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‘God he’s such a mad head!’ Is a thing I hear a lot on my travels. Whether it’s speeding motorists or just some BMX’er grinding down a stair rail, there always seems to be someone who criticises their reckless nature. But sometimes you can hardly blame them. It’s not nice seeing some car hurtling head on towards you while they’re trying to overtake a lorry. But sometimes it feels good to be reckless. Lets get one thing straight first though. When I interpret ‘reckless’ I mean pushing something to the limits and getting away with it. It takes skill and not being careless and taking out every lamppost within a 30-metre radius. That’s just plain silly and not fun at all. Being reckless is ‘potentially dangerous fun’.
You can’t deny that at one point in your life that you’ve been the one acting like a nutter; the one being reckless. It’s fun and can be one of the best feelings ever. From rushing down a shopping isle with an ASDA trolley while your mum chases frantically behind with a box of fish fingers, to doing a handbrake turn at the top of a multi story car park in you’re A reg Metro. It’s all fun, but yes, it can be quite dangerous.
The other week I was lucky enough to go Go-Karting. At first I was a bit weary. I heard people get killed doing these sorts of things, but alas, it didn’t stop me. To start with I must have been pushing 30 mph (which actually seems very fast when your sat with your bum on the bottom panel which is practically scraping along the floor). After a little while I felt like maybe I could push the kart a bit more. So as I was coming out of the tunnel and onto the straight ahead of me, I pushed pedal to metal and the engine roared. As I belted down the straight, barriers whooshed by and ahead I could see a potentially tricky turn. I decided however not to slow down. As I flung the kart around the corner I could hear the screech of hot rubber on concrete. I took the inside line and the front of the kart was just inches from the tire wall. Then, as I wrestled to keep a straight exit line, I felt a great feeling inside me. I felt as though I had really pushed that 50cc engine to the limits and I really felt great. Whether it was the thrill, the excitement, or just the plain ‘playing with danger’ idea, I knew that I would remember that feeling for a long time. I was being reckless.
So it’s very well me telling you this but what has it actually got to do with games? Well if you look at the great racing games all of them can give you the same great feeling. I think if the creator can make a game that can implant that brilliant feeling inside of the gamer then they have a sure fire hit. Look at Gran Turismo 3. I know a lot of people shockingly criticise it because of its lack of damage and poor AI, but really it is a fantastic game. The best thing for me though was the sheer excitement of the racing. So what if the opponents are poor, it doesn’t stop you having great fun thrashing an 800bhp beast around the Monte Carlo circuit now does it? In fact one of my greatest gaming moments is on GT3. This moment has to be the corkscrew on the Laguna Seca raceway. Tackling the corner in a low spec Lancer Evo VII is fun enough as it is, but strap yourself into one of the Polphony F1 cars, capped together with a GT Force steering wheel and a velocity of well over 100mph and you’ve got yourself a mammoth thrill, one that is just as much fun the last time as it was the first. GT3 doesn’t just stop here. Each track is littered with great moments like these, which is why critics should think twice about branding this game ‘poor’.
So if a game has great single moments like that, then how ace would a game be that had tracks that kept you on the edge of the seat the whole way through? Well lately I have found a game that almost certainly does this. V Rally 3. It’s said that each track on the game was designed specifically by one designer, and I can honestly say it shows. Each track is challenging enough and with a little bit of mastery can get very exciting indeed. Imagine flying down a straight at over 100mph to be greeted by a slight bump. Your suspension unforgivingly gives up; the car slides to the right, and your left wondering why you have an oak tree sat in the place of your co-driver. That’s how challenging this game can be. Even a straight piece of road takes care and concentration. You could be classed as good if you manage to get around the stage in one piece even if you are one minute slower than all your competitors. But it’s because of this sort of challenge, V Rally 3 is so good. It pays of to be reckless, flinging your car around the corners, over the bumps and through the water splashes, and because the aim is to be as reckless as possible without crashing, you get that special feeling that makes playing an absolute joy.
