Racing

Billed as the "first freestyle motocross" video game, Freestyle MetalX offers eight go-anywhere environments filled with objects like swimming pools and skyscrapers to trick off. Since there are no limitations imposed on players, they are free to smash windows, plow through parks, and do things that would otherwise be illegal. In addition to riding across real-world locales, players can participate in side events like bus jumping, wheelies, and zipping through tunnels of fire to earn some notoriety and cash for their character. Money can then be used to purchase new equipment including bikes, clothing, accessories, and more.

Nine professional riders are available to play as or against, including such legends as Kris "The Rock" Rourke and Ronnie "Kung Fu" Faisst. Seven generic riders are also selectable, bringing the total lineup of characters to 16. Players must guide these characters through various skill-based challenges in order to unlock the remaining courses. Once unlocked, the eight levels seamlessly connect with one another to form one sprawling environment. Within each region are special events entitled Big Air, Freestyle, Hill Climb, and Race, which typically involve performing as many aerial stunts as possible to outscore the competition.

Freestyle MetalX also features a number of sub-games to add some diversity to the racing action. Players will ride off a cliff to see how many tricks they can perform during their rapid decent, become a human dart while hurling themselves toward an enormous dartboard, and even participate in a game of motocross pinball. Those tired of the existing courses can create their own arena using the built-in level editor, and players can learn more about the game via the included making-of documentary as well as other exclusive DVD content. No matter which mode is selected, players can listen to hard-driving music from such bands as Megadeath, Mötley Crüe, Motörhead, and Twisted Sister. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Acclaim's Extreme-G series of futuristic racing games continues with the release of XGRA, short for Extreme Gravity Racing Association. In addition to the high-speed races across 14 twisting, loop-filled courses, the game emphasizes a league-style atmosphere, complete with real-time commentary during competition, a fleshed-out background on the sport's history, and the ability to compete for lucrative contracts by catering to corporate sponsors. The setting is the year 2080, and the main attraction is the SiNN Global Championship, where cutthroat racers from around the world gather to compete in a deadly season of weapons-based racing.

The career mode, referred to as 2080 Season, features multiple race types across five classes of competition. Each new format features a twist: endurance races extend the number of laps, peacekeeper races remove each cycle's weapons, while speed limited races ban the use of turbo. Other formats include extreme weather races, which affect handling, burn off races, which reduce the number of laps, and warmonger races, which add gun turrets on the courses and reward those who kill off the competition. As players progress through a career they can earn contracts with special incentives. Instead of wearing apparel, however, players receive extra cash for targeting specific rivals on the course.

Two additional game modes are supported: Arcade and Time Trial. Arcade races allow up to four players to compete on courses unlocked in the career mode. Time Trial also supports four players simultaneously as they attempt to shatter course records. XGRA features a total of eight racing teams, each featuring signature weapons, sponsors, and handling tendencies. By winning championships or by completing secondary objectives such as destroying a rival company's billboard, players can unlock new, more powerful bikes with improved speed, shielding, acceleration, and more. There are also two distinct soundtracks selectable from the options menu: a choice of rock or dance music. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Originally conceived as a PlayStation title, The Getaway is a mission-based game set in London, England. Inspired by such films as The Long Good Friday and 1968's Get Carter, The Getaway has players slipping into the shoes of an ex-con named Mark Hammond. Hammond finds himself reluctantly drawn into a life of crime again after his wife is brutally murdered and his son abducted by the Bethnal Street Mob.

Now Hammond must complete 12 missions on behalf of a once-powerful crime boss named Charlie Jolson, whose control over London's East End is as frail as his health. If Hammond fails to comply, he'll never see his son again. The result is a cinematic adventure encompassing car chases, gunfights, stealth, and a second playable character in the form of embittered Detective Frank Carter, whose 12-mission storyline runs concurrent with Hammond's.

The 3D city captures an estimated 20 square miles of London, complete with authentic storefronts and landmarks. Players will also be able to walk into mission-related buildings such as restaurants, pubs, warehouses, and hotels during the course of the game. Actors were filmed using an advanced form of motion-capture technique, where up to five people could be recorded at once (along with their dialogue) inside actual sets. Each actor's face was also digitally scanned and mapped to his or her character model.

The main adventure in The Getaway consists of 52 objectives spread across the 24 missions, with driving representing nearly half of the action. The game distinguishes itself from others in the genre by its lack of on-screen indicators for targeting enemies or viewing health. Instead players must rely on subtle visual cues rather than obvious meters to advance through the game. Once the main mode is complete, players can embark on a scenic tour of London to visit various landmarks and notable attractions without worrying about time or having to complete objectives. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Released nearly 30 years after the debut of the television series that inspired it (and several months before the 2004 feature film remake), Starsky & Hutch is a mission-based driving game featuring the edgy, undercover cop duo and their trademark red and white Gran Torino. In the style of the TV series, core gameplay involves high-speed chases through a three-dimensional Bay City. Players are motivated to perform big jumps and other high-speed feats by more than just the goal of catching the criminal, however. Starsky and Hutch must do their job with style -- or not at all.

