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Games
These 7 classic racing games need to be remade
2017 saw loads of great racing games launched, but history is littered with some absolute crackers, and it'd be great to see some of them get a new lease of life.
It's been a decade since Criterion's iconic open-world racer Burnout Paradise first landed, and it's set to make a high definition return in 2018. That got us thinking about all the other classic retro racers out there – the amazing titles that have defined different platforms over the years.
While some of the best games have received updates for each new generation of console, others have been forgotten about, and the games below are the titles we'd love to see get a modern makeover.
1. Out Run
For millions of people growing up in the 1980s, Out Run was one of the definitive arcade games, with the iconic Ferrari Testarossa the star of the show. Since then, we've seen more and more racing games switch to first-person views, with the proliferation of steering wheels, and even VR setups making it more appealing to be inside the car than outside.
Still, there’s nothing like a bit of retro fun, and given the right choice of cars, an update in graphics and gameplay that takes advantage of the latest physics, we can imagine Out Run being a great choice for a modern-day remake.
2. Road Rash
With an unhealthy emphasis on knocking other riders off their bikes using your fists, feet, and even chains, EA's Road Rash was clearly more about fun than realistic racing. As we've always found with Mario Kart, though, there's something deeply satisfying about having something else to concentrate on other than pitiful attempts at mastering the perfect racing line. In 2014 we saw an early access version of Road Redemption, a spiritual successor of sorts to Road Rash. It received a further update in 2017 and an official launch, but we still feel that fans would most definitely be up for a completely new Road Rash. With modern graphics, more involving physics, and the possibility of different ways to inflict pain and send rival riders flying, Road Rash is the ideal candidate for a 2018 makeover and it'd go hand in hand with EA's other motor-smashing franchise, Burnout.
3. Grand Prix Legends
Over the past 20 years there have been some truly excellent racing sims, but when it came out in 1998, Grand Prix Legends offered something truly different.
The PC sim was up against the likes of the original Gran Turismo, but countered by offering a journey back in time, with historic racers and championships, racing circuits from a bygone era and handling dynamics that were far trickier to master than most of the games we've seen since. Unless you had the reactions and finesse of Sterling Moss, it was all too easy to see the scenery hurtling towards you and, unlike Gran Turismo, the result was likely to be a fireball.
Grand Prix Legends presented the type of challenge we've rarely seen since, and we'd love to see the return of more historic racing cars, and equally challenging circuits in a modern version.
4. Crazy Taxi
Grand Theft Auto may have become the default game when it comes to causing carnage on the roads, ignoring the rules and getting from A to B without a care in the world for other road users, but Crazy Taxi was providing similar thrills and spills back in 1999. We can imagine a latter-day version – going head-to-head with Uber and delivery drivers on bikes, along with better visuals and the potential for a much bigger open world – being just as much fun.
5. Virtua Racing
Virtua Racing was a groundbreaking title back in 1992, using 3D polygonal graphics to showcase some of the best-looking racing ever seen at the time. 3D racing may have become the norm over the past 25 years, but we're still grateful for all Virtua Racing had to offer.
There may be far more realistic games around now, like F1 2017, but we still love the idea of open-wheeled racing on public roads, and tracks created from the minds of racing fans. As such, we'd welcome a new version of Virtua Racing open arms.
6. R.C. Pro-Am
Racing games don't necessarily have to be super realistic to be fun, and R.C. Pro-Am was another great example of this. We've always loved the idea of hammering miniature cars around custom-built circuits, with scale speeds often way in excess of the speeds achievable in reality – and it’s a format that proved just as enjoyable in the virtual world. R.C. Pro-Am was a smash hit on the original NES, and popped up more recently in Rare's 2015 Xbox One compilation, Rare Replay. It's a game that we'd love to see revisited for the modern RC era, taking in the likes of drone racing as well.
7. Burnout
Burnout Paradise may be getting a sharper look, with 2018's remaster boasting high definition graphics, but it's not a completely new game. We're certain the masters at Criterion and EA can do better than that, and we'd love to see a modern version going outside the world of Paradise City, offering the same fun and ability to explore, but packing in more vehicles and a host of new game scenarios. Maybe it's also time for Burnout to license some real-world cars because tearing around the city is always more fun in a car you've actually heard of.
