Metacritic Games

Project Gotham Racing (Xbox)

Circuit-based racing in downtown environments in which players can race against up to three friends at a time through realistic time-of-day and weather conditions. Players can choose from 20 different cars and compete on more than 300 city-based circuits. With 100+ individual and wheel-to-wheel racing challenges and a separate arcade mode. [Microsoft]

Microsoft
Racing, Driving
Players: 4
E (Everyone)
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Released November 15, 2001

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

85 / 100

Critic Reviews

100 XboxAddict
This game is fantastic, even if you don't like cars/racing, this game will get you sucked in. With a huge track selection, and a wide variety of music, and amazing gameplay, this game is a must have for all types of gamers.
95 Xbox Solution
This game needs to be in every true racing gamers' library. Hours and hours (and days) of racing excitement, awesomely detailed graphics, and customizeable soundtrack make for a top of the line racer.
95 TotalGames.net
The finished result is a game that rewrites the book on realism in videogames. The length they have gone to to recreate the experience of driving the world’s best cars around the world’s most exciting cities will astound you.
93 Media and Games Online Network
One of the best racing games to hit the console market.
92 Voodoo Extreme
Project Gotham gets harsh when you start going for gold. This game's liable to have you tearing out your hair and bawling like an infant with regularity. You'll wonder how on earth your competition managed to take that turn faster than you did, in a budget car that's far inferior to your performance-bred steel.
92 Operation Sports
PGR presents just enough challenge without being too hard and frustrating which keeps you coming back for more.
92 GamerWeb Xbox
Does Project Gotham Racing topple the PS2 giant? Not quite, but it's still one hell of a game.
91 Core Magazine
Once you grow accustomed to the style of play you will be treated to a racer with depth and a remarkable presentation.
90 Hot Games
Imagine it this way – it’s as if you’re playing Tony Hawk in a minefield, and you’ll lose your points if you tap a mine.
90 GamePro
This speedster is definitely much better [than "Metropolis Street Racer" for the Dreamcast] in every respect.
90 GameZone
The Kudos system is one of the most original features ever to grace a racing game. Project Gotham practically created a whole new genre.
90 Armchair Empire
Despite lacking some of the customizable features, sheer amount of cars and complexity of GT3: A-Spec, PGR is a well-balanced racer.
90 Total Video Games
The range of driving skills required, the excellent combo Kudos system, the satisfying handling and range of unlockable extras ensure this is a game you’ll keep playing.
90 Xbox Exclusive
Amazing models, detailed backgrounds, and outstanding animation all lead to Project Gotham having the best graphics of any racing game to date, ousting "Gran Turismo 3" from that spot.
90 Official Xbox Magazine
Modes aplenty and a fun, refreshing points system. [Dec 2001]
89 ActionTrip
An awesome game.
89 Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
Obsession can easily set in with certain challenges. You might be able to see how you could earn the required amount of Kudos, but actually doing it is another matter. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]
88 Team Xbox
The way the sun, street lights, and even other cars reflect off your car will amaze you. Each city, (San Francisco, Tokyo, London, New York City) is modeled as seen in real life, so you might recognize some of the places or buildings you are zipping by.
88 IGN
It's a tough game that demands perfection more often than not, and to beat some particular races you'll be restarting the entire race the moment you've made an error.
87 Gamezilla!
With easy-to-learn gameplay and a learning curve that lets you build up your skills as you progress without overwhelming you, Gotham is an incredibly fun title.
86 Electric Playground
Aside from these minor graphical niggles, the game does look mightily beautiful and plays smooth as glass, even in splitscreen multiplayer mode.
85 Game Informer
I got the distinct impression during my time with this game that there was an arcade-like slant to how you progressed through different levels and unlocked items. [Dec 2001, p.100]
85 Electronic Gaming Monthly
You don’t have to invest a bazillion hours to unlock the sweet rides. [Jan 2002, p.229]
84 GameSpy
If the difficulty level of the latter stages was kinder and the environmental detail greater, it would have been a near-perfect racing game. As it is, it's still a very good one.
81 GameSpot
Less a racing game than it is a Tony Hawk's Pro Skater with cars instead of skateboards...[It's] also notable for its generally impressive visuals, breadth of gameplay options, and sheer number of tracks and circuits.
80 Xbox Nation Magazine
The game’s impeccable control blends arcade sensibilities and simulation accuracy into a smooth, silky cream. [Jan 2002, p.87]
80 Cloudchaser
Project Gotham’s trademark feature, the Kudos meter, is no doubt the best feature in the entire game.
80 FHM
A pristine racer, with stunning graphics, plenty to play for and jaw-dropping replays. Tell the boss you’re sick.
80 G4 TV
Easily the best-looking console racer to date...Expanding the kudos system to include bigger payoffs for clean racing would help make "Project Gotham" more well-rounded.
80 Next Generation Magazine
Expect a tough time; the computer AI is fierce, and a single mishap is often enough to cost you a race. [Jan 2002, p.28]
80 Yahoo! Games
Even with its slight problems, it's a great racing game with solid looking graphics and fantastic cars to drive through some stunning cities.
80 GMR Magazine
The refinement of the Kudos point system is the biggest difference between Project Gotham and its Dreamcast predecessor. [Feb 2004, p.95]
75 Game Revolution
Nothing goes on along the sidelines. There are no pedestrians watching, no birds flying overhead, nothing. Pretty hard to believe these world-class cities are so dead.
70 Adrenaline Vault
Using a trick based system that rewards slides, two-wheeled skids and perfect runs, the player must earn points for the above while still riding the line and achieving exceptional lap times. At first this technique seems fresh, but after a few incredibly disappointing runs down the later tracks you'll find it more frustrating than satisfying.
58 Gaming Age
Speaking of the A.I., this is where my biggest gripe with the game lies...The control is overall a bit slippery at times, even when using a 4WD car with a high Handling rating. That is a bad combo usually, and drove me crazy on several opportunities.

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