Pros: great graphics, a lot of different challenges, mini-games
Cons: player can't challenge another driver, lacking 2-player action

I'm a total racing game buff with high standards, and this one makes the grade. The graphics are pretty darn realistic, moving well and keeping up with the motion of the car. The opening story graphics are especially impressive. It opens with a casino dealer shelling out cards and goes on to introduce you to each of the drivers you'll be racing against in the first class. It's so realistic, at first it was hard to tell if it was a graphic or a mini-movie.

There are 4 classes...D, C, B, and A, each one more difficult than the one before it. At the end you race the mysterious Driver X. You'll meet him in Class A (you work your way up from class D)with a field of other challenging drivers, and once you beat him in the season rankings, he challenges you to a vendetta in which you can win his car. It's extremely difficult to win the class race, but I won the vendetta race in two tries. I don't know if it was just easier only having to deal with him and no other drivers, or if he really eases up at the end.

You earn money as you race for placing, completing certain tasks your 'sponsor' gives you, or achieving certain goals like fastest lap or longest time leading. The 'sponsor' is more like a mob boss then a sponsor. His challenges usually aren't terribly difficult, but they are challenging, such as keeping a certain driver from finishing in the top 3. You can also lose money if you fail to complete a bet from another driver or your sponsor. You can even lose your car!

The fun part is souping up your car! You can choose from a number of different classic racing vehicles and paint jobs. Each one is priced differently and you can only purchase what you can afford. No monthly payments here! You start out with a dilapidated vehicle that can barely do 80. You can repair it to make it run better, buy different types of tires, engines, turbo, etc., buy a second car, or sell your old one. If you get Driver X's car in the vendetta, you can do about 300mph. It's priced at $1 mill in the showroom, but you never can buy it...you have to win it. Other drivers may also challenge you to vendettas. If you lose, they get your car, if you win, you get theirs.

During the race, you inflict realistic damage each time you crash. It's best to fix it at about 50% damage, otherwise your car stops running it's best. Don't repair it unless it's necessary, however, because it costs $$! The game lets you repair in small increments or all at once, lets you know the cost beforehand, and you can see what is being fixed and what isn't.

There are 12 different tracks. Racing conditions range from Hollywood Disaster (dodging a dinosaur and a falling 'H' in the Hollywood sign) to Louisiana Tornado (you can get sucked up into it and thrown off the track) to nighttime Las Vegas (don't pop your headlights!). Some are more challenging than others, but all are fun. There are dozens of hidden routes that can either put you in the lead or leave you lagging behind. Be careful not to show them to other drivers if you don't have to, because they can learn from you.

Not only is there the main racing segment, there are a number of mini-games you can play to test the different cars and play against another player. My personal favorite is Attack & Defend, where two players go head to head. One player is named the attacker and the other is the defender. The attacker literally attacks the competing car, pushing him off the road and crashing into him, while the other driver, the defender, tries for the upper hand. Whoever has the most points win.

Overall, this game is a lot of fun and will keep you busy for a long time. The only thing I can think of that I didn't like about it is that you couldn't race another player in the main game section (both players going against an automated field) and you can't challenge anyone to a bet or a vendetta. Other than that, it's a great game worth getting!