This port of the Dreamcast version will seem very familiar to DC owners, but PS2 owners should appreciate this fine title. Little more than a year ago, I played one of the finest racing titles to date on the Sega Dreamcast; Test Drive Le Mans. Thankfully the same crew has developed the same game for the PlayStation 2, so now folks who held out for the new Playstation system will get a chance to enjoy this racer. Unfortunately, in the end, a marvelous game by the name of Gran Turismo 3 took the graphical punch out of this remarkable racing title. This doesn't mean for one second though, if you own GT3, you shouldn't own Le Mans. The two games are totally different, and Le Mans is still definitely a must have for racing fans. Here's why. Graphically Le Mans is virtually identical to the Sega DC version, with very little changes. The car models are very well recreated and there appears to be additional bits of improved eye candy, such as tire smoke and reflections. Background visuals are not only pleasing to the eye, but unlike GT3, they give you a great sense of speed. Topped off with sensational special effects such as varying weather, changing from night to day in a single race, pit crews, and real time shadows, Le Mans looks like a winner.

Audio seems to have taken a slight dip when compared to the Dreamcast original. With the PlayStation 2's incredible audio system, I'm not sure why this would happen. The sounds come off sort of muffled. If anything comes off sounding better than the DC version, it is the crowd, which seems somewhat louder when rounding the grand stands. Even though the quality is lower, the game still sounds pretty nice. Strong roaring engines, screeching tires, and techno music round out the various effects in Le Mans. Overall, nothing too sensational when it comes to the sound department, and an announcer would have come in handy here.

Gameplay is very tight indeed. Not only is the game's A.I. adjustable from the very weak to the almost impossible, the game plays extremely well to boot. With the 3 selectable A.I. settings, you can spend much time honing your racing skills. There are a wonderful number of options when it comes to control. Gas and Brake can be utilized 3, count 'em, 3 different ways. There's the classic X and Square method, the right analog stick method, and finally to replicate the DC version, you can utilize the shoulder L and R buttons as well. Not only do you have great customization, but also the control is extremely responsive. With the game's speed, I'm happier with the control of Le Mans than that of GT3.

You can bet your bottom dollar that there would be plenty to do in Le Mans as well. While not as incredibly deep as Gran Turismo 3, the game's depth will still please with ease. With five challenging game styles, including an exhausting 24-hour endurance race, you'll be playing Le Mans for quite some time. The two player split screen is very nice as well, with a great frame rate and same fantastic sense of speed. All in all, you won't be 100% done with Le Mans in a few weeks, that's for sure.

Overall, if you are a racing fan that thought Gran Turismo 3 was just too realistic for its own good, Le Mans is right up your alley. Honestly, depending on your taste and point of view, Le Mans may just be the best racing title on the system. This reviewer still has his money on GT3, but Le Mans is still fantastic in its own right.