Racing games are typically sorted into one of two categories simulation racers (such as ltIgtGran TurismoltIgt) or arcade racers (such as ltIgtRidge RacerltIgt). ltIgtApexltIgt could easily fit into both categories. It breaks so many traditional driving game rules that it almost qualifies as its own genre. ltpgt Unlike most racing games ltIgtApexltIgt has elements of role playing game progression your in-game persona improves as you achieve success on the track. At the start of the game players will find themselves in charge of a dinky garage manned by a generic stubbly-faced mechanic. Successful performance in a race will drive quotsalesquot of whatever type of car youaposre racing this has two big effects. First youaposll notice your garage gradually transform from a two-man shack to a large assembly facility staffed by a variety of new personalities. Second sales points can be saved and spent on research and development of new high-performance cars. The races themselves progress in a fairly standard manner with a series of cups and circuits that unlock new cups and circuits as you complete them. Completion of races in the single player quotDream Modequot will unlock cars and tracks for use in the multi player quotArcade Mode.quot ltpgt Graphically ltIgtApexltIgt is everything youaposd expect out of a modern Xbox game with pixel shading and reflective surfaces to spare. One of the highlights of the game is the incredibly well done race environments. Theyaposre consistently life-like and just plain fun to drive. If the game suffers in any one area itaposs the controls which manage to be neither as realistic as a racing sim nor as simple as an arcade racer. Itaposs a strange mix between the two genres and takes some getting used to and there are a few aspects of the physics of racing (like taking hairpin corners or making contact with other cars) that just feels wrong. While