Lotus Challenge

Lotus Challenge
Celebrating Lotus' 54-year racing history
Genre(s): Racing Platform(s): PlayStation 2 Xbox GameCube PC Release Date: PlayStation 2 EU: 2 November 2001 Windows EU: 23 February 2003 Xbox EU: 28 March 2003 NA: 30 April 2003 GameCube NA: 4 August 2004 Mobile 20 September 2004 Developer(s): Kuju Entertainment Publisher(s): Virgin Interactive

Lotus Challenge (Also known as Motor Trend Presents: Lotus Challenge on the Xbox release) is a 2001 racing game developed by Kuju Entertainment Ltd. and published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment Ltd (Europe)/Xicat Interactive (North America). It is not to be confused with the Lotus trilogy for the Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Sega Genesis, & Commodore 64.

Why It Rocks

1. A good number of licensed cars by Lotus to drive from the Elise GT1 to the iconic Esprit from Lotus: The Ultimate Challenge. Oddly, it features the 2001 Proton Satria and Vauxhall Carlton/Opel Omega (albeit rebadged as "Lotus Carlton/Omega").
2. Decent graphics for a 2001 game, especially in the PC and Xbox ports.
3. The game features a Story Mode in which you can either play as Jack or Zoe with plenty of events featuring races, performing stunts for movies, or advertisements. Later in the said gamemode, you'll race in events featuring historic Lotus F1 cars.
4. It was one of the games that managed to revolutionize the use of analog sticks for steering, featuring driving aids and togglable vehicle damage.
5. Great licensed soundtrack, composed by the British band Hybrid.
6. Twenty circuits from several locations around the world such as the Trafalgar Square (London, United Kingdom), Jupiter Beach (Florida, United States) and Rainbow Bridge (Tokyo, Japan).

Bad Qualities

1. Sluggish controls on the console versions. The GameCube port is even worse, as the controls are very wonky and you will have to move the control stick clock-wise in order to steer.
2. Frustrating difficulty spike due to AI rubberbanding and smart AI that hard to complete the race.
3. The damage models are rather odd and unrealistic.
4. Poor engine sound design, as some cars such as the Lotus F1 model sounds like an old lawnmower burning nitrous oxide.

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