C.A.R.T. Fury - Championship Racing

Okay, some bad pun here, but believe me a great game regardless. I am one of those people who have always loved the thrill of the race as much as the win itself. This game, in my opinion delivers both beautifully. Now racing is one of those genres where every individual gamer has his or her preference, from fast till you almost reach flying speed to slow where you can stop and smell the fuels as you putter along. This game will give you either or, which to me says a lot about the game itself. 

As with all racing games you are given your choice of car, driver and track. You can also choose either manual or automatic transmission. You’ll also have a choice of levels, which include the usual easy, medium or rarin' to go!  There are five different racing modes and I strongly encourage you to try all of them. Personally, I enjoyed the Arcade Mode the most, but each mode will afford a different kind of gameplay. 

You are suited up and ready to go! Let the races begin. Okay now, for most of us who have played enough racing games we qualify for some kind of monetary reward, this is pretty much the standard. You know who your competition is, just about anyone in the lead or behind and like all racing games, speed is the name of the game. 

Besides some very impressive collisions, you will also find yourself dodging flying parts of your opponent’s cars. When in the lead, nudge your competitor’s car on the front side and in the blink of an eye, your competition is out of the race. You’ll also want to find the shortcuts, which are on every track. Hint here: if you find an object you have to crash through, you’ll know you have found the shortcut. Make sure and take full advantage of it as it can really cut your time. 

Another thing you will want to take advantage of is the Super Boost. If you have the qualifying time you are eligible for the super boost. This jettisons your car into hyper speed and just about assures a place in the winners circle. The first time I used it I was only going about 100mph and it was a waste of not only power but also the chance to place. I next used it at 200mph and the difference was amazing. As you will find yourself losing time when you go around turns I suggest you use it then. Also use it when you are almost at the finish line and want some extra oomph to get you over and into the win. Never let up on your opponent and watch out for anyone who offers you a challenge, trust me when I say he is one mean racing machine and will give you the race of your life! 

Gameplay: 8.0
When it comes to gameplay this one is right on the money. Fast paced enough to keep you racing for hours yet also allows you to pace yourself to the speed you are most comfortable with.   

Graphics: 8.0
Graphics are beautifully done. The cars themselves are as realistic as you’ll find in any game of this genre. Drivers are also well done as well as the background which includes planes flying over head. Even the plane’s metal shimmer from an overhead sun is well defined. Collisions are about as good as it can get, with fiery metal flying about. Needless to say even the bright red glow of the flames is something to see.

Sound: 7.2
The sound was clear and of course most of it is the sound of racecars colliding. I would have liked to see an option of being able to turn it louder, but it is kind of a low sound when you consider that this is a racing game where fast paced music can pump up the game and the gamer. 

Difficulty: 7.8
The difficulty is perfect with the gameplay. If fast and furious is what you are looking for just select the mode and level which is geared toward a faster version of the game. If you want to just kind of rumble around for awhile, you can take the Driving 101 which will give you some practice time.   

Concept: 7.9
Racing games have been around for a long time now and this one joins the ranks of being one of the best. It may seem repetitious at times, but I have found that most racing games once you have been around the track a few are pretty much the same. Still though, it has a lot of extras, which sets it apart from the usual fare.

Multiplayer: N/A

Overall: 8.0
The one thing I really liked about the game was although it contains the usual when it comes to games of this kind, it has also added a few goodies along the way. Skill and challenge go hand in hand and this game has managed to intertwine them in a way which makes the game not only enjoyable but also one in which you will find yourself playing over and over again. It may not be as sleek as some of the other racing games on the market, but is has certainly carved out its own place of individuality among the others, which is not an easy task as all gamers know. A racing game for all ages and for racing fans who just like a fast car, a challenging track and few collisions or two!