Porsche Challenge - Game Review by Salem

Porsche 2000 delivers graphics to rival even the finest of the driving titles out there for even the newest of the consoles and what's more the game is about 18 months old now. The graphics are quite simply stunning and can almost be described as being photo realistic and for once you have cars that you can actually damage. For a long time the authors of titles in the racing genre have had their hands tied by car manufacturers that would rather not see their cars in a game than allow players to see what they may look like after a head on collision with a truck. Not so in this game, it's quite obvious that EA and Porsche collaborated closely on this one. Everything from the 80 models of car (not including new cars that have been designed with web distribution in mind) to the stunning panoramic views offered on the tracks scream pure class. What's more the cars even offer little niceties like working indicators and horns.

Of course PU (as it is widely known on the net) offers the standard pick a car and drive options that are familiar to gamers in this genre, but it is in the 2 new game modes that this title finds ground all of its own. PU offers a season style evolution mode that allows you to start low, win races and slowly buy your way higher up the model ladder. The Evolution mode is played over 3 Eras. The classic era with its 356 models, early 911s and its race class Spyder offer a more sedate pace suited to the newer driver. The golden era offers a more up beat challenge with its Carrea and 911 turbo models and finally the modern era turns you loose with almost all of Porsches' current line of super cars (including the race class GT1).

The other challenge in PU is the factory driver missions. These are 'Driver' style missions where you will be set a task to achieve within a given time limit. You will get the opportunity to film commercials, deliver cars, race your team mates, drum up business and test drive the latest spruced up models as you work your way up through command chain of the team. The ultimate goal? To become the best driver on the factory drivers team. EA have even thrown a story into the mix, bless em.

You also get a total of 14 tracks to mash the living daylights out of your shiny new Porsche including 5 tracks around Monte Carlo (that I am reliably informed are actually modeled on parts of the Formula 1 track).

All in all this game comes across as being totally flawless. Not so unfortunately, there are a number of little niggles that prevent the game from being an all time classic. For one regardless of which gearbox (close or highspeed) you place in the car the computer cars will be faster off the mark than you are. Once you have finished a factory driver challenge you can't go back and play it again. Despite advertising to the contrary you can't easily fine tune the car, gear ratio tweaking seems to have gone straight out of the window (the graphics are there to suggest that they can be altered, but try as I might I can't alter them). Cars gained in the factory class (given as 'company' cars) cannot be used in their class in evolution despite being selectable.

The only question that needs to be answered in a game review is "Is it worth the money" well to coin a phrase in this case "Hell yeah it is". If you like racing games than I suggest you put your hands in your pockets and fork out for a copy (no pogging a copy off your mates either).

Game :	Porsche 2000 (Porsche Unleashed)
Publisher :	EA
Price :	£9.99 (about $16)
Release date :	Out Now
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