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[Virgin Wii]

I've been playing so much F-Zero X lately that I was wondering if there were any other F-Zero fans out there.

1) F-Zero X

The speed, the tight tracks, and the agressive fight to stay in 1st make this my favorite. Too bad the music really sucks.

2) Wipeout 3

Probably as close as a futuristic racer has come to being aesthetically perfect. Awesome graphics, art, and music. Long tracks that are fun to race down. I prefer the more aggressive nature of the combat in F-Zero X, but this game is still awesome.

3) F-Zero GX

The graphics, art, and music in this game are all top notch, totally blowing away F-Zero X in those respects (but a slight notch down from Wipeout 3). Longer, theme based tracks were welcome. However, this game doesn't hold up to X because of 2 main reasons: the tracks are a little too wide and the competition isn't nearly as aggressive. Still, it's an awesome, classic racer.

4) Jet Moto

I can't believe how fun this game was. Hitting the ramps was more satisfying than even flying through the air in F-Zero. I remember everyone at the time was praising Wave Race 64. I never got a chance to play that game, but since I had this I didn't really care.

5) Wave Race: Blue Storm

It's all about the waves. I just love how you actually navigate the waves, rather than the track. So much fun.


As you can probably tell, I'm not too big a fan of traditional racers like Ridge Racer or Gran Turismo. But if those are your favorites, post 'em.

 

[Doom_Bringer]

1.) Need For Speed High Stakes: Me and my sister loved this game. The track design was awesome, the music rocked, the graphics were good at the time. It was just an awesome racer.

2.) Burnout 3: Awesome crashes, graphics. Overall an intense game.

3.) Ridge Racer IV

4.) Burnout 2

5.) Need For Speed 3

 

[SantaC]

RC pro am racing
Rock n roll racing
Outrun
Stunt Race FX (yes haters)
Super Mario Kart snes

 

[dog$]

Wipeout 3
Ridge Racer 5
F Zero GX
RC Pro Am
Waver Ace 64

 

[M3wThr33]

Rush 2049 DC
Rush 2049 Arcade
Mario Kart 64
Mario Kart Double Dash
Mario Kart Super Circuit

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

1. Mario Kart 64
2. Wave Race 64
3. Gran Turismo 3
4. Diddy Kong Racing
5. San Francisco Rush (N64 version)

Here are the rest that deserve special mention:
The rest of the Mario Karts, Rock N' Roll Racing, RC Pro AM, F-Zero X and GX, the other San Fran Rush games (like 2049), hmm... that's all I can think of right now..

 

[Shikamaru Ninja]

1) F-Zero X

Just pure bad ass racing. One of the true examples of how talented Nintendo is, and how talented the developers are within the company. Hard rock music, comic book characters, and the most hardcore racing you could think off. The greatest random track generator ever. The first racer to have 30 racers on screen at 60 fps, or 4 player splitscreen at a "next-gen framerate". Oh and the deathrace !!!

2) Top Gear 2

I think this game was freaking amazing for its time. Gremlin Graphics created the perfect blend of intense racing, options, car customization, weather, and track design.

3) Wave Race: Blue Storm

NST rocks. This game took the magic of the EAD Wave Race and twisted it with some insane but addicting difficulty curve and track design. Music rock. Josh Schwedler !!

4) Wipeout 64

I love Wipeout, but I think this underrated episode is the best of the bunch. Awesome soundtrack , multiplayer, and some insane track design.

5) Excitebike 64

F*** yeah !!!

 

[MightyHedgehog]

Stunt Car Racer (Amiga)
Rallisport Challenge 2 (XBOX)
Super Monaco GP (Genesis)
Wipeout XL (Playstation)
Sega Rally (Saturn)

 

[FortNinety]

1. Daytona USA
2. Virtua Racing
3. Sega Rally
4. Sega Touring Car
5. OutRun 2

 

[rareside]

Beetle Adventure Racing (N64) -- Even shitty cars can't bring this awesome racer down. I need to rebuy it, as I think I sold it in order to harbor cash for the Cube.

SF Rush (Series) -- Arcade racers forever. The highlights were Stunt Mode in Rush2, and I had a ton of fun with the battle mode in 2049 in college with 4 players.

Super Mario Kart (SNES) -- Despite the increasing popularity with newer versions, I still believe the original holds the best balance of skill and luck, and the battle mode can't be beat to this day.

