| Beginning with the first flight simulator program, video gamers have been fascinated with games that ape the experience of operating vehicles that they would probably never get the chance to operate in real life. Video game arcades are full of racing games of varying stripes, including games that race through cities, race on snowboards, or race with all-terrain vehicles (or ATVs). With home video game systems now offering a higher level of sophistication in terms of graphics, home users can play these games, as well. There are several offroad racing games available. Perhaps the granddaddy of such games is ATV Offroad Fury. There are now three versions of this title available. In every version of this game, the player is plunged into the immersive world of ATV offroad racing. The environments are free-roaming, meaning that the player is not limited to staying on any set track. Each game features several unique events, as well as a stunning degree of racing realism. The ATVs can go down a rocky cliff wall, jump over boulders, and get into realistically explosive crashes. Subsequent versions of this title improve the gameplay by adding new vehicles, as well as new terrains. Multi-player modes are available, in both on- and offline gameplay. With each version, players can raise the stakes by tweaking the difficulty level. An offshoot of these titles is MX vs. ATV Unleashed. In this title, the player can choose from several vehicles, including motocross bikes, ATVs, monster trucks, and many more. The graphics in all of these titles are, by and large, exceptional. The games themselves offer many hours of play. |