Please note, this is a hands on experience review and not our final review of this product. Code of games played at the X01 event may not be final.

One of the most eagerly awaited games to get my hands on at the Microsoft X01 event was Bizarre Creations Project Gotham Racing, making my way through the crowd into the Gotham room I was not disappointed.

Immediately the stunning visuals leapt from the screen and smacked me in the face, this was no simple port of MSR with the addition of a whole city is the shape of New York, this was truly an experience to behold.

Project Gotham has not only received the addition of New York City, but also a revised KUDOS reward system, the new KUDOS system is designed to stop you little cheats who cunningly worked out how to accumulate the rewarding KUDOS without actually playing the game too much or the risk of loosing them on a clip of the barrier.

The main focus of the game is as with MSR earning KUDOS, KUDOS are Bizarre Creations unique reward system which is designed for not necessarily rewarding how fast you drive but how you drive fast. Earning KUDOS is the prime goal of this title; accumulating KUDOS unlocks new tracks and cars.

The cities are mapped from endless hours of data capture to the slightest detail, although the buildings appear like blocks with some amazing textures thrown on this is a minor detail as this is a incredibly stunning game.

After some serious racing the attention to detail of the cars was incredible with reflections like I have never seen, I could see the buildings, lamp posts and even the white lines of the road glimmer off the windows or paintwork, even in the wing mirrors, truly stunning right down to the number plate. Add into the mix and for the first time real damage to the vehicles and Project Gotham racing really sets the standards for the rest to follow.

The game boasts over 200 tracks within the 4 cities, 70 licensed audio tracks to blast from your radio (although you can also rip your own music to the hard drive to play from the radio) and a changed and slightly unique arcade mode which is designed to get you in the habit ad teach you the skills of earning KUDOS, with fast lap, negotiate cones etc all to guide you through earning KUDOS.

Project Gotham Racing offers a variety of races, time attack, one on one battles, circuit racing & overtake challenge to name a few, after the 30 minutes ish of playing this I was truly amazed, this is defiantly no GT3 but to me at least excels over GT3 in so many ways from ease of pick up and play right down to amazing 5.1 surround sound, you can hear and feel those sneaky racers coming up behind you and the throaty roar of your Ferrari as you blast it off through the streets of New York, London, San Francesco or Tokyo.

All in all Project Gotham Racing is a incredible game and players of MSR will notice the stunning graphical enhancements over the original on the Dreamcast which as I recall stunned when released so imagine this as my final thought, Its no simpler than pre-order or buy this title.