Just plain fun racing games

[DoctorObviously]

The reason I've quit racing games a few years back is because the industry is bloated with these 'realistic' racing games where there is car damage, you have to adjust your car in every single race, hand out your car to the A.I. when you lose... I mean, there was just a time where simple racing games we're simply gone and went up in smoke. I remember great racers like Crash Team Racing and Need for Speed: Most Wanted.

Burnout Paradise, Motorstorm, Race Driver GRID, Colin McRae DIRT (which critics recommended for EVERYONE)... I gave a chance to all of these games but they simply don't satisfy me. Motorstorm has you crashing at the smallest rock, Burnout Paradise is just plain frustrating and GRID had such unfair A.I., where my opponent could just pass me even when I was doing great on the entire track.

Recently, Split/Second seems to have the same opinion like I do. I bought it, and it was great. Fantastic even, but that's probably because I've seen so many horrible games that anyone that's remotely good is immediatly great. Blur has also caught my eye, and so did Need for Speed SHIFT. Are these racers that fall into my taste? Are there other great modern racing games out there? I own a PC and a PS3.

Thanks in advance!

 

[SimuLord]

Gran Turismo 4 strikes a nice balance between realism and arcadey fun. And by "nice balance" I mean it's about as realistic as Mario Kart most of the time. I enjoy it.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

Burnout Revenge. Blow shit up. It's like Paradise but good.

 

[LeonLethality]

Mario Kart Wii is the best racing game around. After playing it other racing games don't compare.

 

[Xvito]

Mario Kart Wii is the best racing game around. After playing it other racing games don't compare.

Hey, The Escapist staff? Could we get a voting system going in the forums? That would be great!

Also, Burnout 3: Takedown is pretty much completely awesome, even if you didn't like Paradise.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

I hated the Split/second demo, and didn't really enjoy it.

The cars just felt off, but if you like it then more power to you.

 

[LeonLethality]

Mario Kart Wii is the best racing game around. After playing it other racing games don't compare.

Hey, The Escapist staff? Could we get a voting system going in the forums? That would be great!

Also, Burnout 3: Takedown is pretty much completely awesome, even if you didn't like Paradise.

What? I don't even know why you quoted me. Why did you quote me?

 

[Xvito]

Mario Kart Wii is the best racing game around. After playing it other racing games don't compare.

Hey, The Escapist staff? Could we get a voting system going in the forums? That would be great!

Also, Burnout 3: Takedown is pretty much completely awesome, even if you didn't like Paradise.

What? I don't even know why you quoted me. Why did you quote me?

Because I want to be able to downvote you.

 

[razerdoh]

TrackMania Nations! best racing game ever!

 

[LeonLethality]

Mario Kart Wii is the best racing game around. After playing it other racing games don't compare.

Hey, The Escapist staff? Could we get a voting system going in the forums? That would be great!

Also, Burnout 3: Takedown is pretty much completely awesome, even if you didn't like Paradise.

What? I don't even know why you quoted me. Why did you quote me?

Because I want to be able to downvote you.

If we still had one of those my love and defending of JRPGs, hate for WRPGs, love for Nintendo, and hate for Valve would have me down voted so damn much yours wouldn't make much of a difference <.<"

 

[DividedUnity]

I liked the PGR series I thought that was a pretty fun game to play with friends. Trying to use a steering wheel was hilarious. Need for speed most wanted was good too. Other than those I can't really help.

 

[Broady Brio]

Damn. Was gonna say NFS: Most Wanted.

I don't regulary play racing games.

 

[Rylot]

I liked Forza 3 and I really suck at racing games.

 

[syndicated44]

Dirt 2 had to be the only racing game I have ever played that I was genuinely excited during races. All other racing games got boring to me but overall Dirt 2 is probably my favorite racing game.

 

[Calum_M]

The only racing game I ever play is Crash Team Racing. Nothing else compares.

 

[muckinscavitch]

F-zero on the snes is a pretty kick-ass game. Remember playing that game ALOT of a kid, this is coming from someone who doesn't really like racing games (except Mario Kart).

 

[Marmal4de]

My favorite racing games would have to be Burnout 3 and NFS: Most Wanted. I played both a while back on the Xbox and they still remain unmatched in terms of pure fun.

 

[braincore02]

Fantastic even, but that's probably because I've seen so many horrible games that anyone that's remotely good is immediatly great. Blur has also caught my eye, and so did Need for Speed SHIFT. Are these racers that fall into my taste? Are there other great modern racing games out there? I own a PC and a PS3.

Are you saying games that attempt realistic physics are horrible? Cause I think quite the opposite, the more realistic the better in my book. I see a place for fun, arcadey racers, and a place for fun, realistic racers. Most of the racing games you listed as unsatisfying are hardly realistic anyway.

I love iRacing, but I suspect it would annoy the hell out of you, starting with the price point. Don't even bother with it. But it's grrrrrrreat.

As far as what you might like, Burnout Revenge and Takedown are great arcade racers. I think NFS Shift might annoy you, because the physics are sort of realistic, but the unrealistic parts of the physics make the cars really snappy and even harder to control than most sims. I was playing with a steering wheel, perhaps it's different if you're using a controller.

 

[Optimus Hagrid]

The SNES has rekindled my love for driving games. Super Mario Kart, F-Zero, Nigel Mansenn's Funny Voice Simulator, Exhaust Heat... all of which are incredible fun. And I just ordered Stunt Race FX. The nostalgia will be overwhelming.

Oh, and might I add, I believe Gran Turismo 2 is not just one of the best racing games ever amde but one of the best games ever made, stat. I love that game with a burning passion.

 

[Rasputin1]

My favourite racing game has to be Need for Speed : Underground. The second one was okay but it annoyed me how you had to drive to each race.