Opinion: Arcade racing must adapt… or die –
I love racing games, always have. But for me, it’s clear that a change has taken place in the last few years. Arcade racing as a subgenre continues to decline, while simulation racing is doing very well. This can even be seen in the expansion and growth of the peripheral simulation racing sector and the competitive side of things as people discover that motorsport is the only field of sport that can accurately be described as a video game. . Sure, FIFA sells a bunch of copies every year, but never has one of these games really put you in the shoes of an elite professional athlete the way the F1 and WRC series do. The racing genre stands out from the rest when it comes to immersion, and that’s why I love it so much.
But before going any further, let’s set the record straight. There is a level of crossover in what I’m talking about here, because it’s not all black and white, but the general theme is series like Need for Speed, Grid and Burnout, real arcade racers with floating car mechanics and unnatural speed sensations. , is at a serious crossroads. These games fail to excel in the one area where the racing genre can stand out above all else in the realm of sports gaming: immersion, and I believe that the wavering success of each series sounds the alarm that says “adapt or die”.
The reason I raise this question is because of two things; EA axed a bunch of racing franchises late last year, followed by the launch of Need for Speed forth-ago. Speaking of the former, I’m fine with Project Cars being cut, but Dirt? really…? Sure, Dirt 5 doesn’t look good and that’s due to its more arcade focus if you ask me, but with EA and Codemasters now acquiring the WRC license from KT Racing, the time has come for a Dirt resurgence. , which will bring the rally franchise back to the top, just like in the days of Dirt Rally 2.0.
This is an announcement:
But no, Dirt is dead and Need for Speed lives on. I understand that EA and Criterion are still trying to bring this series back to its former glory, but the problem is that Need for Speeda is not going to come out on top again, especially if it continues to exist as it has. Why would anyone interested in racing games look for a title that doesn’t provide accurate gameplay and racing mechanics, and that’s why I’m baffled that these types of games continue to be shipped.
Today’s video games are more impressive than in years past, so why the arcade racing subgenre refuses to accept the vast amount of data and information that could allow developers to create accurate racing sensations. Take Forza Horizon for example. It’s a series that’s really an arcade racer, but it has a driving feel that can be highly customized to suit the player as if it’s real when you’re sitting behind the wheel. And the same goes for F1 sim-racer and even WRC games (although those have their own demons). The truth is, Forza Horizon has etched its name right at the forefront of the arcade racing scene since the series debuted a decade ago, and it’s only gotten better and better ever since. , to this day – the undisputed king of the subgenre. Need for Speed, on the other hand, was still stuck and failed to shift into second gear, as its constant attempts to attract players with the same play style began to lose traction. its beauty a few years before Forza Horizon hit the starting grid.
Now there is still a place for arcade racing, don’t get me wrong. Kart racers are still lovable and fun, and series like Asphalt continue to dominate on mobile devices thanks to more limited hardware and control methods. But with current generation consoles and PCs, devices with enough hardware and potential to deliver accurate simulations, it should be normal to sit behind the wheel of a car, feel the weight of the vehicle, the torque in the engine , the grip of the tires and the lack of it in a high-speed corner. Honestly, I’m sick of those racing games where the best way to win is to just crash your car into the railings that define the limits of the track, grinding down the side of the course with your foot on the pedal, all to maintain. the speed and momentum needed to win the race.
This is an announcement:
The racing is brilliant because of its intricacies, racing lines, braking timing, fast shifting skills, and more. Imagine if you started FIFA and the best way to win is to simply run over any opponent standing in front of you towards the goal, all because there are no penalties. That’s what arcade racing really feels like these days. So he must adapt… or die. I’m not saying that every racing game needs to be a hard simulated experience like Gran Turismo, but can we leave the old racing systems behind and instead look at something similar to the feel of Forza on Horizon ? Because right now it’s hard for me to watch a new Need for Speed, or Grid, etc., without immediately feeling very prejudiced and afraid that it’s doomed.
