Christmas Video Games Racing Sports Simulation Arcade Crash Nascar Forza Dirt
Choosing a racing game is a hard choice in itself, let alone choosing one as a gift for someone else! There are so many good games out at the moment and each one has its own individual style and feel. Styles range from arcade racers such as Mario Kart to a more serious simulation style deployed in Forza Motorsport 3. Whatever the style there is a game that will suit!
First of all we have a new addition to the Need For Speed franchise with Need For Speed Shift. This game is a mixture between arcade and simulation however it tends to lean more towards the arcade style. Need For Speed was well known for the street racing and car customization, however it has now tried to move forward into the more professional style of track racing. This game is great if you want to race authentic cars and tracks but still ram people off the road or drift around corners. Whilst driving in the cockpit view you can see the G-force affecting your drivers head and body position and the screen will also grey out if you crash. You earn stars for winning races, leading the whole race, beating a lap time and so on - these stars can then be used to unlock vehicles. You are encouraged to play the game your way throughout and are rewarded for either driving carefully and not crashing into other cars, or being an aggressive driver and drifting around corners or trading paint. Various difficulty levels can be set if you are struggling, or if you need more of a challenge. The game is available on the Xbox 360, PC, PS3 and PSP.
Cars Race-O-Rama is aimed at the younger generation, but that's not to say that it isn't an enjoyable game to play. The game immerses players into a racing adventure through unique locations which have never been seen in the world of Cars. Players will race with their own customized Lightening and compete against other players from all over the continent in an attempt to win the Race-O-Rama trophy. This game is based on the movie cars (in case you hadn't already figured) and uses a very cartoony/arcade graphics style. The game is available on PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, DS and the Wii.
Dirt 2 is the sequel to the widely known Colin McRae's Dirt. The game features off road racing using a variety of different off road vehicles such as land buggies and rally cars. You will race in different countries and each will have a unique look - a Malaysian jungle, Utah desert or inside an L.A stadium. Each car can be customized and every track that is available in single player can be used online. The graphics are great and there are no issues with the frame rate. The game features great audio effects and is very realistic - especially on the graphic front. The single player is long and the online will add hours of fun. If you enjoyed the first Dirt game then this one is a huge improvement. The game is available on PC, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, DS and the Nintendo Wii.
Now we have a game that uses the tag - 'Where Dreams Are Driven' - and has what has been described as the best customization for a racing game. Of course that game is Forza Motorsport 3, a simulation game which allows anyone to pick up and play. Whilst Forza is known as a more 'hardcore' racer the latest edition to the franchise makes it easier than before to get into to. There are many driving aids that you can turn on or off depending on your skill level (Anti Lock Bracking, Stability Control, Traction Control), you can also use a feature called 'Auto Break' whilst allows the computer to break the car for you, so you can focus on accelerating and steering. You can also set the damage amount to whether it is just for cosmetic purposes or whether it will inflict more serious damage on the car which will affect steering or transmission. The game feels a lot more fun to play than the previous Forza and a cockpit view has also been added. The graphics have greatly improved, and the scenery of the tracks is mind blowing. There are over 400 cars and 100 tracks to choose from and you can participate in events such as Drift, Drag and Standard races. The car tuning and customization is great and there are also leaderboards for all the grease monkeys or artists out there to get recognised! Forza Motorsport 3 is an Xbox 360 exclusive which unfortunately limits the games target audience.
Before buying a gift for someone, ensure you know what console they own and which style of racing they prefer. Keep the receipt to avoid any major upsets or disappointments! There are plenty of great racing games available, but if you are really stuck for ideas, why not try to ask the person what game they would like, or maybe visit a game store and ask an employee what racing games may suit your friend.