Saying a reckless manner is key for a driving game is all very well, but to get the point absolutely across you need bad games to compare with. Lets have a look at Super Car Street Challenge. That was poor. The graphics weren’t bad and the fact you could make your own car was nice, but the actual racing experience was a dull mans Gran Turismo. There was no chance to be reckless, you just drove around dull circuits wearing out the back of your chair rather than the edge. Fantastic! And what about the Xbox and soon to be PS2 game, Wreckless. Not only have they spelt it wrong but also there was no real driving excitement. The thrills seemed to come from smashing through newspaper stands and avoiding other drivers, which actually isn’t reckless at all.
So as far as I’m concerned, if a driving game wants to impress me, and I’ m sure a lot of other gamers, it’s got to be deadly fun. The game has to force you to put your virtual life in danger. It has to push your skill to the limits. It has to have you on the edge of your seat. It has to make you be reckless. If a game can do this then I don’t see any reason why anyone should fault it. Bring on the trees!
You can’t deny that at one point in your life that you’ve been the one acting like a nutter; the one being reckless. It’s fun and can be one of the best feelings ever. From rushing down a shopping isle with an ASDA trolley while your mum chases frantically behind with a box of fish fingers, to doing a handbrake turn at the top of a multi story car park in you’re A reg Metro. It’s all fun, but yes, it can be quite dangerous.
The other week I was lucky enough to go Go-Karting. At first I was a bit weary. I heard people get killed doing these sorts of things, but alas, it didn’t stop me. To start with I must have been pushing 30 mph (which actually seems very fast when your sat with your bum on the bottom panel which is practically scraping along the floor). After a little while I felt like maybe I could push the kart a bit more. So as I was coming out of the tunnel and onto the straight ahead of me, I pushed pedal to metal and the engine roared. As I belted down the straight, barriers whooshed by and ahead I could see a potentially tricky turn. I decided however not to slow down. As I flung the kart around the corner I could hear the screech of hot rubber on concrete. I took the inside line and the front of the kart was just inches from the tire wall. Then, as I wrestled to keep a straight exit line, I felt a great feeling inside me. I felt as though I had really pushed that 50cc engine to the limits and I really felt great. Whether it was the thrill, the excitement, or just the plain ‘playing with danger’ idea, I knew that I would remember that feeling for a long time. I was being reckless.
So it’s very well me telling you this but what has it actually got to do with games? Well if you look at the great racing games all of them can give you the same great feeling. I think if the creator can make a game that can implant that brilliant feeling inside of the gamer then they have a sure fire hit. Look at Gran Turismo 3. I know a lot of people shockingly criticise it because of its lack of damage and poor AI, but really it is a fantastic game. The best thing for me though was the sheer excitement of the racing. So what if the opponents are poor, it doesn’t stop you having great fun thrashing an 800bhp beast around the Monte Carlo circuit now does it? In fact one of my greatest gaming moments is on GT3. This moment has to be the corkscrew on the Laguna Seca raceway. Tackling the corner in a low spec Lancer Evo VII is fun enough as it is, but strap yourself into one of the Polphony F1 cars, capped together with a GT Force steering wheel and a velocity of well over 100mph and you’ve got yourself a mammoth thrill, one that is just as much fun the last time as it was the first. GT3 doesn’t just stop here. Each track is littered with great moments like these, which is why critics should think twice about branding this game ‘poor’.
So if a game has great single moments like that, then how ace would a game be that had tracks that kept you on the edge of the seat the whole way through? Well lately I have found a game that almost certainly does this. V Rally 3. It’s said that each track on the game was designed specifically by one designer, and I can honestly say it shows. Each track is challenging enough and with a little bit of mastery can get very exciting indeed. Imagine flying down a straight at over 100mph to be greeted by a slight bump. Your suspension unforgivingly gives up; the car slides to the right, and your left wondering why you have an oak tree sat in the place of your co-driver. That’s how challenging this game can be. Even a straight piece of road takes care and concentration. You could be classed as good if you manage to get around the stage in one piece even if you are one minute slower than all your competitors. But it’s because of this sort of challenge, V Rally 3 is so good. It pays of to be reckless, flinging your car around the corners, over the bumps and through the water splashes, and because the aim is to be as reckless as possible without crashing, you get that special feeling that makes playing an absolute joy.
