Two Player Replays

The videogames industry, particularly the racing game genre has a very serious flaw. It’s something that almost always rears its ugly snout and destroys the enjoyment and motivation to play many modern racing games. It’s a little feature which for some unknown reason has been omitted by almost all of the latest car modifying or racing games of recent times.

As you know a race involves more than one vehicle. Unless it’s against a ghost or clock the race to the finish line can become quite a fray. When playing a two player game with your friend present it helps to re-live the best of the racing moments you both just had and examine closely your respective performances so you can settle any arguments relating to dirty tricks.

Almost all racing games these days have the ability to pitch two players against each other on a single screen. Almost all racing games have a replay feature for the single player element. But tragically this replay feature is almost always forgotten when it comes to a two player race where ironically the feature is at its most useful.

I find this absolutely unforgivable and I am yet to retain a racing game that includes two player replays. Typically I buy racing games to play against my friends because I’m not really interested in playing against strangers over the internet. Racing a mate is much more rewarding and helps to sort out differences or settle bets on performance.

The last game to my knowledge to include two player replays was Gran Turismo 2 on the PS2. This is a last generation game and one would assume that after 9 years and with extra money, processing power and interest that the developers of modern racing games would include such a feature. Alas this is not the case and I remain frustrated at the industries inability to realise that this feature is desired more so than the replay feature found in the single player mode.

I remain hopeful that one day there may be a decent next generation racing game that caters for multiplayer races as I’m sure you’ll agree, these races are some of the fiercest and most competitive events a player can enjoy in a modern videogame.

Racing Games With Multiplayer Replays
Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo 2
Project Gotham Racing

Racing Games Without Multiplayer Replays
Every Other Racing Game Out At The Moment

Gran Turismo (Playstation)

Gran Turismo is the finest racing game of all time. Gran Turismo was commissioned by Sony and developed by Polyphony Digital as a response to a lack of appealing racing games for car enthusiasts. Its release in 1997 made a massive impact on the racing genre and spawned a thousand imitations since. Currently in its 5th generation Gran Turismo continues to dominate the racing genre.

The mixture of real world physics, the ability to upgrade your car, excellent tracks and TV style replays sets Gran Turismo apart from the crowd. As the game was quite serious and the handling based on the performance of the actual cars you weren’t allowed to simply jump into a car without first passing a few tests. These acted as a right of passage to the more serious side of Gran Turismo where you could race to earn cash to upgrade your car to win more races.

Gran Turismo has been accused of being a car collection simulation and it is true that there are hundreds of cars and different versions of cars to find but this adds to the game as a true hardcore driver’s game rather than detract from the fact. Gran Turismo is also one of the few games which consistently delivers an array of replay options for both the single player and multiplayer modes, something which is severely overlooked in other racing games.

Damage has not yet been seen in any Gran Turismo game which is a shame, but I expect that the licences required for each manufacturer have clauses which prevent such deformation of their creations. This does impact on the feel of realism within the game but at heart, Gran Turismo is not a stock racing game and should be played with precision, preferably with the appropriate steering and pedals peripherals.

Gran Turismo 5 is due out soon and will, for the first time boast online play which should help expand the player base and allow Gran Turismo to become the definitive hardcore racing game for the masses.