Amazing Graphics, takes time to get the controls down, but otherwise a worthwhile racer with good physics
Once you get passed the initial settings, use the free ride option to help you get your bearings, and then tackle the career mode. A progressive ladder of races allows you to upgrade each car as you win each race. It is not necessary to raise the difficulty level from the easiest in order to acquire these upgrades. Each car has its own style, look and handling, and is made for either road, off-road or a combo of the two. If you pick the right tires with the right suspension (high or low, hard or soft) then you can tackle any track.
The graphics are stunning. I have yet to see a game that uses HDR lighting correctly as this game does (I know its direct x 9, but it's STILL capable of HDR). The texture maps are very high quality, the light shines off the road as you drive by, there are tracks in the dirt made by wheels, even the water is reflective and has substance if you happen to drown you car. The car uses cubic mapping to reflect your surroundings and has many individual parts that move and react to your driving. If you choose the in car view, your driver changes gears, and the real time shadows of the car itself allow light only on certain parts within the car which move and shift as you drive. The deformations of the car are comparable to Colin Mcrae DIRT. The only qualm I had was with the trees, but I have yet to see a game that has real looking trees. (Even in DIRT the foliage pokes through the car as you drive over it).
I have completed the career mode to about 90 percent, and while it is frustrating at times, it is not nearly as hard as Richard Burns Rally. So if you get the chance to try this game out, make sure you have time to spare to tweaking control settings. Amazing graphics and physics.