Saying a reckless manner is key for a driving game is all very well, but to get the point absolutely across you need bad games to compare with. Lets have a look at Super Car Street Challenge. That was poor. The graphics weren’t bad and the fact you could make your own car was nice, but the actual racing experience was a dull mans Gran Turismo. There was no chance to be reckless, you just drove around dull circuits wearing out the back of your chair rather than the edge. Fantastic! And what about the Xbox and soon to be PS2 game, Wreckless. Not only have they spelt it wrong but also there was no real driving excitement. The thrills seemed to come from smashing through newspaper stands and avoiding other drivers, which actually isn’t reckless at all.
So as far as I’m concerned, if a driving game wants to impress me, and I’ m sure a lot of other gamers, it’s got to be deadly fun. The game has to force you to put your virtual life in danger. It has to push your skill to the limits. It has to have you on the edge of your seat. It has to make you be reckless. If a game can do this then I don’t see any reason why anyone should fault it. Bring on the trees!
Thanks. I was gonna include Burnout somewhere because i agree thats another great example. The two player mode is fantastic edge-of-seat stuff. Once you unlock the bus and lorry it's well good. Cutting off player 2 is excellent with the bus :D
And Russell...any time :D
And Russell...any time :D
Good post Natbuc.
I prefer racing games with a reckless manner, that offer an intense experience when played. Burnout springs to mind...although it didn't have authentic racing cars or courses it was a deadly and risky racer, and also had a good multiplayer feature.
I prefer racing games with a reckless manner, that offer an intense experience when played. Burnout springs to mind...although it didn't have authentic racing cars or courses it was a deadly and risky racer, and also had a good multiplayer feature.
Cheers 'buc.
Well the other games were brilliant. Proper raw racing. The new ones meant to have excellent damage and handling. The AI is meant to be really good aswell. Only problems notified are a bit of Slow down and summit called pop-down (ask wookie on that one). If u want more info check www.codemasters.co.uk
Could be, I don't really know about TOCA to be honest, what's it like?
Thanks, and what you was saying RM18 about the 2 ways, maybe TOCA Race Driver is what your looking for?
An interesting post - I'd like to see a racing game where you can have it two ways, either try and take it as a simulation type game and try not to hit other cars etc, but have the alternative of just smashing into other cars - but with no difference between the two, as its down to the individual's style.
Good read there, Natbuc.
:D
Good read there, Natbuc.
:D
Yes i agree games that do that are all ways better, i like GT3 don't what people are talking bout it's not poor or boring the thrill of buying or winning your own car, your own car! and supping it up to the best and racing against other cars is excillent and winning the race that is the best bit, i love it. So if the game does that then it is highly worth getting
‘God he’s such a mad head!’ Is a thing I hear a lot on my travels. Whether it’s speeding motorists or just some BMX’er grinding down a stair rail, there always seems to be someone who criticises their reckless nature. But sometimes you can hardly blame them. It’s not nice seeing some car hurtling head on towards you while they’re trying to overtake a lorry. But sometimes it feels good to be reckless. Lets get one thing straight first though. When I interpret ‘reckless’ I mean pushing something to the limits and getting away with it. It takes skill and not being careless and taking out every lamppost within a 30-metre radius. That’s just plain silly and not fun at all. Being reckless is ‘potentially dangerous fun’.
You can’t deny that at one point in your life that you’ve been the one acting like a nutter; the one being reckless. It’s fun and can be one of the best feelings ever. From rushing down a shopping isle with an ASDA trolley while your mum chases frantically behind with a box of fish fingers, to doing a handbrake turn at the top of a multi story car park in you’re A reg Metro. It’s all fun, but yes, it can be quite dangerous.
