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PGR 3 was received with mixed results when the Xbox 360 launched, as it shifted away from the Kudos based racing of old to a more speed orientated arcade racer (Kudos are skill points you receive which can be put towards purchasing new cars and unlocking tracks). The Kudos system was too difficult as they were easily lost through a bump into the wall, and winning races was the key to success in PGR 3. This was a shift from original PGR titles where the focus was firmly on doing beautiful power slides and drifts to gain points. With PGR 4 Bizarre Creations have heard the cries of its fans and gone for a more balanced title, suited to those wanting high speed arcade racing as well as fans of the old Kudos system. This title will suit many gamers, and caters much better for a wider skill level than PGR 3 ever could.

The Kudos system has been refined somewhat with the emphasis clearly back on it, so much so, in fact, it is possible to not win a race, yet come out on top overall in the championship because you clocked up enough Kudos throughout the race. This makes it much better if you happen to hit the wall on your last power-slide turn and lose the top spot in that it does not overly penalise you. Thats not to say its easy to win, in fact the difficulty has been ramped up since PGR 3 which was a walk in the park for the most part. The new Kudos system also gives you better visual feedback on your Kudos performance. When you clock up more Kudos by stringing together moves you receive star points, which are essentially a Kudos bonus. When you receive five stars a small subtle animation comes up and you are cheered by the crowd. Its all done in a very tasteful and unobtrusive way.

The game challenges you with its in-depth career mode which involves a sort of Race Driver progression system, with your aim being to become number one. It plays out over racing seasons during which you will only have one shot at a single tournament that you are eligible for entry to, until the next years racing season. You compete throughout a season against other racers and are invited to unique tournaments, as well as invitationals, where if you win you will unlock special cars. As you clock up Kudos you can unlock tracks and car packs.

In PGR 4 you have the arcade racing section which contains several chapters involving different arcade challenges. These for the most part contain 12 races, 6 for the cars and 6 for the bikes (yes, bikes!). The arcade racing involves collecting medals for completing the challenges at different difficulty settings, and this will keep you going for a while if you want to collect all the top medals, as it is no easy feat. You have the usual options of time-trials where your times will be compared with those of others online. Gotham TV also makes a comeback with the ability now to upload photos as well as videos and rate them. You can also watch others racing online through this as was the case with PGR 3. Bizarre Creations have also gone for using the PGR Nations website to complement the game, much like Forza 2.

PGR 4 will see you taking the wheel of some of the world's greatest super-cars as well as some more run of the mill models. A slight touch of classic adds an element of cool because there is nothing like a lap around the Nürburgring in a 1957 Formula One race car. The cars all handle well and it is the right balance between fun and true skill when it comes to navigating the circuits and stringing together Kudos. Arguably the handling was more solid in PGR 3, but PGR 4 feels better and well rounded. They also sound much better than in previous versions, with each car having its own sound that feels authentic.

In an attempt to mix things up a bit, Bizarre Creations have added motorbikes to the mix. This does change the tried and true gameplay and creates a whole new challenge as these bikes do handle substantially differently to the cars, and you won't just scratch your paintwork if you hit the wall. However in the mixed races the difficulty balancing bikes versus cars shows, and although it is a notable effort, the cars usually are the favorites as the bikes are too easily bashed out of the way, although admittedly this applies more to online racing. Next to the new bikes, is the new weather system which has been a long time coming in any new-gen racer.

Bizarre have invested much of their time in implementing a gorgeous weather system. You will be racing in anything from a light shower to a full blown gail or snow storm. The weather can dynamically change throughout the race, which means you may start a race on an overcast day in the dry and finish it with a rain drenched track. The implementation of this is just incredible. The raindrops on the car look incredible and if you are using the in-car view you are in for an extra special treat as the water gets forced back across the windscreen from the speed and wind. Snow and ice will result in patches of black ice on which you will lose all your traction. Water on the track will result in puddles over which you can aquaplane and crash into the wall. These really mix up the tracks and require you to be on your toes far more than a pleasant drive in the sun. The graphics engine really helps to show off these weather effects on some exceptionally good looking vehicles and environments.

The cars just look gorgeous. As water beads and rolls down the bodywork or sun glints off the metal you really can't help but be wowed by the sheer level of detail. The cars are very true to life and with the in-car view you really feel as though you are driving one of these cars. Each one has an authentically recreated cockpit with fully working dials. This is definitely the most amazing view to play from, but can also be a bit challenging as it can be difficult keeping an eye on your rev' counter when using manual gears from this perspective. The tracks are equally gorgeous lined with relatively detailed spectators who shy away when your car careens into the wall beside them and avidly take photos of you as you race past.

There is also a greater number of cities to race in than ever before, with many classics returning but in a slightly revised form. Tokyo, New York, the Nürburgring, London and Las Vegas are here again, with slightly wider tracks in parts more suited to racing, and with a larger amount of rumble-strips dotted around it is much smoother racing than before. The new cities are Shanghai, St Petersburg, Quebec and City Macau and these are as spectacular if not more so than the originals (simply because they are new). They are all authentically recreated and gorgeous. Aside from the occasional texture which fails to load there is virtually nothing to fault about the graphics engine in PGR 4.

The online racing is also very solid. In the races I experienced I noticed no lag and had some very solid races, with the dynamic weather really causing a stir-up amongst the mix of cars and motorbikes. There are also some fun online modes including Bulldog, a type of tag mode where you race around and tag other cars, turning them into 'bulldogs', to tag the others. Team racing is also included meaning you will be able to step up to the plate with a clan and race against another group. Some very clever achievements have also been added including some where you have to beat a member of the Bizarre Creations team online, or someone who has beaten a team member. These are more exciting than the run of the mill achievements and are an innovative way to use achievements.

PGR 4 is the most well balanced arcade racer on the Xbox 360. It is by far the best iteration in the series with incredible graphics, fast racing, and a well balanced Kudos system. The difficulty has been raised since PGR 3 (which is a good thing) and the game will have something for most racers. The amazing weather effects, graphics and sound really come together to form a racer that cannot easily be faulted. The balancing of the bikes is perhaps the greatest gripe, scaring potential bikers away from online races, although with Bizarre Creations track record for patches and content this may well be tweaked in future updates. The emphasis on garages and buying cars with Kudos in PGR 3 will also be missed, but so much is gained that it really doesn't hurt.