Racing Video Games

Pure is an off-road racing title featuring ATVs and fast-paced, arcade-style action. The object isn't merely to cross the finish line before your 15 opponents, but to perform a variety of flashy stunts while hurtling down mountains, leaping off cliffs, and motoring across rugged terrain. A three-tier trick system (basic, advanced, and pro) is initiated simply by tapping one of the controller's face buttons, with the analog stick used to modify or tweak each acrobatic feat. As with titles in the SSX series, performing tricks in Pure fills a boost meter that lets you travel at high speeds in short bursts or in one extended stretch. Multiple characters are available to race in a choice of real-world locales, including Ocotillo Wells, Lake Garda, Sandy Mountain, and Timber Falls. Up to 16 players can compete online in an assortment of competitive challenges. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Whether it's due to the manufacturer's reluctance to license its product, a simple lack of games, or that pesky $200,000 price tag, most gamers have not had the chance to climb into the driver's seat of either a real or a virtual Ferrari. But that all changes in Ferrari Challenge: Trofeo Pirelli, where players can strap on the five-point harness and speed around 16 tracks modeled after real courses on the official European and North American Ferrari Challenge series. More than 50 Ferraris are available for use, from upgraded Challenge vehicles such as the 355, the FXX, and the 430 Challenge, to production versions of the 588 and 575, to classics such as the 250 GTO and the 275LM; all designed using real photographic scans and original blueprints supplied by the manufacturer.

Game modes include a reproduction of the real-life Challenge series, Arcade mode, Quick Race, Time Trial, Ferrari Collector Card Battle, and online races for up to 16 players. Developer Eutechnyx has imbued the game with a number or graphical flourishes as well, from a damage system that features scratches, dents, and fully detachable parts, to complete engine and cockpit modeling with accurate and functional dashboard gauges, to environmental effects such as smoke, dust, water sprays, and dynamic lighting. Creative players can also design custom logos, graphics, and text for their vehicles, and the developer promises regular updates featuring new downloadable vehicles, courses, and uniform designs. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

EA's best-selling racing series continues with authentic cars, drivers, venues, and sponsors from the speed-driven sport's 2008 season. Featured locales range from speedways and super speedways to short tracks and road courses. A new career mode involves building your driver's reputation while competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Building reputation is accomplished by leading laps, passing cars, avoiding wrecks, qualifying, and more. Your reputation influences the behavior of the computer AI, the quality of potential sponsorship offers, and even the type of opponents you'll face online.

The Sprint Driver Challenge is a separate play mode featuring multiple race-specific scenarios to complete before engaging in head-to-head events against the sport's most recognizable stars. Cover star Jeff Gordon serves as your personal guide and mentor to the world of NASCAR, offering advice and tips to help improve your level of play. A more forgiving handling model is included to help those new to NASCAR stay on the track without spinning out. Veteran drivers can still choose a simulation-style control scheme for an added challenge, and an assortment of car customization options are available to improve each vehicle's performance on the demanding tracks. Online support is included for up to 14 players. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Another installment in Codemasters' long-running racing series, Grid expands on the traditional grand-touring formula established by its predecessors TOCA and Race Driver. Grid takes players to Japan for import tuner drifting, to the U.S. for muscle car street racing, and into Europe, where drivers get a chance to race around some of the world's most famous circuits in high-performance beasts like the Ferrari F430, the Lamborghini Murcielago, the Aston Martin DBR9, and the Porsche 911 GT3-RSR.

Racing enthusiasts will need to be more than just fast, because Grid features the same Ego physics engine employed by the rally game Dirt , meaning every bump and ding is reflected in a car's appearance and performance. High-impact racing is likely to yield engine fires, tire blowouts, and extreme crashes that send cars hurtling through the air. Players can collide with other vehicles as well as trackside objects, and each spectacular crash is captured in Burnout-esque slow-motion replays. Gamers can race across three continents alone, or head online for multiplayer events. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Sony's signature racing simulation marks its first retail release on the PlayStation 3 in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. A series known for its stunning graphics and extreme attention to detail, as well as the notorious perfectionism of creator Kazunori Yamauchi, GT5 Prologue offers gamers a bit of all three. Races feature a 16 car field, with each vehicle captured in full 1080p high-definition video at 60 frames-per-second. Racing enthusiasts can speed around six courses, including familiar tracks like Suzuka Circuit, Fuji Speedway, and the High Speed Ring, as well as the famous Daytona International Speedway. More than 60 high-performance automobiles greet gamers, including beasts like the Ferrari 599, the Nissan GT-R, and the Mercedes Benz SL 55 AMG. And, for the first time in the Gran Turismo series, each car features a fully modeled interior dash view, complete with driver animations and gauges that function in real-time.

