02 Jan 09
Race Driver: Grid
Race Driver: Grid
Platform: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Price: about £30
Grid is a tarmac-based racing game based on the same game engine as Colin McRae: Dirt. From humble beginnings, earning a few thousand dollars a season, you grow to building a multi-million dollar team, racing in track, street and drift events.
One of the best features in Grid is the 'instant replay' feature, so unfortunate trips into the scenery doesn't mean your race is over - you just rewind the action and try again. And you'll need to get used to this: the handling is realistic and can intimidate novice drivers. If you're used to games in which the brake is an afterthought, you'll be in for a shock.
Trackmania United Forever
Trackmania United Forever and Trackmania DS
Platform: PC, DS
Price: £10
Trackmania is a different take on the racing genre: a puzzle game disguised as a racer. It's been around for a while on PC, but it now debuts on the portable DS.
At its core, you race against the clock, but the tracks bear little relation to reality. They're fun, twisting and looping things that flash smoothly by as you try to figure out what racing line will successfully navigate the in-road obstacles such as pillars and car-swallowing holes.
With instant restarts, you can quickly get in to the zone, trying to shave tenths and hundredths of a second off your time. You can compare online how you rank against everyone the world, country, or even just your town. It's rewarding to see a steady climb up the rankings, but the most satisfying thing is finally nailing that perfect run.
