So far, it looks like the Xbox 360 owner
isn't being neglected when it comes to racing titles. Aside from
Microsoft's excellent Forza Motorsport 2 released earlier this year, the
console's base is being treated to its second Project Gotham title in a
little less than 2 years, and it's a solid installment. Far from being a
cut and paste copy of the first game, this is a robust and truly
next-generation installment that brings some exciting new elements to the
table while not neglecting the things that make the game so appealing in
the first place. One of the more interesting elements of the new game is
its enhanced Kudos system, which has been expanded in a number of ways. In
addition to earning these points in the standard fashion, such as passing
other vehicles, completing a section without contact, and drifting, you
can also earn additional Kudos Stars. These are earned not merely by
completing maneuvers, but doing so with style, for example, you earn a
higher Kudos Star ranking by holding a drift longer or burning out after a
crash. It's been implemented even better this time around and players will
find entire modes where the object is to earn Kudos Stars instead of
merely finishing the races. This helps to test not only a player's skill
and helps to make the driving experience feel even more natural and
enjoyable. As you might expect, this makes for a more entertaining and
exciting game with an even deeper sense of driving with flair and style.
That's not to say that PGR 4 is only
about showing off special moves. In fact, the game feels quite
conventional at first. Players will find a familiar selection of courses
and cars and as usual, can select from a variety of urban locations from
which to race, including returning favorites including London, Las Vegas,
New York and Tokyo along with new locations Quebec, Shanghai and Macau.
These varied locations offer plenty of challenges on each of their
courses, with each offering about a dozen different routes to drive
through. Almost as important to the player's success are the race types -
with range from standard wheel-to-wheel battles, to elimination and
checkpoint races which add to the variety. Players can choose to race
these in a variety of modes ranging from standard single race arcade mode,
to multi-race career modes. As players complete these different modes,
they'll also unlock additional levels and difficulty settings. When this
happens, you are able to choose from additional vehicles and challenges in
the main modes. There are several levels of difficulty included in the
game ranging from amateur to expert, and the requirement to completing
these and winning medals scale up as well. PGR 4's later stages can be
incredibly difficult and require a great deal of skill and concentration.
Adding
to the game's depth and style even further are its selection of vehicles.
While it might seem like the usual selection of high-end exotic sportscars
are the main thrust of PGR 4, there are some interesting vehicle
selections, such as classic rides from the 50's and 60's, oddball
experimental choices and of course, the many motorcycle bikes as well.
These come from a variety of European, American and Japanese
manufacturers, and each one can be customized with their unique paint jobs
and decals for a unique look. This might seem interesting, but rather dull
in the abstract, but once you get on the track and begin racing these very
different vehicles and classes side-by-side, you can see that it
significantly and dramatically affects the strategy and techniques you use
during the race. Each vehicle type brings its own mechanics and style to
the race, and knowing how they operate and maneuver around the track adds
an interesting new strategy to each race. Far from being another
predictable sequel, the actual gameplay in Project Gotham 4 feels at
points completely different from previous installments, which makes for an
excellent change of pace. You can definitely feel the difference between
the vehicles now, and the contrasting racing styles between the higher end
sportscars, and their smaller bike competitors adds more credibility to
the developers's attention to racing style. The fact that each vehicle
feels quite authentic and controls accurately only adds to the game's
sense of style.
As in previous games, each course has
been rendered with meticulous attention to detail, making for an
incredibly realistic experience. However, PGR 4 goes the extra mile and
implements some impressive new weather and lighting effects ranging from
rainy nights, intense thunderstorms, icy and snowy conditions and fog.
Each of these new areas brings with it a new set of challenges and the
weather conditions offer plenty of challenge in and of themselves. On the
whole, PGR 4's graphics engine has been refined from the last installment
in a number of ways, with more detailed vehicle rendering, better lighting
effects and improved track designs making for an exciting and challenging
experience. Add the unpredictability of the weather effects and the racing
in PGR 4 is even more intense than before and helps to make the gameplay
that much more exciting and visceral. One interesting thing that's been
carried over from the previous games is its widely varying soundtrack that
includes everything from hip-hop, to dance and techno and even some
classical tracks. This means you're more than likely to find a soundtrack
that fits your style effortlessly. A series of stylish and easy to
navigate menus wraps around the game and helps to blend the different
modes, tracks and vehicles together effortlessly, making for an excellent
package with slick, hip production values overall.
PGR
4's basic structure and modes of play are fairly predictable at this point
and you're probably wondering why you should invest in yet another racing
game. There's little here that you don't expect but, the latest
installment in the series is excellent. This isn't due to its admittedly
minor innovations, instead it's appeal lies in the game's superb execution
of existing conventions. The newly re-emphasized Kudos system adds to the
game's personality, and this focus on driving style instead of speed
allows Project Gotham 4 to differentiate itself and stand apart from the
pack. Its still feels a little derivative, but this familiarity allows the
player to appreciate its approach to driving even more. This allows the
game to springboard in some different directions, with the motorcycles the
center of attention. They control and feel very different from the
standard 4 wheel sportscars players have become accustomed to and learning
them is makes for an almost entirely new challenge that gives the gameplay
a refreshingly different appeal. Looking at the broader view, it's obvious
that plenty of thought went into PGR 4's design.
There's a seamless approach that ties
all the game's elements together. This is evident from the well-balanced
selection of vehicles, to its superior implementation of the newly
rejuvenated Kudos system makes for a much more enjoyable experience. The
game's options are quite extensive, with quick bursts of arcade style fun
mixing with deeper tournament and multiplayer modes to create one of the
most engaging titles in the franchise to date. This is easily the
most-accomplished and deepest title yet, with an extensive array of
vehicles, modes and tracks to choose from, there are endless options at
your disposal. Where the game really succeeds is on the pavement, where
players will find themselves in control of beautifully rendered, accurate
recreations of exotic sports cars thrusting through realistic urban
locations with incredible handling and some intense battles. Project
Gotham 4 could have gone off the track with the inclusion of motorcycles
and more exotic two-wheeled vehicles, but instead the added visceral speed
thrills add an entirely new dimension to the gameplay. Superficially, it
might seem a bit too close thematically and stylistically to the previous
PGR titles, but this installment features many under-the-hood revisions
and significant changes that make it well worth your time.
- Michael Palisano
Grade:
B+