The other week I was lucky enough to go Go-Karting. At first I was a bit weary. I heard people get killed doing these sorts of things, but alas, it didn’t stop me. To start with I must have been pushing 30 mph (which actually seems very fast when your sat with your bum on the bottom panel which is practically scraping along the floor). After a little while I felt like maybe I could push the kart a bit more. So as I was coming out of the tunnel and onto the straight ahead of me, I pushed pedal to metal and the engine roared. As I belted down the straight, barriers whooshed by and ahead I could see a potentially tricky turn. I decided however not to slow down. As I flung the kart around the corner I could hear the screech of hot rubber on concrete. I took the inside line and the front of the kart was just inches from the tire wall. Then, as I wrestled to keep a straight exit line, I felt a great feeling inside me. I felt as though I had really pushed that 50cc engine to the limits and I really felt great. Whether it was the thrill, the excitement, or just the plain ‘playing with danger’ idea, I knew that I would remember that feeling for a long time. I was being reckless.
So it’s very well me telling you this but what has it actually got to do with games? Well if you look at the great racing games all of them can give you the same great feeling. I think if the creator can make a game that can implant that brilliant feeling inside of the gamer then they have a sure fire hit. Look at Gran Turismo 3. I know a lot of people shockingly criticise it because of its lack of damage and poor AI, but really it is a fantastic game. The best thing for me though was the sheer excitement of the racing. So what if the opponents are poor, it doesn’t stop you having great fun thrashing an 800bhp beast around the Monte Carlo circuit now does it? In fact one of my greatest gaming moments is on GT3. This moment has to be the corkscrew on the Laguna Seca raceway. Tackling the corner in a low spec Lancer Evo VII is fun enough as it is, but strap yourself into one of the Polphony F1 cars, capped together with a GT Force steering wheel and a velocity of well over 100mph and you’ve got yourself a mammoth thrill, one that is just as much fun the last time as it was the first. GT3 doesn’t just stop here. Each track is littered with great moments like these, which is why critics should think twice about branding this game ‘poor’.
So if a game has great single moments like that, then how ace would a game be that had tracks that kept you on the edge of the seat the whole way through? Well lately I have found a game that almost certainly does this. V Rally 3. It’s said that each track on the game was designed specifically by one designer, and I can honestly say it shows. Each track is challenging enough and with a little bit of mastery can get very exciting indeed. Imagine flying down a straight at over 100mph to be greeted by a slight bump. Your suspension unforgivingly gives up; the car slides to the right, and your left wondering why you have an oak tree sat in the place of your co-driver. That’s how challenging this game can be. Even a straight piece of road takes care and concentration. You could be classed as good if you manage to get around the stage in one piece even if you are one minute slower than all your competitors. But it’s because of this sort of challenge, V Rally 3 is so good. It pays of to be reckless, flinging your car around the corners, over the bumps and through the water splashes, and because the aim is to be as reckless as possible without crashing, you get that special feeling that makes playing an absolute joy.
Saying a reckless manner is key for a driving game is all very well, but to get the point absolutely across you need bad games to compare with. Lets have a look at Super Car Street Challenge. That was poor. The graphics weren’t bad and the fact you could make your own car was nice, but the actual racing experience was a dull mans Gran Turismo. There was no chance to be reckless, you just drove around dull circuits wearing out the back of your chair rather than the edge. Fantastic! And what about the Xbox and soon to be PS2 game, Wreckless. Not only have they spelt it wrong but also there was no real driving excitement. The thrills seemed to come from smashing through newspaper stands and avoiding other drivers, which actually isn’t reckless at all.
So as far as I’m concerned, if a driving game wants to impress me, and I’ m sure a lot of other gamers, it’s got to be deadly fun. The game has to force you to put your virtual life in danger. It has to push your skill to the limits. It has to have you on the edge of your seat. It has to make you be reckless. If a game can do this then I don’t see any reason why anyone should fault it. Bring on the trees!
You can’t deny that at one point in your life that you’ve been the one acting like a nutter; the one being reckless. It’s fun and can be one of the best feelings ever. From rushing down a shopping isle with an ASDA trolley while your mum chases frantically behind with a box of fish fingers, to doing a handbrake turn at the top of a multi story car park in you’re A reg Metro. It’s all fun, but yes, it can be quite dangerous.
