Visually stunning, easy to pick up on, a bit dull at times.
The game is laid out well, allowing easy movement from screen to screen as far as options and settings are concerned, and things like track selection. The game is setup on a "tier" system if you will; begin with only a couple tracks available, and as you progress more open. Pretty simple.
The game is visually Awesome, although it is held back in some aspects, like free-roaming off of the tracks for example (if you are run too far off course, the game automatically resets you back to where you went off).
My two gripes are minimal at best:
*Very little side-by-side racing except for the CORR series. Many of the off-road tracks are you "racing yourself", trying to beat your best time or one required. This doesn't take away from the experience, but I personally like trading paint with my competitors.
*Very little CORR racing. At the risk of being too redneck-ish, I love the Championship Off Road Racing circuits, but you are very limited to how many races you can enter. And, as I mentioned above, these races are the only ones that incorporate multiple vehicles.
I myself have a pretty killer wheel/pedal setup at home that includes a custom-built platform that accommodates the peripherals and a comfy chair; my point being that switching between pavement to dirt can be more challenging than one may realize. All in all, a great game. It sure isn't flat-track racing, so rent it before you buy it if you're an avid "driver".