Only difference from the original is more cars.
This game easily has the best graphics of any PS game. All the cars look different, come in a range of colours and you can instantly recognize them. When cars are far away in the distance they look like a box and you need to get closer for the car to blip back to normal, but this game is old and apart from that everythings good.
Gameplay: 8/10
There are so many different races to do here; not just normal races, but also lengthy endurance races, and dirt events. It will take ages to complete all of them, and then even longer to collect all 600 (!) cars in the game. I know one guy who spent ages doing that, so I had a go, but got bored at about 175. And don't think because it's a PS game that the dirt events are just driving normal but on a brown road instead of grey, but the cars handle very differently and only certain cars can dive on it, as you need dirt tyres. The one thing that is a bit strange is when there is a race where all the cars have to be say, an estate, you can enter any car you like. But when there is a race series for cars built in the 80's, you must have one from that period, but AI cars have cars from the 90's. The AI also spoils the game a bit. While yes they all drive different cars they all stick to 1 of 2 racing lines, and will never go off them. If you are in one of them and there is a faster car behind you, they will simply overtake on the other 'lane'. But if there is another car in the other 'lane' the AI car will just sit behind you, even though there is a large gap for him to pass. It feels like you are playing scalextric. There are however, 2 tracks where AI cars spin out on their own. This isn't anything to do with the drivetrain of the car, but the type. There is one particular track where only a mercedes, jaguar and sometimes a lotus spin out. No one else. The other track is only ever a Corvette or a Camaro. This is also quite odd.
Sound: 8/10
The sounds of the cars you are driving are all different and very good, however there are 1 of 2 (again) sounds that AI cars use, with an exception. For some reason, the Honda S2000 doesn't use 1 of the 2 preset sounds, but its own unique noise which is the same as when you are in one yourself. It is the only car and quite wierd as to why it does this.
Overall:
This is one of the best games on the PlayStation. Its good fun and will keep you entertained for hours. However it is not without its minor problems.