Racing Video Games

Activision's stewardship of North America's most popular brand of racing continues as players join all the real cars, drivers, and teams for full seasons of action in NASCAR The Game: Inside Line. Special challenges use performance data from real racecars to let players re-create actual moments from recent NASCAR history, while Career mode lets them take control of a rookie driver, acquire sponsors, practice, qualify, and race with the hope of eventually becoming the Sprint Cup champion. Multiplayer fans can also head online to join up to 15 friends for extra competition. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

The Need for Speed series makes a significant departure from previous entries with "The Run," which has players on a high-speed race across the country. Your goal is to make it from San Francisco to New York City as quickly as possible while trying to outmaneuver those pursuing you -- from law enforcement to the mob -- and outwitting your competition. Each destination is broken down into a series of time-sensitive stages that has you completing specific objectives before you can advance.

You'll need to swerve to avoid spotlights and bullet fire from a pursuing helicopter, for example, or make it out of a city before time expires. For the first time in the series, you'll engage in on-foot sequences as well as driving missions. Your car will periodically crash during the course of your travels, at which point you'll have to continue on foot. Rather than directly control your character, you'll instead rely on scripted quick-time events to dodge bullets, leap across rooftops, engage in hand-to-hand combat, and more. Successfully tap the right button at the precise time to continue the action. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

One of the world's most famous monster trucks takes center stage as gamers climb behind the wheel of Bigfoot for high-octane steel-smashing action in Bigfoot: King of Crush. Players can race in Light, Pro-Stock, and Pro-Modified monster trucks, collecting power-ups as their 4x4s plow through courses specifically designed for each racing class. ~ All Game Guide

The Wii version of Driver: San Francisco shares little in common with its console cousins, choosing to weave a tale about the early years of race car driver-turned-detective John Tanner, and allowing gamers to play as three different characters. The action unfolds in classic mission-based racing fashion as Tanner attempts to infiltrate a crime syndicate and avenge the death of his partner, while comic-book style cut-scenes fill in the narrative blanks.

But Driver: San Francisco gives players a glimpse at the story from all sides, also letting gamers take on the role of straight-laced cop Tobias Jones and destructive criminal Solomon Caine. Players guide Jones as he hunts down fugitives and protects innocent citizens, while Caine's missions involve outrunning the police and causing havoc and destruction, but unlike in some previous games in the series, Driver: San Francisco does not allow gamers to exit their vehicles and explore on foot. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Based on Pixar's computer animated film, Cars 2 follows the exploits of car characters Lightning McQueen and Mater as they train in a secret facility known as CHROME, short for Command Headquarters for Recon Operations and Motorized Espionage. They are joined by Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell as they attempt to become the car-equivalent of spies.

The game introduces a number of lighthearted missions to complete, as you use each vehicle's gadgets to escape from or to stop rivals. You'll also be able to perform stunts such as backwards driving, air tricks, and two-wheel driving to complete goals. Cars 2 also interfaces with the free-to-play World of Cars Online, allowing players to unlock rewards in both versions by completing specific tasks. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The first authentic NASCAR game on Wii comes courtesy of new licensee Activision and the racing specialists at Eutechnyx. Play as or against the motorsport's top drivers while vying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship. Each professional driver in the game is designed to reflect his real-world counterpart on each of the 22 featured courses. Damage modeling is included, and multi-car wrecks are possible if you're too aggressive while passing or blocking. Experience points earned in each race allow players to unlock an assortment of rewards and other bonuses. Career sponsorships, special races, decal packs, car designs, and other surprises await those who demonstrate their racing prowess. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Gamers can join their friends and family members for high-speed kart-racing action across obstacle-filled courses in JumpStart Crazy Karts. There are 12 different racetracks, each filled with twists, drops, and wacky competitors, and players can create their own unique driver from a combination of more than 250 karts and characters. Up to four gamers can compete at one time, and players who become a Crazy Karts champion earn codes to unlock prizes at JumpStart.com. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Nadeo's TrackMania racing series makes its Wii debut courtesy of City Interactive. Close to 200 tracks in six visually distinct locales are included, along with online multiplayer support for competitive races against players from around the world. Setting the TrackMania series apart from traditional racers are the courses themselves, each offering ramps, loops, tilted roads, boosts, and other creative opportunities to catch air or to perform wild stunts.

The Wii version also features an built-in editing system, allowing daring designers a chance to create an infinite number of courses to share with friends. In addition to online support, the game includes both hotseat play and four-player simultaneous racing via split-screen display. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Publisher Activision drives demolition derby-style across multiple consoles with the 2011 release of Monster Jam: Path of Destruction. As in earlier Monster Jam games, the focus is on highly destructive races in specially modified trucks, through arena courses strewn with mud pits, barricades, and other vehicles. Players can create their own trucks, or climb behind the virtual wheel of one of 30 real-life monsters including Grave Digger, Maximum Destruction, and Grinder. The crash-and-smash racing plays out in eight official Monster Jam venues, which feature special vehicle introductions, fireworks, and roaring crowds. Trucks can be custom-upgraded as the player progresses through the game to the World Finals. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide