Presentation 9.5
An effiecient menu system replete with shortcuts, quick menus, and lots of cars. It´s mixed with good car details and data and good replays.
Graphics 9.0
Technically excellent visuals and a solid 30 FPS, but artistically very plain, even forgettable. Some areas like NY really stand out. Car models are decent, not great. Solid reflections & poly counts.
Sound 7.5
This is one terrible soundtrack. Just skip it outright and take advantage of the rippable soundtracks that continuously play even when loading.
Gameplay 9.5
Excellent physics and handling, aggressive, quirky, and tough AI, good sense of speed, and a huge amount of stuff. A very well rounded game. The Drivatar and mod sections add a lot.
Lasting Appeal 10
This 60-80 hour game will own you. The offline campaign is massive ( there´s a two-player split-screen, too), but the online mode will own you even more. A great online achievement.
OVERALL 9.5
From IGN.com