This is by far the most fun I have ever had with a PC racer.
TrackMania Sunrise is a beautiful game, both in the sence of graphics and gameplay. Sunrise's truely innovative game play really shows the essance of what makes video games fun. Video games have a great appeal because they let you do things that are impossible or something you just wouldnt do in real life (like drive a super car 400mph and jump it off half-pipes). Sunrise captures this appeal with a truely original concept (expanded apon the original) and responsive gameplay.
Sunrise can be classified as an arcade racer. It's certainly not a simulation game (You will not find any GT4 in here). When it tries to, it does a very good job at this. The controls on the supercar and the 4x4 are ultra responsive and easy enough to pick up. There is a science to the racing though, it will take a long time and a fair amount of skill to get good at this game. There are certain turn strategies, such as for the supercar, you need to skid through your turns keeping to the outside as much as possible. The races can offer a fair degree of challenge on the silver (pilot) setting and you will not find yourself breasing through the competition. The platform games are a great addition and really a lot of fun.
The gameplay is not flawless and you will find a few querks here and there that are at times extremely frustrating. My biggest complaint is the fact that the coast cars are EXTREMLY unresponsive. This is Sunrise's attempt at pleasing the simulation cround, and it really does not fit the rest of the games atmosphere. I am a big fan of GT4 and pretty decent at it and I was having a hard time with the tracks. The problem might be that I'm using the keyboard to control the car, and when you break, you instantly lock up the tires making any attempt at turning useless. The best way to take a turn, is to let off the gas, and roll through the turn trying as hard as possible not to loose traction.
The 4x4 has its flaws, where it is extremly bouncy and VERY easy to flip (let that be a warning to you SUV drivers). If you do not land a jump on all 4 tires be prepared for a rough time, trying to readjust. The street lights and the other scenery on the side of the road will also give u some frustration. Its hard enough trying to land on a narrow road after jumping 400 yards, but having streetlights on the side that protrude into the road offer some extreme frustration when you think you finnally landed the jump and hit a steet light and flip. These flaws are minor in the entire scope of the game though, and you will find a great sence of accomplishment when you conquer a track.
The graphics are stunning, with a decently powerful video card it seems to be the best car graphics ive ever seen in a PC racing game. All the reflections are there, the shadows, dynamic lighting with the headlights, motion blur, and other post proccess effects (including something that resembles HDR) and the water looks amazing. Everything is rendered with a stunning level of detail that will leave you in awe as you fly through the air or watch the replay.
The multiplayer and community option adds almost infinite replay value for this game. With the easy to use track editor and the quick DL times of multiplayer maps, there seem to be an endless amount of tracks to play. Granted it is hard to find a server in the US, playing across a ocean is no problem. The game does not rely on the accurate modeling of where the other cars are (because you dont collide with them), and its more about the time it takes you to complete a track. It can best be summarized as multiplayer timetrial, which is a lot more fun than it sounds.
Overall, this is a great game, and should not be overlooked. Its at a great price point (I got it at $20) and have already played it more than the $20 dollars spent on DoD:Source. Be sure to pick this one up, the next time you are in a store.