E3 2003: Project Gotham 2 Hands On

Our impressions from Bizarre Creations' stunning sequel to PGR. New E3 screenshots inside.

Project Gotham Racing won't see the light of day until Fall 2003, but it already looks like checkered-flag material. From a visual standpoint, PGR 2 doesn't take a back seat to any game, and that includes Sony's flagship racer, Gran Turismo 4.

It's hard to imagine how the game could look better than the original, but it does. We're not talking about a quantum leap forward in graphics, but everything from the reflections, to the particle effects, to the glorious car models has been tweaked or improved.

As in PGR, driving in PGR 2 places a premium on fun, engaging handling, but the physics have been reworked so that each of the many vehicles at your disposal offers a unique feel.

We only road-tested the Ferrari (what did you expect?), but the game handled beautifully, complete with an eye-watering sense of speed and powerslides that featured more used rubber than the Playboy mansion.

Of course, PGR 2 really isn't about graphics, or driving physics - it's about the harrowing beat-down we'll be delivering via Xbox Live. The game is getting the full online treatment, virtually guaranteeing we won't stop playing until PGR 3 is released.

Bizarre is staying relatively mum about the specifics, but a few things we know for sure. Gamers will be able to race online against up to 8 other players. Moreover, we'll be able to download "ghost" runs by other players, meaning you can learn from the maestros and belittle your friends. At E3, we were able to race against the best ghost run by anyone at the show that day (he toasted me, thank you very much).

The developer also said downloadable cities and tracks will become available, and there are still other online goodies waiting to be divulged.

Even without the extra environments, PGR 2 features twice as many cars and cities as the original. Expect more variety, too, with SUVs and classic cars sharing the road with Porsches, Ferraris, and the other street rockets from the first game.

Honestly, PGR 2 looked so good at the show we think it would take an extinction level event for this game to turn out bad. Now, it's just a matter of counting the days until release.

Tony Scinta
Staff writer, Kikizo Games