a challenge and at times harder than the rest of the series, it will have something to challenge any level of racer out there. Of course you want to get as many cars in your collection as possible and that’s half the fun. The other half is learning to drive those high powered beasts with control and that is a bit harder. Thanks to the way the 360 is designed you can take a break or switch music with a simple push of the silver 360 logo. Earning the achievements is not easy and will take even a master a long time to get them all.

I had mentioned that the solo mode felt familiar and this was not knocking the game at all. I like the way it is laid out. I would have liked to see my favorite tracks from San Francisco added but I have a feeling this may be available later as a downloadable content. It is a huge game and offers plenty of new options. One new option is taking photos of your cars. Of course this is not just for looking at them all and admiring your skills. There is an achievement bonus for taking the right pictures. The same goes for the Gotham TV mode and even buying and collector cars. If you get tired of racing the normal tracks, they have added in a track builder so you can create your own tracks and race them off or online with friends. They really added enough new options to make this worth the hype and the wait for fans if PGR 3. There are times when a game builds up hype only to disappoint and thankfully PGR 3 lives up to the hype and then some and I can’t say that about many games that come along.

Control / Playability

PGR 3 has the same layout as the rest of the series. Although due to the new controller, it seems to play smoother and handles a bit better. Overall the new shoulder buttons and layout seem to have added to the game’s controls. You now can switch views easier, look back at the guy right on your tail and still keep control of the car. The learning curve to get the basics down is about 15 minutes tops even for those brand new to the world of PGR. Of course mastering the combos and the multipliers will take a while. I can’t say enough about the smooth controls and the way they made the camera easier to adjust. Perfectly laid out controls makes playing it enjoyable and hard to put down and shows Bizarre has really out-done themselves this time. You may find the hardest part of the controls is getting used to being able to go back and fourth to the dashboard or your music without needing to stop the game and make adjustments then restart.

Xbox Live

I touched on the live aspect just a bit but there is a lot more to the XBL part. As in the last one, you will be connected to live while in the solo mode for records and ghost options. It also will show you your rank and how you did against the rest of the players. Nothing different than the last one really in this one area, but that’s just the start. In the playtime mode you and up to seven friends race and have fun where all cars are unlocked except for those already mentioned. This mode is great but won’t allow you to earn kudos or advance your ranking online. It was meant for fun and the name fits the host has full control and can change the race types with ease. You have a boot button and the option for friends only and several modes including a sort of capture the flag mode, more like capture the track mode really. In this gameplay type the fastest driver that passes a stretch of the track owns that part until someone beats your time. You earn a point for every section you own. There is also an elimination mode and, while it may sound boring to get eliminated, you can then hop in any car and watch them from the driver’s aspect or outside view. Of course, then there is the normal racing mode and you can add A.I cars.

The online play is great and no lag issues have been discovered that I could see. Of course if the host has a lousy connection, this would change that but that should be a given by now. I would still have liked to see 12-16 racers instead of 8, but I can see why it would have been difficult with the amount of details and the complicated graphics of the tracks and cars combined. Gotham TV is not just a gimmick and yes I already said that but after watching a few times, it can become addictive. It runs so smooth it has to be one of the neatest features to be added. The lobbies are easy to join but you need an invite for playtime mode. In the online career mode you will be automatically matched with racers of the same level. It allows you to see if you have the skills to beat real racers instead of A.I cars. Again some may find this a little hard to get used to, but I like the way they decided to make the modes separate. It adds a more realistic aspect since now you’re racing for rank and bragging rights. The number one complaint about the last game was the fact people would only race with certain players and rank up quickly. This eliminates the problem and makes the ranking more even for all. Online play is flawless and really shows how much time was spent to make the game a showcase title.

Graphics / Presentation

This section will be in two parts and comments will be added by Jason and Gronar. Since we all know the game is in High Definition, I will cover my thoughts from the normal aspect. The details of the tracks are mind blowing. People are watching you race and will react if you get too close to the safety rails. Flash bulbs will go off if you make a great maneuver. Of course every track has its own life to it. In Vegas you will see the neon lighted strip and all the famous landmarks. At night the sky will look great and even show off the different times of night. You may see the horizon light in one race or darker in the next. The day races offer some great graphical effects like paint that changes depending on where the sun hits it or the heat of the car. No game has ever been able to pull that off and it looks very cool. Each car looks real and the paint jobs are well-done. They made every little detail of the car stand out right down to the logos or special edition decals.

In each city you will be greeted to new scenery and at times it’s hard to not want to look at the landmarks or the buildings. Everything stands out and looks real. Nothing looks cut-out and just pasted in for a cheap way of adding details. You will think you are in Vegas or New York. Even the asphalt of the track will change during a race. Many people are saying the game does not look good if you do not have a high def TV and while I am not trying to be rude, they are wrong! The graphics in every aspect of the game are amazingly realistic and really will make anyone want a 360 that does not already own one. Gotham TV will fool anyone if they pop in and see a race going on; it’s that hard to tell if it is real or a video game!

PGR 3 on HDTV
The High Definition graphics of PGR3 are an impressive sight to behold. One thing that has always hindered me in racing games was the draw distance. In PGR3, you can see all the way down the Las Vegas strip, it’s really incredible. I originally was running my 360 at the 720p setting, but I switched it to 1080i and noticed the image might not be progressive scan, but it seemed just a little sharper at that setting so I have left it there.

All of the cities look almost as life like as there real life counterparts! When driving in New York you can see the Empire State Building in all it’s majesty as part of the background. The lights of Las Vegas at night are truly a sight to behold. I’ve never been to London, but I’m sure those of you reading this who have and will soon be playing the game will be sure to agree with me.

The famous Nurburgring is absolutely stunning. From the forest to the dips in the road, the green grass on the sides of the track, everything is fantastic at HD resolutions! Forza and PGR2 portrayed the ‘ring nicely, but this just puts them to shame with the vivid colors and gorgeous environments. If you want some serious eye candy for your new 360, don’t pass up Project Gotham Racing 3!

Audio

PGR 3 has a decent default soundtrack but most will opt to stream music while racing. You can adjust the settings to fit any size room and the best part is there is no feedback of other players’ TV or surround sound system. You have complete control over how much of the game’s effects you hear and the music by a simple adjustment. Every car sounds different, even the tires sound different. Here again, there is nothing to complain or wish they had added. I will say that at the start of the online games, there maybe a slight echo between gamers but this clears up and is actually something Microsoft is working on and has nothing to do with the game.

Replay Value

For racing fans that like a mix of arcade and sim-style, racing PGR 3 was made for them. It offers a solid and challenging solo mode as well as 2 great online modes in addition to Gotham TV. The fact you can re-race and try for the top record will offer plenty of replay value. The amount of cars to buy and collect is staggering. PGR 3 proves that sequels can be better if time is taken and its done right. Racing fans, die-hard or just those who enjoy running a few races will love the way the game is setup and all it has to offer.

Overall Score

Overall Score: 9.0/10 [not an average]

Additional Comments

The game is a mix of arcade and sim-style racing and the emphasis is on taking the turns the right way to score the big points. It may take some that are used to arcade only racing to adjust but the time will be well spent. To enjoy PGR 3 you just need to adjust your mind set. It offers plenty. It really offers a challenge and can be enjoyed by everyone and is a blast to play online!

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