The off road handling clicked with me earlier, on a trip from Detroit to the Northern Rockies. Throwing my Dirt Spec Focus around dirt roads was so much fun that I actually found myself disappointed when the GPS led me back on to traditional roads.

Then I picked up a Z4 for road races, doing it up for Street Spec (eventually going to use it for Performance Spec, once unlocked) and finding just how much grippier it is. The various handling models for different cars/specs are fantastic once you tailor it to your tastes, and the game really shows how diverse it can be. I only hope the missions show themselves to be of the same quality, but I reckon that's a fool's hope.

Ski Jump...all the best folk hang out there!

Yeah the chase missions need some serious balancing

I'm still enjoying it.. it often takes a few goes to connect on starting up and there doesn't appear to be much social interaction unfortunately. I often choose co-op only to be informed theres either no players available or no one wants to play..and very rarely receive any requests to join other players.

Plugging away at the campaign. Unlocked the third type of vehicle and still using my original 370.

The career has all gone a bit grindy.. I've gotten to level 30. The next story mission, and there's only one available, is level 35.

Of course I could do some multiplayer.. but unless you get 8 people it wont seem to start.

This game houses both the very best, and very worst, of racing games. It has so many problems: horribly unbalanced mission difficulty levels, inconsistent physics, horrid AI, some of the worst rubber-banding I've ever seen, and many, many more.

But I just don't care.

Because when it clicks, mainly during freeroam, it's just a joy to drive around. The handling strikes a nice balance between arcade and something akin to the exaggerated realism of PGR or Grid, each car feels different, each car spec feels markedly different, it looks great at times (even if it's hardly "next gen" in terms of raw visual grunt) and impromptu races/chases/cruises with randoms/crew mates just adds something that no other racer has managed this well.

And let's not forget the ridiculously large map, full of missions, data stations, challenges and all manner of collectible gubbins to keep the game alive for a long time.

I just like finding other folk driving around and get a road trip going with them. I don't give a rats arse about the story any more. Too much sight seeing to do!

I can afford a Ford Focus! Oh, I see your point!

I still have my crew credits. What are they for?

Aye, you can choose to spend CC instead of $, which often means you can afford stuff that'd normally be way too pricey!

You do get more sometimes, though I'm not sure what the criteria is for earning them.

£24.99 at Game.

They do have there problems. I wouldn't mind if they where actually interesting but apart from bashing cars and checkpoint racing there's nothing remotely new or interesting.

The offroad (not dirt track but actual no road at all) physics are awful with the car seemingly bouncing around at random.

Finally worked out how to ask people to join my crew but the social side of it is totally dead (presumably unless you have friends) as no invites to join crews or missions ever come through and no one ever accepts anyway.

I'm level 45. Still have the same one car and must be getting near the end of the story now so I'll plough on...

Yeah I've enjoyed the free driving and finding landmarks.. it's obviously bombed at retails. Game are selling it for £22.50 this week so I guess there may be a few new players. Probably not worth selling it now.

I've filled in most of the map and I think I've found all the radio masts (unless there's a trophy)

Yup, I don't think I've seen one single person playing this on my friend's list. A shame, the concept is appealing but the execution does deter.