Sorry for double-posting, what follows is just so... "out of template". Read this if you're interested in further details or take it as a testament to the effort I put into this particular DR :P
Like probably some other recent cross-platform titles, Pure has a tricky way to deal with aspect ratios : 3D and FMV look best in 16:9, while the ubiquitous stretched 2D elements make the game look "not quite right". The design of most 2D elements is pretty clever too, and it often requires a sharp eye to find out which aspect ratio is "correct" for each element of a picture on screen. I think the makers of Pure realized that although 16:9 is the natural aspect ratio for 'next-gen' consoles versions and their HD resolutions, it was much less common than 4:3 on the PC. So they probably re-designed 2D elements to make sure they wouldn't look too weird in 4:3, while the game itself and video files remain 'HD'. Here are more comparison screenies to hopefully demonstrate this better than my clunky words.
ATV selection screen : 3D Hor+/2D stretch. Then again, the coloured bolts on the 'stat screws' look better in widescreen than in 4:3 to me.
![](http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6757/purequad1024x768hw8.th.jpg)
![](http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/3189/purequad1280x800tr0.th.jpg)
Track selection screen : seems to stretch... but only the upper-layer 2D elements (world map, 'Freestyle' circle...) do ! The bink video file looks exactly the same as the background of the 1360x768 shot. The mountains, clouds and trees are too narrow in 4:3, even though the photo's white frame seems to have more "familiar" proportions than in widescreen.
![](http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/4048/puretrack1024x768lr6.th.jpg)
![](http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/7988/puretrack1280x800qk4.th.jpg)
Loading screens : you'll come across a lot of these in Pure - before as well as after races. And you'll see loads of those rotating gears that look like potatoes in widescreen...
![](http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/5153/pureload1024x768uu5.th.jpg)
![](http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/5197/pureload1280x800vl9.th.jpg)
Garage : although the background video (moving black lines and arabesques) is really another 16:9 FMV, this screen would make you think 4:3 is the real aspect ratio intended for the game... Then you'd do some racing and realize it can't be. 2D's a liar in Pure !
![](http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5336/puregarage1024x768op6.th.jpg)
![](http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9562/puregarage1280x800wz7.th.jpg)
![](http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/8021/puregarage1360x768mm3.th.jpg)