First Encounter

My first encounter with Project Gotham Racing 2™ has been an Austin Powers kind of experience. I keep hearing myself murmur, "Yeah, baby!" over and over and over as I play.

As a full-blown racing-game junkie, all I can say is, I can't get enough of Project Gotham Racing 2.

It's got every thing the original version had and much, much more—more cars, more music, more cities, more circuits, more ways to earn Kudos—and, when you play on Xbox Live, it's more fun than driving a jalopy on rain-slicked road.

Wet pavement … no problem.

I had extremely high expectations forProject Gotham Racing 2, and based on what I've seen while playing the build that's on display at E3, they have been exceeded—by miles and miles.

England-based Bizarre Creations, the game's developer, and publisher Microsoft Game Studios, took their time producingProject Gotham Racing 2. From what I've seen and played, they spent their time wisely.

If you are like me and have been longing for a new edition of the most popular racing title on the Xbox, the wait was worthwhile.

Stylish rides on the backstreet.

The original Project Gotham Racing was universally hailed for the way it looked, for how the cars handled, and for creating a totally unique racing experience. Improvements have been made in all three areas, and online play (via Xbox Live) has added even more to the mix. Now, that's what I call a win-win situation. The best simply got better.

Here's a breakdown of all the things the true gearheads are going to love about Project Gotham Racing 2:

• Playing on Xbox Live: I believe playing on Xbox Live will become the game's most popular and compelling feature. Not only do you get to compare your skills to players all across the globe online, in real time, but you also will be able to download "ghost" runs by highly-skilled players to watch, imitate, or race against.
• The new Kudos system: Not only do you earn points for styling, while sliding and thrashing your way around the turns, but you can also now earn Kudos for how well you draft during races, for the quality of the line you take through tight corners, and for keeping your car in pristine condition.
• System Link: Hate sharing the screen with your rival, but want to compete in a head-to-head setting without going online? Have your friends bring their Xbox consoles to your place, and compete in connected machines.
• A world-wide setting: True to the international flavor of the original, Project Gotham Racing 2 is set in cities across the planet, among them Florence, Moscow, Chicago, and Edinburgh.
• An expanded array of vehicles: Not only are there more cars available than there were the first time around, but now there's also more variety. You will have access to SUVs and vintage American muscle cars, as well as a bevy of other high-performing chariots.
• Increased JPM (jams per mile): Once again, you'll be able to tune into DJs from around the world while you're racking up Kudos, and you will be able to create your own personal playlists, using the exclusive Project Gotham Racing 2 CD player.
• Environments that rival reality: As hard as it was for me to believe it, the game environments are more detailed and realistic than they were in the original Project Gotham Racing. (I know, you're skeptical, but you'll have to take my word for it until you see it for yourself.)

While some of the changes and improvements are immediately obvious, others are more subtle, like the improvements to the A.I. cars' performance or the way the "feel" of the road's surface is conveyed through the controller. When your vehicle travels from an asphalt-covered section of the course to a section made of concrete or cobblestones, the controller rumble changes to fit the surface— Project Gotham Racing 2 lets you see and feel the road.

Comfort is classic.

After racking up a couple hours playingProject Gotham Racing 2, I dusted off my copy of the original, which did not offer this effect. I thought the car physics in the first version were nearly perfect, but without the rumble effect used in Project Gotham Racing 2, they seemed primitive and oversimplified. I quickly went back to playingProject Gotham Racing 2.

I'm under orders not to reveal too much about some details, like the entire list of cities that will be featured in the game or the full lineup of the cars, but I can assure you that both lists are extensive.

The only problem I anticipate having with Project Gotham Racing 2 involves my wife and 11-year-old son. I hope they won't force me to do anything drastic, like barricading myself in the family room (is that ironic or moronic?) until I crack the 100,000 Kudos barrier.

All I want to do now is play Project Gotham Racing 2.

By Keith Procter