Ben-DutkaPerhaps you haven't noticed, but most of the high-profile racing games of this generation have turned out beautifully. If you're a fan of the genre, this is probably the rejuvenation you've been waiting for since the '90s.
Think about what we've seen. Wipeout HD is not only stellar but it also represents a departure from the standard racing games and although it wasn't exactly in the limelight (mainly because it was only a downloadable title), it remains one of the most intense experiences of the generation. But it hardly ends there. EA goes and overhauls their long-running – and laboring – franchise, Need for Speed , and the result is Need for Speed: SHIFT , one of the more original and dynamic racing productions that's bound to give you sweaty palm syndrome. Even before this, we had Burnout Paradise , which was a God-send for arcade-style racing fans everywhere, and have you seen the amount of extra content for that game?! Off-road aficionados got a great sequel in MotorStorm: Pacific Rift and there's little doubt that DiRT 2 is one of the best racing experiences of the generation. Most recently, Forza Motorsport 3 is dragging down very high review scores and Gran Turismo 5 will likely set the simulation bar again when it arrives March. Oh, and let's not forget about GRiD , which is yet another solid racer. Really, it's almost tough to find a racing game that hasn't been worth playing in the past few years (not counting a few of the low-budget no-name ones).
We all have our favorite genres but if you're a racing fan, you have no excuse to not be happy. There's just so much in the way of quality these days, and you owe it to yourselves to give one or two a try.
