Poll: Is defending racing games worth it?

[Mad Maniac with axe-firing chainsaw]

You all make me feel very, very angry. Arcade racing games really show no skills applicable to actual motor racing, which is a hell of a lot more intense and dangerous than anything you're imagining. I play simulator titles, as in proper, hardcore simulators which actually test your reflexes and consistency.

Arcade racing titles are absolutely infuriating [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.105860] to somebody who's honed their skills on simulators of the kind represented by games like GTR Evolution, Live for Speed and Grand Prix Legends. When you apply realism correctly to a simulator game, it can be a hell of a lot more challenging, yet fun, than the arcade racing titles which plague the markets today.

When people say, "Oh, completing Ninja Gaiden is so hard", I point them straight in the direction of Grand Prix Legends [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.73185#786707]. Now, that's a game that needs real skill, and it isn't because the game is broken like Battletoads or whatever - it's because real racing drivers had to have skill in 1967, because those cars would kill you without a second glance if you didn't have the reflexes and consistency to keep it on the road. If you can't handle that, there are plenty of more modern driving simulators which actually capture just why people go into motor racing in the first place: it's fast, it's loud and you can't just get good at it by sliding around bloody corners!

I see your point, and respect it. If racing games are "dumbing down" then I can see how fans of the older harder titles might be annoyed at it. That said, sometimes I don't want realism. Sometimes I just want the simple joys of smashing cars off of the road. But yeah, you have an excellent point.

They should bring out a racing game where you can set the physics from "total realism" where you need all the skills of a racing driver, to "wacky" where you can do all the things in burnout. That would be the best middle ground to prevent a rift in the genre.

EDIT: sorry for the double post. I just saw this after my original post and wanted to quote it... now that I think of it I could've just edited and then quoted, but unfortunately I'm both new at this and not too great on the initiative front, so this happened. Sorry about that.

 

[TheMushroomClub]

You only need one racing game really. Racing games are generally the same and don't bring much to my metapphorical table. Get a good racing game, possibly from the NFS series or a Burnout game and enjoy it.

 

[Clashero]

you forgot GRID.
Fucking amazing racing game imo

True, that's my favourite. It has a wide selection of cars, lots of modes, awesome crashes, the Flashback feature (which is a great invention), excellent graphics, the ability to be either arcadey or a simulation, and good online gameplay.

 

[Smiffy666uk]

It was tough to choose between weapons and crashes. I can't be having a game without my good old violence.

 

[Dr.Sean]

Guys, it's all about racing in Halo CE

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

NFSU2 us one of my favorite games, as is DIRT, which is truly awesome, I never got bored of either of them.

 

[TaborMallory]

Guys, it's all about racing in Halo CE

High five!

I remember playing Race on the trial version. There was this particular server where the players were nearly invincible, and spawned with both pistols. I would always go around killing everybody instead of racing. Ah, the memories...