This was a year with a lot of driving games and a few didn’t make it on the list. A great driving game has a wide variety of cars, great physics and handling (especially if it’s a simulator), great tracks, and a fun multiplayer component. What sets the best apart from the rest? Perfecting or changing something in the genre that none of the others did. Most racing games tend to stick to what’s safe, but the best reaches out just a little bit further.
What sets DiRT 3 apart this year was the fact that it improved on itself and added a lot of new things, but also was a solid racing game with great physics and cars. This was a close tie against Forza 4, but Forza didn’t improve enough on itself like DiRT 3 did. With the addition of Gymkhana, a whole new presentation style, revamped rep system, and tons of new cars DiRT 3 just new what makes a good racing game. With the addition of some DirectX 11 effects on PC, it also is one of the best looking.
The PSP is chock-full of racing games, probably more so than any other handheld or console. The reason being that racing games are perfect for a handheld format, the PSP can display nice graphics and great physics (very important for a racer), and the analog nub is perfect for this. While there are dozens of mediocre to poor racers on the PSP Arctic Edge. Being one of the best-looking games on the system is a real plus, but it’s the fast-paced action that MotorStorm fans have grown to love that really pulls it off in the first place.
One thing I love about Arctic Edge is the menus; they’re easy to navigate and aren’t a jumbled mess. Getting into the career mode is simple since they put all the events in a rotating column that you slowly rise to depending on your rank. You can place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in each race to earn points to advance to your next rank. There are a few race types that include regular races, checkpoint races, time trials, and so on. After you select your vehicle, you get to choose from a selection of vehicles, and there are many types. Ranging from snowmobiles to bikes, ATVs, snow trucks, and much more, you’ll have a large variety. Each vehicle handles differently on certain terrain, so choose wisely.
When it comes to actually racing, you’re in for a treat. You get a boost meter, but this can be used as many times as you want, just as long as you don’t overheat your vehicle and blow it up. You can cool down your meter by driving through water or deep snow. I found this very unique since I can’t recall it ever being done in another racing game. If that’s not enough to entice you, the sense of speed is amazing. The only problem is that I wish there were some blur effects or something, but what they do works just fine. There are different paths you can take on the tracks, and depending on your vehicle, some may not be a wise choice. The higher paths are for smaller vehicles, and the lower paths are for larger vehicles. Each track is laid out with deadly obstacles that you can smash into, but a quick press of the reset button will get your back on your wheels. The core of the racing is just really fun, but it does get repetitive after a while since that’s all there is to do.
Customizing your vehicles is nothing special since it’s your bare bones basics. I really wish that if there’s going to be customization, make it deep or don’t bother at all. You can unlock new parts, but all the upgrading is cosmetic since you unlock faster cars. The multiplayer is what will keep you coming back since there’s infrastructure. Yes, I know, all PSP games should have this in their multiplayer, and the racing is great since the computer-controlled AI is very odd. My only real hate for the game is the lack of custom soundtracks. The game dishes out a mediocre soundtrack that can grind on your nerves after a while, so shame on you, Sony, for providing this. Other than that, Arctic Edge is a great racing game on the PSP to pass the time.
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Yep! The fact that I forgot about this game until you made a comment proves that.