Racing games that were ahead of their time

Racing games that were ahead of their time

Sep 10, 2020 1 Min Read Posted by OverTake Team
OUT RUN (1986) It might not look like much today, but Sega's Out Run was a revelation when it was released in 1986. Its hardware and graphics were advanced for the time, earning it the Golden Joystick Award for Game of the Year in 1988. In the game, the player drives a Ferrari Testarossa Spider, a car only ever built as a one-off for the chairman of the Fiat motor company. The aim is to reach checkpoints while avoiding obstacles on the way. Out Run soon appeared in video arcades around the world, making this then highly-advanced game available to the average player. COLIN MCRAE RALLY (1998) Colin McRae Rally is the first title of the popular series and was released in January 1998 for both PlayStation and PC. It featured real cars and drivers from the 1998 World Rally Championship season. The game is widely considered to be a pioneer among rallying sims thanks to its focus on realism. There was visible damage which affected the handling of the car, as well as stages based on those in real-life rallies. Colin McRae even provided extensive technical advice during development. The Subaru pictured looks to have survived the stage in one piece as it roars towards the finish. GRAND PRIX 3 (2000) There were numerous F1 games that could have appeared in this list, but the one that edges them is Grand Prix 3. Only available for the PC, the game took the driving dynamics of Formula 1 to the next level, offering changeable weather conditions and realistic simulated damage. The AI cars behaved intelligently, reacting well to situations and offering a tough challenge to the player. The game was an instant hit, selling 300,000 units in just one month and being nominated 'best racing game of 2000' by Computer Gaming World. The Jordan pictured is heading into the first corner of a wet Spa Grand Prix – a recipe for a thrilling race. IRACING (2008) iRacing changed the face of racing games back in 2008 by being the first notable subscription-based racing simulation – it wasn't available for consoles like conventional games. Over the years, the game has evolved to be viewed by many as the ultimate racing sim. It is the go-to platform for numerous competitive esports racing championships due to its focus on realism. Check out the mud splatter and light damage on the Porsches in the photo. It's details like this that have made the game a success. NEED FOR SPEED UNDERGROUND (2008) It's impossible to compile this list without mentioning the Need for Speed franchise. The title has released 24 versions over the years and is far from finished yet. The series focused on the illegal street racing scene and actively encourged the modification and tuning of road cars. The VW Golf R32 pictured is an excellent example – lowered suspension, carbon bonnet and bigger rims. All it needs is a lairy paint job, and it's ready to take on rivals in a chaotic checkpoint race. DRIVER SAN FRANCISCO (2011) Driver San Francisco was the fifth installment of the Driver series, and arguably the best. The game featured real-world cars, and a gripping storyline with police detective, John Tanner. But what really set the game apart was the 'Shift' feature. Instead of the 'get out and walk' style found in its rival Grand Theft Auto, Tanner could teleport into any car on the map. This, coupled with a boost function and a range of smaller racing challenges, made Driver San Francisco a popular sim-arcade hybrid game that received very positive reviews upon its launch. The picture shows the scope of cars on offer - a Ford RS200 is being hunted by a Lancia Stratos, mimicking the Group B era of rallying. GRAN TURISMO 6 (2013) Gran Turismo is another iconic series when it comes to driving games. It brought realistic simulation to the masses, with a huge range of race and road cars that could be chucked around laser-modelled reproductions of the world's most famous circuits. Gran Turismo 6 was perhaps the crowning glory, offering graphics and gameplay that can still cut it today. The 1970s Lamborghini Countach pictured is on the limit as it laps Silverstone Circuit. Not the fastest car for the job, but one of the classiest. REAL RACING 3 (2013) Real Racing 3 may not be the most well-known title in this list, but it earns its place by bringing realistic sim racing to your mobile phone. The range of racing classes and events would make even a conventional console game proud. From NASCAR to GT3 and road cars and even a newly-introduced Formula 1 version, this game has it all. The graphics are also remarkably clear for a mobile game. Just check out the Aston Martins competing in this one-make challenge – the detail is astonishing. Forza Horizon 4 (2018) Forza Horizon 4 is a racing video game set in an open world environment based in a fictionalized version of Great Britain. Nothing too special about that. But the game makes this list because of the bredth of its talents. The dynamic weather system depicts the change of seasons, the graphics are sublime and up to 75 players can use the same map simultaneously. The selection of cars will delight any petrolhead too. The Peugeot 205 pictured is no ordinary one, but a rare "Rallye" version, known by connoisseurs to be the best. It's this kind of detail that gained Forza Horizon 4 rave reviews upon its release and it's still a popular game today. ASSETTO CORSA COMPETIZIONE (2019) Bringing us to the present day, Assetto Corsa Competizione makes you ask the question: "Where do racing sims go from here?" The game features breath-taking graphics and realism as it covers the GT-Sports class of endurance racing. The game is optimized for esports racing, and multiple professional series will use the platform as a base this year and next. Looking at the picture, you can see why. A Ferrari heads a pack of GT3 cars winding it's way along the track, trying to stay on the grippy racing line. Driving games have come a long way since Out Run – it's exciting to wonder what the next 30 years will bring.

Some racing games are revolutionary. Check out our gallery of those that helped shape the future of the industry.

Photo credit: www.gran-turismo.com

The release of a new game is an exciting time. The makers feed us “sneak peeks” and previews to build the anticipation and create a buzz. But it’s only when we play the game for the first time that we can really tell how good it is. While some are almost instantly forgotten, others attain legendary status and help shape the future of the industry.

Game changers

Every game aims to better its predecessor, but every so often one comes along that pushes beyond what we believed was possible at the time. Even today, these games stand tall among their comtemporary rivals and are viewed as milestones in the history of gaming.

Check out our gallery celebrating the racing games that helped shape the industry into the one we know and love today:

Is there another game that deserves to be on our list? Tell us on Twitter at @overtake_gg!

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