To say that the racing game scene is as crowded as the L.A. freeway at rush-hour is an understatement, but we can't resist a good dirty driver. Game publisher Acclaim has enjoyed moderate success with the Burnout series, but has yet to leave a lasting mark on the crowded genre. Are they about to turn the corner? The aptly-named Juiced, by U.K. developer Juice Games, might just be the underground racing game that could give the other racers out there a run for their money.

First up, this multiplatform game -- coming to Xbox, PS2, and PC -- will feature more than 50 licensed vehicles, including some of the most coveted Japanese street rides from Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. Also expect to see Detroit muscle machines from Ford and Chevrolet. Of course, the Europeans won't be left in the dust, either. All these vehicles are impressive, but there's more to a great racer than just the rides.

Juice Games isn't trying to make just another racing game, and this one is probably not for the casual driver. While there will be opportunities to take a ride and do some racing, Juiced is shaping up to be a gearhead's dream. The game is being built around several different modes of play to satisfy a plethora of tastes including solo races, sprints, point-to-point, and even something to rival the drift mode of EA's Need for Speed: Underground. In cruise mode you'll get to take your skills to seven different locations where you can drift around corners, pull 180s and 360s, and even crank out some donuts.

Eye candy is what this game is about.
The settings, while not real-world locations, are based on actual cities, and as a result have a similar feel to NFSU. The circuit and point-to-point races have the right mix of tight turns, straightaways, and bends to offer some serious challenges. Even more notable is that these courses still feel natural and real. The game-world is well rendered and strikingly rich adding to the sense of realism.

The core of the game is built around the career modes with more than 50 unique locations. Instead of a mere single career option you'll have several sub-modes like the millionaire mode that ups the ante on racing expensive cars. The Sprint career mode is for those who like to keep it short and simple with drag races; the Gambler mode is for high-stakes junkies; and the Pink Slip career mode is for the real hardcore men. These various modes give you the chance to fill your coffers and garage quickly. An in-game calendar will let you schedule big races whether you're playing on your system or heading online to challenge other players. A team-based option also means you'll get help taking on the competition. You can build custom crews and work together. The developers are also promising online head-to-head play on all platforms, but we'll have to check in closer to the fall release date to see how that comes together.