Pros: Beatiful graphics
Cons: Awful music

If there is one thing that that dreamcast falls back on, it would have to be actual racing games. Sure we have gotten crazy taxi and wacky racers, but that doesn't cut it. I want something more, something much more realisitc, something that will make come back more and more b/c lets face it, SEGA GT just wont cut it. Which is why just recently have I gone out to my local gamestore and bought F355, and everything I ever wanted from a racing game was in this lil cd jewel case, and more. To break it down, I will divide the game into 5 areas, these areas concerning the graphics, sound, control, replay value, and a new feature for dreamcast users, the network mode, so lets get to it.

Graphics: (10/10)
Hands down, the best looking racing game ever, it's an exact arcade port with no clipping or slowdown at all. If your car (yes you only drive one car, but it's a ferrari for crying out loud!) wont shock you with the smooth, slick graphics and the nice touches as having the sky roll off every inch of your car, then the race tracks will! I mean from the simpliest tracks like the oval, to more complex ones like complex cityscapes. everything is a work of art, a masterpiece. The tracks look realistic, same goes for the backround, but what will catch your attention the most is the sky, from sunsets to clear skies, it's all to much to take in at once.

Sound: (5/10)
Who in the right mind picked 80's rock music to be in this game!? They should be blindfolded and shot. When i go cruising around a track at 150mph, I really dont care to hear a crappy version of mr.big's songs, it ruins the game, so bad that you'll be turning it off faster then it took you to pop the game in your dreamcast. However, it really doesn't ruin the game without having music, cause the sound effects make up for it greatly, hearing the whooosh of the other cars pass you by are crisp, and hearing your tires clench to the road as you take that tight U turn will all make up for it, trust me.

Control: (7/10)
This control, in one word is hard, hard, HARD! So hard, that if you even think you have what it takes to just jump and start your career, then your gonna be sliding off the tracks as you turn and end up in 4th...at the most. Still, using the practice modes will ease you into controlling your ferrari, so in a day or two, you'll be tearing away those other racers as you fly by the finish line and claim your first place prize, so to master the game will take patience, but trust me, it is all worth it as you break records and even.....unlock some new tracks.

Replay Value: (8/10)
Basically, the longer you play it, the better it gets, it's that damn good. Starting your carrer and finishing the circuit will take a while to do, and unlocking 6 new exclusive DC tracks will take some time also. Still you'll be asking for more, such as another circuit, more tracks (12 wont cut, trust me), and MORE CARS! I mean i wont trash the game for having just one car to choose, cause like i said, it's a ferrari, but still all you can do to change your car is pick another number or paint job.

Network Mode: (8/10)
Another option in the game is to use your modemn to compete against others or to load your best times, to see where you stand. While the ranking mode seems explained to everyone, I'll focus more on the part where you get to drive others through your modemn. You'll be givin the option to pick a track, and then wait as others will join, when 20 seconds pass on, it will regesiter the other racers (most you can race upon is 8) and then qualify. If you dont make the qualifications, you back in the lobby, but if you do, you'll see what position you start with. Then comes the racing, which is done perfect b/c there is no lag at all, it plays the same as if you weren't on-line, only real gripe is that you wont see the other racers till the end, for when you do finish you'll be disconnected and then be given a replay of all the racers. While this may sound dull and something to pass up on, you'll be glued to the screen to see who wins and then come back again to find other challengers, so in the end it's a great feature that should not be ignored.

BOTTOM LINE:
If you must own a REAL racing game, I would suggest F355. Graphics are top notch as with the options and modes. Music can be annoying, but easily turned off. However if you just wanna jump in and forget about learning to control your cars and race, then this isn't what you would want, maybe sega gt. I highly recommend that you get it though, cause the practice will pay off BIG time, so pick up a copy already!