-- Scott Taves";
games_Bestof2007_RacingGames[i++] = new Array("","'MotorStorm'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071109/Brill_RacingGames/MotorStorm_Sony.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Sony", "225", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
games_Bestof2007_RacingGames[i-1].body = "'MotorStorm'
Sony's “MotorStorm” for the PS3 is a deliriously fast, collision-packed racer decked out with the latest in real-time track deformation technology. There’s never a dull moment when the outdoor dirt tracks are chewed up into new shapes with each circuit and that monster truck keeps slamming against your rear end.
“MotorStorm” is a fantasy off-road racing and music festival with a tantalizing line-up of vehicles ranging from big rigs to motorbikes to ATVs. While the concept of David and Goliath face-offs might sound unfair, strategic choices abound to level the field. Dune buggies and bikes can take alternate routes that aren’t easily accessible to the bigger machines and while the big boys aren’t as agile, they can literally drive over the competition. The dizzying sense of speed and flying debris make for a deliriously wild ride. ";
games_Bestof2007_RacingGames[i++] = new Array("","'MotoGP 07'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071109/Brill_RacingGames/MotoGP%2007_THQ.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "THQ", "273", "342", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
games_Bestof2007_RacingGames[i-1].body = "'MotoGP 07'
Motorcycle racing games, like their rally counterparts, don’t exactly fly off the shelves in the U.S. and publishers aren’t releasing many titles. Thankfully, THQ's “MotoGP 07” for the Xbox 360 is a rare game that captures the feel – and not just the look – of the actual experience. Those iconic knee-dragging corner carves are a Zen-like experience where you’ll pick your line and flow through the real-world Gran Prix tracks.
Past versions of “MotoGP” have been infamously difficult, but this year, the game falls somewhere between realistic sim and casual arcade styles. The back of the bike will start to fishtail before you crash, giving you time to correct, and the numerous turns are more forgiving in easier difficulty settings. But once the rhythm of slowing down, leaning, then blasting out a turn clicks in, “MotoGP 07” feels beautiful.";
games_Bestof2007_RacingGames[i++] = new Array("","'Need for Speed ProStreet'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071109/Brill_RacingGames/ProStreet_Electronic%20Arts.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Electronic Arts", "237", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
games_Bestof2007_RacingGames[i-1].body = "'Need for Speed ProStreet'
The “Need for Speed” series has been around the block a few times with mixed results. This outing, however, is no mere tune-up – EA's “ProStreet” is more like a complete rebuild.
No racing game this year can match the advanced physics and spot-on feel of “ProStreet” (playable on the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC). The hand brake drifting and hair-raising cornering is a sublime mix of control and chaos, especially at the medium and advanced settings. Persistent damage on vehicles lends to the realism as do the truly spectacular visuals. Vintage muscle cars leave massive banks of smoke and dust in their wake and exotic speed machines mirror the dynamic weather conditions off of their gleaming finishes.";
games_Bestof2007_RacingGames[i++] = new Array("","'DiRT' ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071109/Brill_RacingGames/DiRT.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Codemaster", "240", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
games_Bestof2007_RacingGames[i-1].body = "'DiRT' The title says it all. Rally racing is a dirty business. It’s also muddy, slushy and rainy – the gamut of Mother Nature’s moods is in graphically pristine form in the world-class “DiRT” from Codemasters. And racing games don’t get any more thrilling than this.
The Colin McCrae racing series, this time with a new moniker, reached its apex this year. The meticulously modeled, fully destructible vehicles bark through their gears and handle on the edge of total anarchy. Clip that bridge too hard and you’ll launch that 800 horsepower machine into a death roll.
While the time trials – just you, the car, and the clock – are the heart of any rally racing game, the developers wisely broadened the appeal of “DiRT” (available for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC) with the head-to-head Rally Cross and Rally Raid modes. Get ready for some serious bump and grind with a stable of competitors.";
games_Bestof2007_RacingGames[i++] = new Array("","'Project Gotham Racing 4'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071109/Brill_RacingGames/PGR4_Codemasters.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Microsoft", "239", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
games_Bestof2007_RacingGames[i-1].body = "'Project Gotham Racing 4'
Microsoft's “PGR4” for the Xbox 360 is aimed squarely at the discerning auto thrill seeker. While the game is a solid performer and visual powerhouse, the main attraction is undoubtedly the 120 available vehicles.
As you progress through the game, you’ll be able to purchase everything from relatively mundane BMWs to insanely exotic gems like the electric Tesla Roadster. The virtual thrill of getting behind the wheels of these super-cars is worth the price of admission.
“PGR4” is more accessible than series like “Forza” and “Gran Turismo,” which cater more to the tuner fetishists. If you want to get behind the wheel of a super-car with minimal fussing over parts and customization, “PGR4” is a superb choice.
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// END editorial data