Developer Polyphony Digital has revamped the game hub with a feature dubbed My Page, which lets players set their wallpaper, view a calendar of racing events, join races, store photos, check the weather, and even watch TV. The "GT TV" feature lets players view replays, watch real-life car footage from manufacturers, see replays of popular TV shows like Top Gear, and watch highlights from real races of all types. GT5 Prologue features a standard racing mode, more in keeping with the series' previous games, and the all new drift mode, which awards points based on drift angles, racing lines, and speed. As always, upgrading and tuning before races is extremely important, but now gamers can also make adjustments on the fly during races. Two drivers can square off in local split-screen action, and gamers can head online to race against friends or participate is a series of schedules races and time trials. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Described as a complete reinvention of the series by Alex Ward from Criterion Games, Burnout 5 boasts next-generation technology that specializes in creating explosive crashes, and multi-car pile-ups. Gamers cruise into Paradise City after getting a driving license that records all aggressive, reckless, and destructive driving a player will do during their time with the game. There are no rules and gamers may drive as they wish. However, having too much fun can trigger a rivalry with the cities current top burners. The environment itself is a seamless, non-loading landscape full of alleys, highways, city streets, pedestrians, and other drivers. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

MX vs. ATV Untamed, the third consecutive off-road racing game from developer Rainbow Studios, has players competing in an eight-series X-Cross tournament. Events take place in indoor stadiums and outdoor courses, each offering plenty of spots to perform more than 50 tricks. Terrain includes a mix of sand, snow, dirt, and asphalt, with hazards such water, logs, and rocks adding a degree of challenge. While the obvious focus is on racing MX bikes and ATVs, players can also slip behind the wheel of a monster truck, dune buggy, ORV, 4x4 golf cart, trophy truck, and a sand rail.

Players will race as or against such pros as Ricky Carmichael, Davi Millsaps, Kory Ellis, and Dana Creech in the following eight environments: Pinelakes, Crawley Creek, Copper Valley, Lakewood, Clearwater, Del Sol, Kittery Point, Splitoak, and Greenfield. MX options include a choice of 50cc, 125cc, and 250cc models, each customizable with over 100 sponsor parts to improve power, handling, and acceleration. Untamed also includes five mini-games, ranging from hockey with ATVs to a high-speed game of tag. Online support is included for up to 12 riders, or players can challenge a friend via split-screen display. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Need for Speed: ProStreet brings the underground street-racing scene into the light with sanctioned competitions held across the globe. Multiple events are held on such real-world tracks as Tokyo's Shuto Expressway, Willow Springs, and the Autobahn. The goal throughout each point-to-point or closed circuit course is to be crowned "street king" by defeating rivals in drag, grip, drift, and speed challenges. A wide assortment of cosmetic and performance enhancements are available to tune cars, and a real-time damage system means prized vehicles can actually be totaled during races.

Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game allow users to custom design their rides on the Internet and then save their "blueprints" to either their Xbox Live Gamertag or PS3 ID for use in races. Another new online feature is the ability to create custom challenges called "race days," where players set the location, race type, car classes, and other variables before sending out invitations to friends. ProStreet includes licensed car models from such auto manufacturers as Nissan, Subaru, BMW, Ford, Audi, Acura, Chrysler, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and Volkswagen. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Mater is holding a national race festival allowing racers from all around the world to challenge Lightning McQueen. Along with racing against the new characters, players can explore the world of Radiator Springs and Lightning McQueen's racing headquarters. There are also more than 20 mini-games to tackle, including Ramone's Rhythmic Rumble and Fillmore's Fuel Frenzy. Mike and Sulley from Monsters, Inc. make an appearance as well. ~ All Game Guide

THQ sets its Juiced series loose on the city streets once again, for this sequel run of underground racing and over-the-top turns. The second game in the series offers players a wide selection of authentically modeled automobiles from enthusiast brands such as Ascari, Aston Martin, Melling, and Saleen, as well as more familiar manufacturers such as GM, Ford, and Dodge, with favorites from the likes of Honda, Hyundai, and Nissan, and VW rounding out the "Hot Imports" roster. All autos can be custom-tuned to the player's specification, and tweaked with a number of different paint jobs, decals, and other cosmetic modifications.

Hot Import Nights puts priority on the drift racing technique, and special in-game meters monitor drift performance and challenge racers to push their rides to the limit. The game also introduces an enduring "Driver DNA" model, which brings personality to computer-controlled opponents and encourages the development of rivalries over the course of a circuit. Players can design their own custom opponents in the game's "Driver DNA Lab." Before each race, drivers can place side-bet wagers with their opponents on who will win. Which drivers take the bet -- and how much they are willing to risk -- depend on personalities and past performances. ~ All Game Guide