AM’s simulation mode is a lite version of more comprehensive titles like GT or Sega GT. Most upgrades are ready to be tuned at will without needing to complete any races or competitions. The upgrades that require completion of races are engine upgrades, CPUs, or weight reduction – anything that’ll speed up the car. There are 7 racing championships to complete that contain 5 races each. The race styles range from standard circuit races to rally racing.

The problem with the PS2 version of AM is the slide-based control. Completing turns or even staying in a straight line was a chore because of the slip-n-slide physics. The controls have been tuned for the Xbox version to create a more arcade-type experience. It’s not as easy to slip off the road or run into a wall on turns, except in the rain level where it’s understandable.

Like the PS2 version, the physics lend very well to the uphill and downhill races. The major curves let you slide the car around every turn or brake and accelerate with finesse in the Xbox version. Take out the Toyoto Trueno and Levin in a vs. match to have a frenetic uphill or downhill battle, ala Initial D.

The cel-shaded vehicles are just as sharp and vibrant on Xbox as they were on PS2. AM’s unique anime-inspired look is fantastic and every upgraded is noted in toon-riffic glory. The wind lines, exhaust pop, and other details look great. The only thing that remains a bit bland are the flat backdrops.

The Xbox Live function is easy to use, but good luck finding a crew to race. Several log-on attempts revealed that not too many people are logging into the AM races. The interface and load times have been streamlined to keep play speedy.

Auto Modellista is an average racer that has its good points. The Xbox version is a notch ahead of its previous incarnation, but this car needs to be rebuilt in the sequel.