Through all the years I've been playing computer games, the genre of driving simulation was one that never really caught my eye. I'd tried all the various driving games around, including Outrun (which I though was overrated), and most of the Grand Prix games. None of them really held a lot of interest for me - they all seemed to lack something. I was never sure what it was, and to be honest I still don't know. I thoroughly enjoyed playing Sega Rally in the arcade, but hated Nascar. Grand Prix 1 & 2 held no interest. Test Drive - well, I could go test-drive a real car. Then out of the blue comes the latest Need for Speed title from Electronic Arts which promptly changed my ideas about driving games and made me almost a complete convert (although I still hate Nascar).

I originally decided to do Porsche 2000 simply because I'm the only one on the review team who had driven a Porsche in real life (a 911 if you're interested), so I wandered out and bought myself a groovy force-feedback steering wheel and pedals (because whilst using the keyboard is fun, it's a little too imprecise for a driving game). After a reasonably short install process - my full install takes up a smidge under 550Mb with some extras thrown in - I was straight into the game.

If you have a steering wheel you can start racing straight away by first creating a character (which allows you to run multiple people or multiple games at once), and then going into single player mode which lets you choose a car and a track and off you go. If you want a slightly longer race, but can't yet be bothered with either Evolution or Factory Driver modes, the single player also includes a Quick Knockout mode where the last place holder in each lap of a circuit gets dropped, or extended knockout mode, where the last place holder on linear tracks gets dropped from the next race, until there is an eventual winner. Not all cars and tracks are available to you at the beginning of the game, and it is the other two single player modes that you use to unlock the extra features of the game. You can tweak the various controller options that come with the game as well to suit your driving style, the type of wheel you have, and the key and button assignments you're happiest with.

Evolution
Evolution is probably the most interesting and time-consuming portion of the game. In this mode, you start at the very beginning of the Porsche history as a gadabout racing driver. You must compete in and win enough prize money to keep your car on the road, and to buy new cars as and when they are released. If you win sufficient races, you can proceed to the next era in Porsche history, buying the latest model and competing in more difficult races over more difficult tracks. Interspersed within the Evolution mode is the opportunity to race and hopefully own classic Porsche racing cars, not normally available for purchase. To earn these you must race and win, and you only get one chance, although the thrill of having the car sitting in your garage is very nice.

Evolution is not an easy game to play, as you must be consistently good at each car, although you do get the opportunity to practise each race before the main event. You also have the option of purchasing upgrades to your car, so you can increase the amount of power put out by the engine by buying a lighter flywheel, or race carburettors, you can lighten the body by replacing metal panels with fibreglass ones, you can beef up the suspension and so on. You can also adjust just about any variable in how the car handles within the garage screen, and you can then test race your new settings to see if there's any improvement in the handling of the car.

Even here the developers have added lots of small details that enhance the game. For example, in the garage you can open and close the doors, bonnet and boot of the rotating car, and even move the camera position to the car interior. If you decide to equip your cabriolet for racing with the top down, it is smoothly animated. There is even a paint shop allowing you to change the colour of your car for the upcoming race, and if you don't like one of the official Porsche colours for the model you're about the drive, you can choose your own. You can even change the style of racing stripes the car has. And a very small detail that shows the attention paid is your cars number plate - it has your player name emblazoned on it. These are small details to be sure, but each of them speaks volumes of the care that has gone into creating the game.

The early stages of racing are actually fairly simple, since the cars are slower and you have more time to react. They also have less power, so acceleration is slower. Each model of Porsche has a distinct handling characteristic, and as you progress through the races you quickly learn how each car reacts. The AI players are also very good drivers, and react to your own manoeuvres, often trying to cut you out of the tightest line through a corner, and at the same time providing a real challenge.

Factory Driver
If you ever feel that your driving skills could do with a little improvement Factory Driver, which can be played alongside Evolution, may just provide you with the edge you need. In this mode you play the part of a new driver hoping to work for Porsche delivering and test-driving new cars. Each stage is designed to gradually build up your driving simulation skills, making Evolution mode easier at times through the skills you acquire, and at other times just being a fun experience.

Tasks can be deceptively simple, like performing two 360 handbrake turns in a designated area (not as easy as you might think), or running through a set mountain course in a set amount of time, or can be almost frustratingly difficult like my own current sticking point - a timed race through the mountains where any damage means I fail. With other cars and the Police actively trying to force you off the road, as well as some seriously tight bends and narrow tunnels, it's very very difficult.