Racing Game Showdown

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Get ready ladies and gentlemen for winter video game showdown! First up, Gran Turismo 5, the flagship game for the PS3. It's taken Polyphony Digital 5 years and over $31 Million to create this incredible game. Coming to stores this holiday season, GT5 will take you deeper into the reality of racing with up to 1000 cars, 70 tracks, and real-time physics. Honestly, there is no other game of its genre that can match this one, or is there? You're probably thinking Forza Motorsport 3 or Formula One 2010 could be its match-up. But you'd be wrong. Terribly wrong.

In the other corner, with 70 cars, intense police chases, and the vast open world of Seacrest County, it's Need For Speed Hot Pursuit. This game hasn't even been released and it's already receiving praise from many game reviewers. Need For Speed finally returns to its roots with cool exotic cars and crazy police chases along scenic twisty roads. This is no regular action racing game, however. The cops are amped up with new weapons such as EMP's, Nitrous, and Spike Strips. Don't think the racers are left empty handed either. They also have modded Spike Strips, EMP's, and Nitrous as well as System Jamming and other cool assortments. Basically what this is a war with the battlefield being Seacrest County. The racers have their own set of wheels from various manufacturers (Bugatti, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, you name it). The SCPD (Seacrest County Police Department) aren't only showing up in Crown Vics. Thanks to their new budget, they were able to afford Lamborghini Reventons, Aston Martin DBSs, Ford GTs, and many more fast exotic cars. Now, you might have seen a Lamborghini Reventon at least once in real life. But, I am positive that you've never seen a Reventon looking like this...

2011 Lamborghini Reventon Speed Enforcer

Of course, you can get this car without the modded Police Livery, light bar, and weapons in NFS and GT5 as well. Gran Turismo has been with us since 1996. Every time a new chapter in the series is introduced, we are introduced to more features that help us enjoy a realistic racing experience. This year, Polyphony Digital's president Kazunori Yamauchi, creator of Gran Turismo, has promised that this new chapter will be the most realistic the series has ever gotten. Gran Turismo 5 is loaded with realistic features including, for the first time ever, real car damage. Ever since the beginning, Gran Turismo has only featured tire damage. Now, you better not hit the wall, or you front bumper will fall off. On the bright side, you can add more modifications to your car at GT Auto. Back in GT4, you could only change your rims and add a wing to your car. Now, you can custom paint your car, add a bodykit, or even turn your car into a true racing machine, if you can that is.

The new and improved GT AUTO

In the area of number of cars, while NFS has up to 70 of the world's coolest, GT5 has promised up to 1000 cars from all around the world. One car that stands out in this game is the Mercedes SLS AMG. This car is famous not only for its good looks, but for its massive V8 power and insane speed. It's rise to fame came about when Yamauchi decided to put this car in his game and have it as the boxshot. He has analyzed this car from inside and out to make sure that when you drive it in the game, it is as if you are driving it in real life. Now, if you're not interested in reality and would rather be chased by cops and drift around corners, NFS has this car on their car list of 70. So, if you don't get your hands on GT5, but love the SLS, NFS has got your back.

SLS AMG in Gran Turismo 5

SLS AMG in Need For Speed Hot Pursuit

Now, in the category of sociality, Gran Turismo comes out big time. New for 2010, GT has introduced a new social "My Home" where you can communicate with friends across the PSN, share photos, and gameplay. You can also upload saved replays of your best performances on Youtube. Another new feature will allow you to race your friends without even turning on your PS3 system. These Remote Races will allow you to have an AI Driver race in your car against your friends for bragging rights. You can see these races, but you can't coach your Driver like you would usually do in B-Spec mode. Also, in the line of new features, you can share and send cars to your friends in a way of helping them out in GT mode. Basically in this game, you can share just about anything.

Racing after hours

Sharing is the name of the game in NFS as well. Criterion Games have introduced a new sharing feature called Autolog. Call it "NFS Facebook". With Autolog, you can post your game status, share photos, records, and even game performances. What makes Autolog so cool, however, is that it tracks your performance during career and sets a record in which your friends can beat. If your friend has set a top time in an event, Autolog will recommend you try that event and see if you can beat it to claim bragging rights. Whether racing with friends, or fleeing the cops, NFS Hot Pursuit is always competitive.

Cruising through Seacrest County

So, there you are; your two competitors. Gran Turismo 5 will be here this holiday season. Need For Speed Hot Pursuit will be here on November 16 in North America and November 18 everywhere else. Which game will you choose?