Review: Project Gotham Racing 4
Posted by Adam MacDonald on October 26, 2007
Format: Xbox 360
Dev: Bizzare Creations
Pub: Microsoft
Players: 1-2 (Offline), 1-8 (System Link)
Online: Multiplayer (1-8), Downloadable Content
Certificate: 15+
Us petrolheads have been having a good time of it recently, haven’t we? Forza 2, DiRT, Sega Rally. They’ve all been excellent. And we’ve still got Burnout Paradise to come. So far this year, Forza’s been the best, no doubt. But now the king has returned. And he wants his throne back.
The last Gotham, PGR 3, was unarguably superb, and the best driver on 360 until Forza 2’s release. And, at first look at PGR 4, you know it’s kept that same old magic. The trick with a sequel is to take what was good of the previous one, and then set about improving what was perhaps not so good. Getting the balance right is tricky, as what you do not want to is have a new game exactly the same as the old one, or have a new game that cuts all ties with its predeccessor. But Bizzare have managed to avoid those pitfalls. And in that respect, PGR 4 is superb.
The most obvious improvement is the graphics. I mean, PGR 3 was no dog, but next to its big brother, its pixelated and jumpy. Bizzare have really taken advantage of the 360’s power. The cars themselves, all real of course, look stunning, but the game’s real beuty is in the details. In older racers, 5th gen perhaps, the crowd were nothing more than some cardboard cut-outs of racing fanatics. But in PGR 4, you get the impression that each spectator has been individually created by a team of highly skilled monkeys.
The trackside detail is truly astonashing. But the new Gotham has one more trick up its sleeve. And it’s not something I’d usually be happy about. Its the rain. And the fog. And the snow, ice, wind. In fact the weather in general. It’s just astounding.
It’s not just the graphics that have been improved either. PGR3 had roughly 80 cars, but PGR4 has over 120, including, for the first time, motorbikes. For me personally, it’s not that great an addition as I’ve never been that interested in bikes, but others will be thrilled and it makes a nice change from 4 wheels. Yes, you can fall off, but it’s not as easy to as it is in MotoGP ‘07. And the bikes give PGR4 it’s greatest moment.
I don’t usually do a ‘best bit’, as it’s hard to choose in good games, and in poor ones it’s hard to find any good bits at all. But I don’t think there can be any doubt over PGR4’s highlight. Dashboard view (Are you listening Turn 10? Dashboard!) on a bike in the rain is one of the greatest moments in racing game history.
The kudos system has been improved too, as has the track design. And the online and multiplayer have also seen enhancements. It all sounds jolly great and exciting, doesn’t it? But wait. Because it’s not all good news.
The damage is the a weak point, and next to Forza 2, it’s so poor, it may as well not exist. Also, the tracks, although improved, are still based on cities with no real race tracks except the Nürburgring. It’s no great loss, but some may be ticked off and the likes of Gran Turismo has led us to expect better. As it has done with the cars. GT4 had over 700 cars and even Forza 2 had 300. PGR4 fails to make it to triple figures. But I guess it does have the Ariel Atom so it’s not so bad.
All in all, this is a stupendous game. A real testament to how good driving games can be. Compared to Forza 2, it’s equally as good in terms of the actual racing, but with the weather and lighting effects, it just edges it, and makes a triumphant return to its throne.
Jusgement:
One of the most realistic and enjoyable racers ever developed. Dashboard view. On a bike. In the rain. Driving heaven. 93.