As the heroes zip through crowded thoroughfares and crooked alleys, a "Viewer Rating" (VR) score represents the level of excitement the car chase is producing for a theoretical television audience. A steady string of successful stunts will keep the rating high, but viewers will be bored by drivers who play it safe. If the VR level drops too low, the mission is lost. Beyond the driving challenges, the game also features a good deal of shooting. One cop will draw his pistol and hang out the passenger window to auto-aim at various targets while his partner drives. In two-player games, one gamer can take charge of the shooting while the other controls the car. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

This sequel to the million-selling Project Gotham Racing features officially licensed sports cars from such manufacturers as Ferrari and Porsche. Over 50 automobiles are available to race as or against in a variety of new cities, including venues in Hong Kong and Edinburgh. The basic structure of its predecessor remains intact, meaning players will compete for Kudos points by demonstrating a number of skills while racing. Of course, new techniques will have to mastered to earn additional Kudos, and the ranking system has been redesigned to better reflect a player's true racing ability. Multiplayer competition is supported through Microsoft's Xbox Live broadband service. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

"Nothin' but attitude!" proclaims the PS2 box cover for IHRA Motorsports: Drag Racing 2, the follow-up to 2000's IHRA Motorsports for the PC and 2001's IHRA Motorsports: Drag Racing for the PlayStation. After selecting from more than 50 cars -- including classic, late model, funny cars, pro stock, pro mod, and top fuel categories -- players can race in practice, single race, event, or season modes. Customization isn't just limited to the 70 vehicle components available, as weather conditions (humidity, wind direction, wind speed, barometer, altitude, and temperature) also enter into the mix.

Quarter-mile and 1/8 mile tracks from around the United States are used in single-event racing, with users compiling a list of tracks for later use in seasonal mode. The Shop is "tweaking" heaven for accomplished dragsters, offering a host of customization possibilities for chassis (body style, paint job), engine (block, pistons, valves), transmission (gear set, clutch), suspension (coil, spring, steering), tires (size, density, width), devices (throttle stops, delay box, rev limiter, shift lights), and inspection (rule compliance). Players can customize dashboard displays, as well as name, choice of parachute release, and burnout staging.

Race options include setting the ability level of computer-controlled drivers (ranging from rookie to pro), number of racers per event (2 to 64), end-of-race videos, and level of realistic damage (none, partial, or full). Nearly every aspect of any car can be rebuilt or modified in the Shop, and a handicap system is available to equalize competition in some categories. The manual also contains five tips for developing consistent and good reaction times for drag racers looking for that extra edge. ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

The sequel to 2000's ATV: Quad Power Racing on PlayStation continues the off-road action on 17 tracks across five international environments. An arcade-style approach offers players an opportunity to catch big air off jumps, power-slide around corners, and perform more than 20 different tricks for style points. Players can choose from ten professional riders, including Kory Ellis, Tim Farr, and Dana Creech, as they enter competitive races against the computer or their friends in a variety of multiplayer modes. ~ All Game Guide

An Xbox answer to the PlayStation's popular Gran Turismo series, Forza Motorsport is a serious driving simulation boasting licensed vehicles and realistic action. The game features automobiles from more than 60 brand-name manufacturers including BMW, Chevy, Dodge, Ferrari, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Mazda, Nissan, and Porsche. Vehicles are extensively customizable, allowing players to trick out their favorite ride with new paint and rims, or upgrade with new engines, brakes, suspensions, and additional systems. Astute drivers can also fine-tune gear ratios, timing, tire pressure, and other elements for top performance in particular driving conditions.

Like the cars and equipment, the game's courses are also based on real-world equivalents, so players can race through re-creations of famous runs such as the Nurburgring or the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Opponent behavior is influenced by the game's "Drivatar" technology, which is designed to learn and mimic the tactics and tendencies of human players. Gamers can train their own Drivatars, who can race for them or help train new members of their team. In spite of the customizable artificial intelligence, sometimes nothing beats racing against other gamers, so a number of multiplayer modes are supported through the Xbox Live service. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

ATV: Quad Frenzy aims to bring the speed, stunts, and excitement of off-road racing to Nintendo DS. The game features over three dozen tracks, and multiplayer racings is supprted through a wireless connection. In the virtual garage, players can upgrade their off-road vehicles directly through a touch-screen interface. ~ All Game Guide

Rainbow Studios, the developer of ATV Offroad Fury and MX Unleashed, aims to bring two distinct, "extreme racing" motor sports together in the same off-road arenas with this cross-platform release. MX vs ATV: On the Edge features plenty of dirt bikes and four-wheelers, of course, as well as monster trucks, sand rails, and even tricked-out golf carts, all set loose in large, freely roamed wilderness areas. The game's diverse selection of racing challenges includes SuperMoto competition, hill-climbs and short-track races, waypoint races, freestyle trick competitions, and -- as suggested by the title -- an in-depth career mode that follows a series of head-to-head races between ATVs and MX bikes. As in the developer's earlier efforts, MX vs ATV is designed to offer accessible, arcade-style action with a realistic rhythm and feel. Multiplayer racing is supported for up to four, through an Ad-hoc PSP wireless connection. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

This third racing game to star the perma-grinned bandicoot puts a new spin on the genre standards of chaotic, combat karting. As in the GameCube's popular Mario Kart: Double Dash!, two players can team up in a single vehicle, so one can steer while the other handles weapons and defense. Unlike in Double Dash, however, the method by which two characters accomplish their team-up is part of the fast-paced gameplay. Any two racers can combine their karts and team up on-the-fly, just by crashing into one another and pressing a button.

An amusement park area serves as a hub to the different track events, but offers a number of its own activities as well. Between races, players can talk to park patrons, collect useful coins, and partake in a number of mini-games. When they're ready for a real race, the game features five main tracks -- Mystery Island, Happily Ever Faster, Tyrannosaurus Wrecks, Tomb Town, and Astro Land -- each set in a themed environment. Entrance to the racing areas must be earned, leading players through a progressively more challenging series of competitions. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Futuristic racing zips onto PSP in this launch title. As in earlier editions of Wipeout, gamers pilot anti-gravity vehicles in races where brutal combat can play as big a role as blazing speed. Wireless multiplayer connectivity supports as many as eight human-controlled racers in the same game. Publisher Sony promises the availability of future downloadable content, including new music, circuits, and vehicles, to help keep the race going long after the light turns green. ~ All Game Guide