Which racing game should I get?

I'm thinking of picking up a new racing game for christmas and I'm not too sure what to get. I've never been one to play a lot of Forza games, but a lot of people are saying this new Forza is different from past iterations. The NfS looks great, but its seems a bit online multiplayer focused and I don't play a ton of multiplayer. I threw Blur and the other NfS in there because they're the cheaper options and they look just as fun. I'm seriously considering Blur as its made by Bizarre Creations, who made PGR4 which is a fucking amazing game. The main issue is that it is a few years old, so I suspect the online aspects of it could be dead in the water. Thoughts?

I'm a broken record, but

this game is exceptionally fun. Made by ex-Bizzare Creations guys as well.

It kind of depends if you're into singleplayer (Horizon, Hot Pursuit) or multiplayer (Most Wanted, Blur).

@TheSquarePear: Ah is Blur multiplayer focused? Tis a bit of a pain if it was. Just watched a gamespot video review of it and it looks pretty sweet.

@Timing: Main issue I have with it is that it lacks quite a bit of depth in terms of the modes and the singleplayer campaign. May have to give the demo a chance though to decide.

@CookieMonster said:

@Timing: Main issue I have with it is that it lacks quite a bit of depth in terms of the modes and the singleplayer campaign. May have to give the demo a chance though to decide.

To the contrary, actually, the first Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing had a pretty extensive mission mode and this one, allegedly, has an even better and more robust one. Just don't buy it on Wii U; they broke a couple of the missions with a day one patch that has yet to be resolved. :\

EDIT: I should clarify about the Wii U patch - Sega and Sumo submitted it to Nintendo over a week ago and they're just sitting on it for who knows what reason.

Even though I don't own an XBOX 360, I still think Forza Horizon is the way to go. Sounds like that's the racing game and if I had a 360, I'd buy Horizon first. 

And about All stars racing transformed, give it a chance with the demo, heard that game is the most underrated games of the year.

@iAmJohn: Interesting. I'll definitely give it a look then.

@CookieMonster: Blur is basically PGR x Mario Kart. It is a kart racer at it's heart meaning that it's kinda empty if you're not screwing over your friends in spectacular fashion.

All these half-finished racing games suck. The genre is stagnant and dead to me until maybe Horizon 2 actually gets a AAA budget that gets put to better use than just more car polygons. I was surprised how broken Forza physics are outside of the four points of contact between the tires and the road. I'm looking for the next Midnight Club or something...we need a racing game from somebody who actually believes in combining all the features into a complete package instead of this piecemeal stuff. Tracks and an Open World can't exist in the same game. Autos and Motorcycles can't exist in the same game. Single and Multiplayer can't exist in the same game world. Asphalt and Rally can't exist in the same game...or if they do the dirt handles like asphalt. Might as well play Pong.

At this point freaking GTA5 is as likely as not to end up being solid competition for the racers we're being served.

You should get F-Zero

Horizon was much better than I thought it would be. I just got it yesterday and am enjoying it quite a bit.

p.s. Sweet Spiderland avatar.

PGR 4, GRID or even Shift. Horizon looks amazing but the driving feels so easy even with loads of the assists off. Get PGR 4 and use the Concept M because its tail end has just that little bit slip that'll make it fun to drive but will rarely leave you frustrated. If you drive on outside view I have no advice at all, maybe some karting game.

If you don't have Forza 4, I suggest that. It's the best racing sim of all time. If you want a more arcadey game then Horizon is a great mix, but still no substitute for Forza 4.

@jdh5153: I've got forza 3 but never really got into. Suppose I could give it another go...

@Timing said:

I'm a broken record, but

this game is exceptionally fun. Made by ex-Bizzare Creations guys as well.

I picked up the first one for cheap and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. How similar is Transformed? What I did not like about the first is how similar all the karts felt to one another. Also there was too much sonic in it. I know it is sonic and all stars, not sega all stars. Still, who needs Big the Cat and so many sonic tracks.

Oh shit, I still have Forza 3 lying around somewhere. I got it in a bundle and never really played it. Is it still relevant or should I just get Horizon?

@Timing said:

I'm a broken record, but

this game is exceptionally fun. Made by ex-Bizzare Creations guys as well.

From what I've seen and from the demo this looks like a good choice.

Of the list in the poll I picked Forza Horizon. I really, really, really like that game. It's just fun full stop.

@BBQBram said:

Oh shit, I still have Forza 3 lying around somewhere. I got it in a bundle and never really played it. Is it still relevant or should I just get Horizon?

It's still relevant, but Forza 4 is a HUGE improvement and it's pretty cheap ($20-30). The interface is absolutely beautiful, the car interiors are incredible (especially when you drive your own car and see how spot on it is.) [Always drive in cockpit mode!] the tracks are wonderful and the handling is amazing. There's just so much car porn in this game and the Top Gear integration makes it even nicer (love Top Gear)!

Horizon feels like Forza, but it's a pretty different experience. If you're not entirely into cars it might be the game for you. There's less customization and tuning, and the cars handle more like a Need 4 Speed game. You can bounce off of stuff or hit the grass and keep going without much of a problem. There are a LOT less cars in Horizon, so that might be something that turns you off. Furhtermore it's all open world racing so you're not going to get to take a car around the Nürburgring

Blur is awesome, I would definitely recommend it if you liked PGR. The single player is nothing special but the online is super fun. Not very many people play it anymore but there is usually enough people to regularly get into at least a semi-full race. It also has 4 player splitscreen which I always view as a plus.

Forza Horizon is also pretty fun. Haven't really dabbled online with it though but I do really like the single player.

I don't really play Need For Speed games so can't comment there. Played a little of Hot Pursuit but don't really have an opinion on it.

I'd recommend Forza Horizon seeing as you said you never really got into Forza 3. This game isn't as intense but it still feels like a Forza game which gives it a nice blend between sim and arcade racer.

get forza horizon. pretty good stuff.

i don't think need for speed are great games anymore. i haven't played one since shift. there were a few parts that were glitchy.

@jdh5153 said:

@BBQBram said:

Oh shit, I still have Forza 3 lying around somewhere. I got it in a bundle and never really played it. Is it still relevant or should I just get Horizon?

It's still relevant, but Forza 4 is a HUGE improvement and it's pretty cheap ($20-30). The interface is absolutely beautiful, the car interiors are incredible (especially when you drive your own car and see how spot on it is.) [Always drive in cockpit mode!] the tracks are wonderful and the handling is amazing. There's just so much car porn in this game and the Top Gear integration makes it even nicer (love Top Gear)!

Horizon feels like Forza, but it's a pretty different experience. If you're not entirely into cars it might be the game for you. There's less customization and tuning, and the cars handle more like a Need 4 Speed game. You can bounce off of stuff or hit the grass and keep going without much of a problem. There are a LOT less cars in Horizon, so that might be something that turns you off. Furhtermore it's all open world racing so you're not going to get to take a car around the Nürburgring

Well, guess I'll play Forza 3 to a point where I know on what level I enjoy it, and pick accordingly. I like open world stuff, but never played an open world racer. Hell, maybe I'll like it so much I end up getting both, since they seem pretty complementary, right? That's a lot of Forza though. Hmm.