Project Gotham Racing 3

And now for something genuinely next-gen on Xbox 360.

Those of you who've played PGR2 extensively will notice a difference in the handling of the cars in PGR3. A change for the better too. The cars really do feel great. Sure, this is hardly a racing sim, but the way the cars handle is aimed at the more convincing end of fun console racing. The cars behave in a pleasing and predictable manner and a clear difference can be felt from car to car.

For example I favoured the Lamborghini Murcielago 6.2 for much of my racing action. Its four-wheel drive ensured plenty of grip that meant for good cornering speed and stability. Despite the supercar's speed, it was very stable and easy to drive compared to some of the rear-wheel drive monsters. However for events where I would earn points for sliding I would use cars such as the TVR Sagaris, in which it is very easy to throw the back end out when dramatic oversteer was required.

The game's sure-footed handling is complimented by the choice to use a superb in car view. Each interior for the games 85 cars has been lovingly crafted, you can look around and take in the beauty of hand-stitched leather interiors and Momo racing wheels. Some camera/head shake has been added to this view and it feels very convincing driving rrom this viewpoint. PGR3 may be no physics simulation, but the game's handling combined with the inside view makes for a very compelling experience.

In visual terms this is mainly due to the high quality of lighting in the game. PGR3 may boast some very impressive car models, high resolution textures and superbly modelled scenery, but it's the light that, if you pardon the pun, shines out. The High Dynamic Range (HDR) lighting looks superb, really giving you the impression of moving from sunlight to shadow as you drive between the tall buildings of the famous cities.

The game's sound is a good as the visuals, with a choice of soundtracks letting you tailor your experience, even if you don't want to use some of your own custom soundtracks. The classical music tracks, in particular, are great for relaxing one's nerves during a particularly hectic blast along the narrow tarmac of the Nurburgring's twistier sections. Engine notes are also very well realised, and sound realistically muffled when playing from the interior view.

The real joy of Project Gotham Racing is playing online with friends. As usual on Xbox Live, you can be at the mercy of 12-year-old griefers. But they're easy to beat, you just hold back and let them all crash their Ferrari F50 GTs at the first corner and race on by them in a slower car. However get a room full of friends and you'll have the most compelling online racing experiences around.

It's a shame that there are few Xbox 360 launch titles that can match up to the brilliance of PGr3, but let's just rejoice in a game this good being available at all. Sure, it's the great graphics that are getting all the attention and the ability to watch online races via Gotham TV, but underneath the pretty exterior there's a strong game that offers a lot of play for your money. This is the one game every Xbox 360 owner should have in their collection. I know I'll be enjoying this game for a long time to come.