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Grand Theft Auto (PC)
by tenkilos
The original Grand Theft Auto game set a standard that led to perhaps the most successful gaming brand of all time. It is no wonder that the original was and still is a truly marvelous game with a broad range of possibilities in gameplay.
The game, much like all other following versions of GTA and many competitors is based in ... a large, mainly fictional city. The purpose of the game is to develop your character and follow through the vast array of competing and complimenting storylines, leading you through the game level after level. The beauty of the game is that you are free to choose how you wish to play it, which missions you wish to do, where you want to go, what car to drive and generally what you want to get out of it. Revolutionary for its time, it was unlike any other game, almost all of which made you follow a pre-designed path of progress through to the end.
The game has a number of competing gangs, which provide the majority of the missions you are able to complete. While the 2D view is not as complex or impressive as modern games offering a full 3D view of the city, it is nonetheless a very fun title to pick up providing your PC is capable of playing games this old. The great thing about the 2D picture is the relative breadth of the level you can peruse on your screen and fairly fast graphic rendering: especially so on modern computers.
As well as completing missions, there are countless other 'tasks' and things you may want to do on your own accord for no particular reason. from driving a tank to spray painting your car to hopping from one roof to another, this game offers a surprising amount to the gamer, especially so for a game of its age. I still truly believe that if anybody else were to pick this game up and give it a go, they would find it as enthralling and exciting as they did the best part of two decades ago when it first came out.
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Rfactor (PC)
by SP33D
RFactor has been around for a few years now but is still one of the best racing games that money can buy. If you want a proper driving simulation experiance then look no further, RFactor ticks all of your boxes.
RFactor is a racing simulation (hence i didn't say game!) that appeals to the 'pick up and play' generation to the ... most hardcore of players. From beautifully modelled stock cars to Formula 1 cars, this game has it all. There are also plenty of tracks to hone your skills on, including a few officially liscenced tracks. What makes RFactor so special is the online modding community. Mods i.e cars, tracks, sounds and even grass textures can be downloaded to customize the game to your preference. There are literally thousands of downloads available and new mods are being made daily. The mods really add major depth to this game and 90% of the mods available are computerised perfection. What 'console' game gives you the oppurtunity to races formula 1 cars from the seventies around the nurburgring?
The online multiplayer feature is a huge plus. Ever fancied racing against people from all over the world...in a Ferarri...at monza? No problem! Simply find a race that you have the car and track on your computer, press connect and you'll find yourself sitting in the pits ready to go out and show the world how good you really are!
A steering wheel is a definate must for this game. Using a keyboard just wont cut it! If you want to control these beasts then there is no other option. The enjoyment improves dramatically with a steering wheel and pedal setup.
At first you will need to enable most of the driver aids on i.e traction control, stability control, automatic gears etc but as you rack up the laps and your skill starts to improve then the aids can gradually be toned down or switched off completely, making for a whole new challenge that is exhilerating and extremely rewarding.
I cannot possibly fault this game. The visuals are simply breath taking, the gameplay is second to none and the modifying community adds to what is a truly awesome game
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Burnout Paradise - The Ultimate Box (PC)
by wakayoda
If you realistic physics, real cars and "real" racing then don't get this game. If your the kind of person that enjoys nothing more then seeing a luxury super car crash into a wall whilst taking out other cars in doing so, then this is the game for you.
I've had this game on PC since launch, before the official ... release date since I bought it direct from EA games. Single player has the problem of becoming a bore if played frequently, multi player adds team based events mixing up racing with stunts and a variety challenges.
Even today the graphics look full of detail even when being compared to more recent releases, motion blur adds the illusion of more speed adding to the risk when using boost to take the lead.
Crashing is a core element of this game, when you do inevitable crash you get a cinematic view of your car as it falls apart, the twist here is that you can ease your car into other opponents. Around every corner theres something new to collide with, thats if you make it round at all since there are many other road users to avoid.
Being an open world racing game Burnout gives you many routes to choose from, both a benefit and a downfall since you may find yourself racing the same route multiple times with a few different roads added in. This game is not intended to be played for hours on end, its more suited to 30 minute bursts in order to avoid grinding your way through.
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