GSY Retro: Remembering PGR 4

Driftwood
Tuesday, July 8, 2014 | 6:30 PM
29 comments

GSY Retro Xbox 360

After about 8 months playing next gen titles, we asked ourselves a very simple question: what if Project Gotham Racing 4 were to be released now? Seven years after shipping on Xbox 360, Bizarre Creations' iconic title still looks gorgeous and includes many features that next gen racing games haven't even included yet, like a full weather system for example. Let's go back in time for a few laps thanks to our fresh batch of videos of one of the best games of the 360 era.

High quality stream and download

Commented on 2014-07-08 18:38:49

best racing game ever made, fact

In reply to

Boardy

Commented on 2014-07-08 19:09:04

I put some hours into this game, Platinum's on everything!

In reply to

TheFuriousOne

Commented on 2014-07-08 20:04:46 In reply to GangStarr

Posted by GangStarr

best racing game ever made, fact

I was going to say the same thing too. Fun level only beaten out by Blur, which unfortunately flew under the radar of many gamers thanks to combination of poor and little advertising by Activision.

The game still looks stunning and highly enjoyable, another reason why I haven't bought a nextgen console.

In reply to

spacemanjupiter

Commented on 2014-07-08 20:15:07

It has been a real long time since I've played this great game. Looks like it is still the best looking racing game of last gen. I'm impressed after all this time. I am now inclined to go out and pick it up at a DiscReplay or something

In reply to

Cuban_Legend

Commented on 2014-07-08 20:32:22

love it, will post a thread about it on GAF. =')

In reply to

Deepo

Commented on 2014-07-08 20:43:42

Raindrops still appearing on windscreen when in a tunnel = would not buy. But I already did, one of my favorites :)

In reply to

Redneck

Commented on 2014-07-08 20:57:54 In reply to GangStarr

Posted by GangStarr

best racing game ever made, fact

Personally I had more fun with PGR2

And the fact that NFSU brutally outsold PGR2 (looking at sales on XBox alone) still makes my guts twist.

Proof that quality is not equal to success. Anyways, PGR5 on a new console would be too good to be true...

In reply to

digi_matrix

Commented on 2014-07-08 21:56:04 In reply to Cuban_Legend

Posted by Cuban_Legend

love it, will post a thread about it on GAF. =')

Thanks brah ;) (Messofanego there)

I need to buy PGR 3 and 4 right now, old copies lost.

In reply to

jenesuispasbavard

Commented on 2014-07-08 23:21:11

Wow, it's been seven years already. By far the best looking game on XBox 360 at the time I feel. The rain graphics were especially incredible.

In reply to

Cream

Commented on 2014-07-09 00:05:19 In reply to Redneck

Yep PRG2 was a great game, Spent many an hour playing that online. PGR5 would be amazing to have.

In reply to

xgei8ht

Commented on 2014-07-09 00:09:53

Was a very good game. Graphics were excellent and still look good. Has better lighting then forza5 and weather.

The New driving game DRIVECLUB is Unmatched graphics wise. Don't know about handling.

http://n4g.com/news/1545327/your-first-look-at-dri...

In reply to

AnthonM2

Commented on 2014-07-09 00:10:41

I like PGR series much more than Forza, Forza is boring imo.

In reply to

r3tr0gam3r1337

Commented on 2014-07-09 00:39:17

keep dreaming about PGR5, the only time that would come to light is if Bizarre Creations reformed under a new name (Activision owns the rights to the BC name), and Microsoft as they own the PGR name, it would appear under an entirely new name, and sorry to say this but Blur killed off Bizarre creations, everyone wanted a new PGR not an adult mario kart.

i just wish Bizarre and Sega could have re released MSR or done a HD make over.

In reply to

PT_G4MER

Commented on 2014-07-09 00:47:11

PGR 3 caused much more of an impact on the old generation, mainly because it was a launch title and had superb graphics. Still, PGR4 was very fun to play. I think I completed 100% of achievements at the game.