The other week I was lucky enough to go Go-Karting. At first I was a bit weary. I heard people get killed doing these sorts of things, but alas, it didn’t stop me. To start with I must have been pushing 30 mph (which actually seems very fast when your sat with your bum on the bottom panel which is practically scraping along the floor). After a little while I felt like maybe I could push the kart a bit more. So as I was coming out of the tunnel and onto the straight ahead of me, I pushed pedal to metal and the engine roared. As I belted down the straight, barriers whooshed by and ahead I could see a potentially tricky turn. I decided however not to slow down. As I flung the kart around the corner I could hear the screech of hot rubber on concrete. I took the inside line and the front of the kart was just inches from the tire wall. Then, as I wrestled to keep a straight exit line, I felt a great feeling inside me. I felt as though I had really pushed that 50cc engine to the limits and I really felt great. Whether it was the thrill, the excitement, or just the plain ‘playing with danger’ idea, I knew that I would remember that feeling for a long time. I was being reckless.
So it’s very well me telling you this but what has it actually got to do with games? Well if you look at the great racing games all of them can give you the same great feeling. I think if the creator can make a game that can implant that brilliant feeling inside of the gamer then they have a sure fire hit. Look at Gran Turismo 3. I know a lot of people shockingly criticise it because of its lack of damage and poor AI, but really it is a fantastic game. The best thing for me though was the sheer excitement of the racing. So what if the opponents are poor, it doesn’t stop you having great fun thrashing an 800bhp beast around the Monte Carlo circuit now does it? In fact one of my greatest gaming moments is on GT3. This moment has to be the corkscrew on the Laguna Seca raceway. Tackling the corner in a low spec Lancer Evo VII is fun enough as it is, but strap yourself into one of the Polphony F1 cars, capped together with a GT Force steering wheel and a velocity of well over 100mph and you’ve got yourself a mammoth thrill, one that is just as much fun the last time as it was the first. GT3 doesn’t just stop here. Each track is littered with great moments like these, which is why critics should think twice about branding this game ‘poor’.
So if a game has great single moments like that, then how ace would a game be that had tracks that kept you on the edge of the seat the whole way through? Well lately I have found a game that almost certainly does this. V Rally 3. It’s said that each track on the game was designed specifically by one designer, and I can honestly say it shows. Each track is challenging enough and with a little bit of mastery can get very exciting indeed. Imagine flying down a straight at over 100mph to be greeted by a slight bump. Your suspension unforgivingly gives up; the car slides to the right, and your left wondering why you have an oak tree sat in the place of your co-driver. That’s how challenging this game can be. Even a straight piece of road takes care and concentration. You could be classed as good if you manage to get around the stage in one piece even if you are one minute slower than all your competitors. But it’s because of this sort of challenge, V Rally 3 is so good. It pays of to be reckless, flinging your car around the corners, over the bumps and through the water splashes, and because the aim is to be as reckless as possible without crashing, you get that special feeling that makes playing an absolute joy.
Saying a reckless manner is key for a driving game is all very well, but to get the point absolutely across you need bad games to compare with. Lets have a look at Super Car Street Challenge. That was poor. The graphics weren’t bad and the fact you could make your own car was nice, but the actual racing experience was a dull mans Gran Turismo. There was no chance to be reckless, you just drove around dull circuits wearing out the back of your chair rather than the edge. Fantastic! And what about the Xbox and soon to be PS2 game, Wreckless. Not only have they spelt it wrong but also there was no real driving excitement. The thrills seemed to come from smashing through newspaper stands and avoiding other drivers, which actually isn’t reckless at all.
So as far as I’m concerned, if a driving game wants to impress me, and I’ m sure a lot of other gamers, it’s got to be deadly fun. The game has to force you to put your virtual life in danger. It has to push your skill to the limits. It has to have you on the edge of your seat. It has to make you be reckless. If a game can do this then I don’t see any reason why anyone should fault it. Bring on the trees!