Before I start my review, I want to make one thing very clear. Anytime a racing game like TXR3 is compared to benchmarks like the Gran Turismo or Project Gotham series, it will almost always finish behind. Is that always fair? I think not! Any street-racing game should stand on its own merits and not the merits of others. A red apple should be based on its qualities as a red apple and not a green one, so TXR3 should also be based on what it is instead of what it isn't. With that, let's get started!TXR3 is the latest in the TXR series that started with the original TXR game followed by TXR2 and TXR Zero. All are fun and addicting games to play with more than their share of annoying little quibbles but the charm lies in its unique game play and the ability to race a seemingly endless number of rivals. Those particular qualities remain intact with some new twist that surely makes TXR3 the best in the series so far.
One of the first things you'll notice is that all the vehicles no longer use thinly disguised manufacturer names. Genki, the producers of the game, managed to obtain licensing from the car companies to use actual model names. A very obvious omission from the ranks is Honda/Acura. From what I understand, either Honda did not allow Genki to use their designs and names or they couldn't get proper licensing in time so if you are a Honda/Acura fan, you're out of luck but TXR3 does have some new kids on the block like Gemballa, DeTomaso, Volkswagen, and Lotus to name a few as well as the usual cast of Asian regulars. And don't forget to check out the all-new Ford GT! Another major change is now you have 3 areas to race instead of one. Along with the highways of Tokyo, there is Osaka and Nagoya to race. Combine those area's 200+ miles of road with 600 rivals to compete against, you'll have a game that will keep you busy for awhile.
The premise of the game hasn't changed much since the beginning -find a rival, flash your lights, race, and win (or lose) depending on whose meter runs out first. Every rival is part of a gang that must be beaten before you can race the leader of the gang. This, in itself, doesn't sound particularly thrilling but there is an undeniable rush when beating your rivals and accumulating funds to buy better cars and modifications to try to beat even faster rivals. And it doesn't stop there! You can also do engine swaps from hi-revving inline-4's to brawny V-8's that go beyond the normal engine upgrades that can really give your ride some very serious power! If that isn't enough, you'll also have the chance to race two bosses at the same time in some situations! Double the pleasure when you win but double the defeat if you don't. Also new for this series is the weather-effects. You'll have many opportunities to race in the rain and snow, although the snow doesn't accumulate but those roads sure get icy! It adds a great dimension to the game that makes you prepare for every race you encounter.
Sound? Definitely better. All the variety of engines now make the appropriate noises from the buzzy 4's to the burbling V-8's and even the 'squish' of the tires on the rain-soaked roads are worth noting. I can't say much for the music, though. If you like the typical power-grunge rock, then this is right up your alley. Personally, I never listen to the music when I'm playing. With the new and proper engine sounds combined with gear-revving, tires squealing, and turbo waste gate whoosh-ing, that's the best music you can have! The music is just a distraction from that.
The graphics are certainly better and a little cleaner than the previous series and the graphics for the weather-effects are superb. The only drawback is that there seems to be an awful lot of pop-ups, especially on the weather-effects. It's not too noticeable when you are driving fast but it's easy to see the buildings and overpasses fill in as you move forward, even when viewing this from the rear-view mirror. This doesn't effect the game play but on some sections of the roads when traveling super fast on rainy days, the pop-ups aren't visible until it's too late and suddenly you find yourself having to make a micro- second decision on what path to take and by then you've crashed big time. Come to think of it, this would probably happen in real life.
Summary:
Hits
* More highways, more cars, more rivals, endless modifications.
* Better road feel, less 'floatiness'.
* Realistic weather-effects.
* Good graphics.
Misses
* Lots of pop-ups on rain/snow days.
* Some bosses start way in front of you before you race.
* WAY too many yellow "Official" vans on the road.
* Absence of Honda/Acura vehicles (which may not necessarily be a bad thing!) :-)
All in all, a first rate game with a tremendous replay value loaded with new options that make it even more fun to play. And that's why I give it 5 stars because it's just good old, bumper-to-bumper, winner-takes-all, fun! Bottom line, if you liked the previous series, go out and lay down your $20.00 for your own copy. It's that simple! If you didn't like it before, rent it and play it. You might be surprised!