In reply to

TheFuriousOne

Commented on 2014-07-09 00:49:37

Posted by r3tr0gam3r1337

A few of the old programmers did start up their own company, it's called Lucid Games - http://www.lucidgames.co.uk/
A couple of weeks back they were selling some of the PGR building models.

I think they have a couple of racers already completed or currently in development, check em out

In reply to

andrewsqual

Commented on 2014-07-09 04:14:25 In reply to GangStarr

And it would have been even better on bluray i.e. PS3, fact with proof http://www.destructoid.com/size-does-matter-projec...
And this was about 7 years ago, another fact for you.

In reply to

bubble2020

Commented on 2014-07-09 08:41:10 In reply to Redneck

Posted by Redneck

Don't undersell Need for Speed Underground. It was an awesome game. PGR was great, but NFSU scratched an itch a lot of people didn't even know they had.

The fact that it outsold PGR doesn't mean it was a better game, just that more people wanted something like that at the time.

In reply to

r3tr0gam3r1337

Commented on 2014-07-09 11:26:14

NFSUnerground 1&2 was released in 2003/4 on the original xbox, PS2 and Game Cube (not on PS3,Wii or 360) NFSUndercover was released in 2008 while PGR4 was released exclusively on the 360 in 2007, the argument that NFSU sold more is a huge contradiction as the user base for the PS2 alone was near the 100m mark while the 360 was just a fraction of that, the same contradictional argument could be used for NFSMW vs FM5 (a bigger user base and being a multiplat vs a console exclusive and don't bring the arcade vs sim, you are not only comparing a multiplat against a console exclusive but comparing last gen sales against next gen sales with a smaller user base)!

In reply to

2PintsOfInsulin

Commented on 2014-07-09 12:56:04

What was even better than the weather effects being there in the first place was that the effect they had on gameplay. The puddles were randomly generated and would affect your handling, so all of a sudden, that apex you were hitting last lap was no longer an option, as the puddle would now slow you down. Stroke of genius.

Oh, and the back to the future achievement. Class!

I'm going to play this this evening. Thanks Gamersyde! :)

In reply to

Redneck

Commented on 2014-07-09 13:24:50 In reply to r3tr0gam3r1337

Posted by r3tr0gam3r1337

I was talking about PGR2 and Need For Speed Underground, both beeing released in November 2003. I also was refering on the sales numbers on XBox alone... it was a bit off topic, but I just wanted to state why we still have crappy NFS around and no PGR anymore... it is because peolpe simply did not buy PGR. All of them sold rather poorly (compared to lesser games [imo]).
I enjoyed all PGRs, including MSR...good times

Anyways, sorry for the confusion.

In reply to

[quote=r3tr0gam3r1337]NFSUnerground 1&2 was released in 2003/4 on the original xbox, PS2 and Game Cube (not on PS3,Wii or 360) NFSUndercover was released in 2008 while PGR4 was released exclusively on the 360 in 2007, the argument that NFSU sold more is a huge contradiction as the user base for the PS2 alone was near the 100m mark while the 360 was just a fraction of that, the same contradictional argument could be used for NFSMW vs FM5 (a bigger user base and being a multiplat vs a console exclusive and don't bring the arcade vs sim, you are not only comparing a multiplat against a console exclusive but comparing last gen sales against next gen sales with a smaller user base)![/quote]
I was talking about PGR2 and Need For Speed Underground, both beeing released in November 2003. I also was refering on the sales numbers on XBox alone... it was a bit off topic, but I just wanted to state why we still have crappy NFS around and no PGR anymore... it is because peolpe simply did not buy PGR. All of them sold rather poorly (compared to lesser games [imo]). 
I enjoyed all PGRs, including MSR...good times

Anyways, sorry for the confusion.

omniscient

Commented on 2014-07-09 18:11:21

great racing game but for what it attempted to achieve Forza horizon surpassed it. FH is quite simply my favourite racer of last gen (maybe ever) with burnout and GT6 following close behind. I was never ever going to buy an x1 but now I will get 1 eventually for FH. The handling was also wonky in pgr that arcade slash sim approach never felt tight unlike FH.

