Empire Interactive's latest venture into the world of computerized automotive competition is Total Immersion Racing. The game has an interesting combination of both driving simulation features and arcade racing features that may prove disappointing for hard-core fans of either category. If you prefer your driving to be as realistic as possible, you'll undoubtedly be frustrated by Total Immersion Racing's indestructible vehicles, less-than-realistic physics, and constant bumping. If you're a fan of frantic, high-speed races, you may not appreciate the game's generally conservative pace and complex car setup routines. However, if you play Total Immersion Racing with an open mind, you should find it to be quite appealing. The game has a variety of gorgeous real-life cars, race-long bumper-to-bumper action, and emotionally charged AI drivers--too many positive attributes to be ignored.

Though you begin with only two cars, Total Immersion Racing lets you unlock new vehicles.

Like Infogrames' less-enjoyable Le Mans 24 Hours, Total Immersion Racing focuses on the close-wheeled production and purpose-built GT and prototype cars that frequent such events as the famed round-the-clock 24 Hours of Le Mans. But unlike the grueling Le Mans races, most of this game's events are over within 10 minutes. The game offers 18 vehicles spanning three classes, including such examples of advanced motorized technology as the BMX M3 GTR, Audi TT-R, Panoz Esperante GTR1, McLaren F1 GTR, and Bentley EXP Speed 8. You can race on any of 12 circuits, including real-world facilities such as Hockenheim, Monza, Rockingham, and Sebring, as well as imaginary tracks such as Springfield Raceway and Talheimring.

Total Immersion Racing features a range of gameplay modes, but rookies will want to begin by entering either a single race or a time trial; these modes should give new players an idea of the game's physics model and also let them study a given track without the pressure of the game's main career mode. Beginners may also want to try the challenge mode, which lets them compete in 30 class-specific, manufacturer, and endurance events. But it should be noted that the vast majority of Total Immersion Racing's cars and tracks aren't available at the beginning of the game and must be unlocked by either winning a challenge, moving to the more demanding professional or legend difficulty settings (and eventually the nearly impossible extreme level), or advancing several races in a career. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the game, you'll have access to a measly two cars and five tracks.

The game's cars are highly detailed, right down to the decals.

One of the first things you'll notice when you do get out on the pavement is how much effort developer Razorworks has spent on the game's appearance. The cars in particular look gorgeous--each is a heavily decaled and generally authentic replica of its real-life counterpart. Total Immersion Racing's cars feature slick motion effects on their tire rims, animated steering wheels and driver arms, and a high level of detail throughout. Each car even has a towing hook on the front. And the cars churn up particles when they venture off-track, occasionally blow off thick clouds of black smoke, and lift momentarily from the ground when stressed.

What's even more impressive about the way Total Immersion Racing's cars look is the way they react to varied lighting. In broad daylight, each car glistens and gleams. In diffused light and when blasting through the shadows of roadside vegetation, the cars' exterior surfaces react precisely as they should--not only becoming darker and brighter but doing so in waves and displaying a midlevel hue that many racing games fail to capture. And if your event is held at dusk, as many are, you'll experience some of the most realistic depictions of headlamps in any racing game. As it turns out, all of the game's tracks and areas also have excellent lighting, especially in race replays. Even though you can't edit or control your replays' speed, you can adjust each replay with a number of dramatic trackside camera angles. And even though the game offers only 12 tracks, each is unique. You'll find tight, technical sections and massive sweeping turns, hard-braking hairpins, monstrous straights, and roller-coaster hills, so you won't get bored with them for quite some time.