In reply to

fastsword

Commented on 2014-07-09 18:55:51

It looks dated now. I guess it was good at its time. These days many racing game look good

In reply to

jeenyus

Commented on 2014-07-09 21:07:43 In reply to omniscient

Posted by omniscient

While FH1 is my fav racer of last gen, FH2 looks like a huge dissapointment... all that driving like a floating boat over rough terrain with a Lambo is disgusting.

As for PGR4, looks STUNNING even today! Gotta pick up my disc and play it again.

In reply to

karaokequeen3

Commented on 2014-07-09 21:46:18

One thing to keep in mind. Ged Talbot, who worked at Bizarre Creations now works at Evolution Studios. Who are making a certain upcoming PS4 game called DriveClub....

In reply to

TheFuriousOne

Commented on 2014-07-10 01:39:24 In reply to Redneck

Posted by Redneck

Offtopic: I don't really remember PGR2, but I clearly remember PGR3 and 4 having next to no marketing. The same happened with Blur when it was released in direct conflict with Split Second and God of War, nevermind Activision not knowing how to market the game, is it a Mario Kart clone or is it the Call of Duty of racers?? Both stupid marketing strategies, which ultimately lead to one of the greatest British videogame companies going bust.

In reply to

What's up?

Members
Announcements

Loakum Ugh….scratch that previous comment. The upcoming Game of Thrones video game is a F’in mobile phone game. Why can’t they came an open world GoT game, like Witcher 3 or God of War? (> 3 Months ago)
Loakum By FAR, the upcoming Game of Thrones King’s Road was the Game of the Show! It plays like God of War Ragnarok! :) (> 3 Months ago)
Loakum @Driftwood Awesome! I’m loving it! It does show a much crisper picture and the frame rate looks good! I was playing Stella Blade and Dragonball Soarkling Blast! :) (> 3 Months ago)
Driftwood @Loakum: enjoy, the one Sony sent us will be there on launch day. Coverage will follow asap. (> 3 Months ago)
Loakum *takes a large sip of victorious grape juice* ok….my PS5 pro arrived early! So much winning! :) (> 3 Months ago)
Driftwood @reneyvane: non ils l'ont publié le 1er octobre et je crois que tu l'avais déjà linkée. ;) (> 3 Months ago)
reneyvane Factornews à joué à KingdomComeDeliverance2 au Gamescom 2024 mais ne publie sa preview que maintenant ? [url] (> 3 Months ago)

Driftwood Download is now functional again on Gamersyde. Sorry for the past 53 days or so when it wasn't. (> 3 Months ago)
Driftwood Another (French) livestream today at 2:30 CEST but you're welcome to drop by and speak English. I will gladly answer in English when I get a chance to catch a breath. :) (> 3 Months ago)
Driftwood GSY is getting some nice content at 3 pm CEST with our July podcast and some videos of the Deus Ex Mankind Divided preview build. :) (> 3 Months ago)
Driftwood For once we'll be live at 4:30 pm CEST. Blim should not even be tired! (> 3 Months ago)
Driftwood More Quantum Break coverage coming in a few hours, 9:00 a.m CEST. (> 3 Months ago)
Driftwood We'll have a full review up for Firewatch at 7 pm CET. Videos will only be tomorrow though. (> 3 Months ago)
Driftwood Tonight's livestream will be at 9:15 GMT+1, not GMT+2 as first stated. (> 3 Months ago)

GSY Retro: Remembering PGR 4

Macau weather gameplay

Macau replay

Nürburgring

New York City

New York City (replay)

Quebec (sound bug)

All comments (29)

Kirby Air Riders

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Resident Evil Requiem

Our video of Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit

MOTORSLICE is looking promising

Our Switch 2 video of Pokemon Legends: Z-A