 

[Crazymoogle]

2) Top Gear 2

I think this game was freaking amazing for its time. Gremlin Graphics created the perfect blend of intense racing, options, car customization, weather, and track design.

Don't forget the most bad-ass co-op mode in a racing game, period. The only thing the game could have used at the time was battery backup (instead of that shitty password setup). I think the first time I ever heard of 'Kevlar' was from the TG2 instruction manual.

My top five? Uh...in no particular order,

-Top Gear 2 (SNES)
-Rage Racer (PS1)
-Ridge Racer V (PS2)
-F-Zero (SNES)
-Mario Kart (SNES)

With a big bonus mention to the racing game that is never played like a racing game, STUNTS.

 

[SD-Ness]

1. Mario Kart: DD (GCN)
2. Mario Kart 64 (N64)
3. Super Mario Kart (SNES)
4. Wave Race 64 (N64)
5. Diddy Kong Racing (N64)
6. Gran Turismo 3: A Spec (PS2)
7. F-Zero 64 (N64)
8. F-Zero (SNES)

EDIT: 9. Uniracers (SNES) <-- I loved this game. Wasn't a very serious game though.

 

[Mejilan]

I'm really not big on racers, but...

1) F-Zero X
2) F-Zero GX / AX
3) Wipeout XL
4) Excitebike 64
5) F-Zero GP Legend

 

[Chony]

Mario Kart 64
Super Mario Kart
Mario KartD


That is all I need.

 

[Goreomedy]

Beetle Adventure Racing deserves more love.

 

[Arcticfox]

As for console racers:

1) Gran Turismo 3
2) Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
3) F-Zero GX
4) Mario Kart 64
5) World Driver Championship

If we are including PC games, I'd add:

1) Grand Prix Legends
2) The entire Papyrus Nascar series
3) Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed

 

[Virgin Wii]

1) F-Zero X

Just pure bad ass racing. One of the true examples of how talented Nintendo is, and how talented the developers are within the company. Hard rock music, comic book characters, and the most hardcore racing you could think off. The greatest random track generator ever. The first racer to have 30 racers on screen at 60 fps, or 4 player splitscreen at a "next-gen framerate". Oh and the deathrace !!!

YEAH!!

4) Wipeout 64

I love Wipeout, but I think this underrated episode is the best of the bunch. Awesome soundtrack , multiplayer, and some insane track design.

I didn't even know this existed. I have an N64, I should pick this up.

 

[Sho Nuff]

1. Daytona USA (ARC/DC)
2. San Francisco Rush (ARC/N64)
3. San Francisco Rush 2049 (DC)
4. OutRun 2
5. Scud Race

 

[WhippinSean]

1. Rage Racer

Till this day, I have yet to play a racing game as fine as Rage Racer. Everything from the cars, the art style, the graphics, THE MUSIC, the control, the beautiful courses, the challenging gameplay and the fucking BEST ENGINE SOUNDS EVER!! Rage Racer is every automobile fans dream come true... and it hasn't stopped yet!

2. Wipeout XL

XL is the best Wipeout yet, with 3 coming in 2nd. The best part about the Wipeout series, especially XL is that it plays like no other racing game ever, because it was the first, and even still the last. To be able to take turns better with the shoulder buttons is a controller setup that beats them all. Plus, the music owned all other games even to this day... YES!

3. Gran Turismo 2

500 cars, what more can I say? It may not be as polished graphically as GT3, but GT2 had more of an OOMPH for me, must of been the fact that you can still race modify your cars and give them that slick new paint job and decals, I really missed that in GT3. Plus all the courses and the Rally... it was just a fucking blast. And for me, I will play it over GT3... just because!

4. Sega Super GT ( ARCADE )

This is the one racing game that has the best drifts ever. I have mastered all the courses and cars already... but it's still fun to go through them and beat your old times, do massive drifts and just have a blast at the arcade. Nothing beats getting first place in this game, it's actually very challenging, but very rewarding, especially when you are able to miss all the walls and even the cars. It's a beautiful game!

5. Project Gotham Racing 2

The best of the newest racing games, and one of the best racing games ever. This game could have replaced Rage Racer for me... since I actually probably logged in the same amount of time into this as Rage Racer, which speaks volumes if you knew me. The best part about PGR 2, is the way the cars handle and the cone challenges! That is so much fucking fun. It's just addicting to go in and try to beat your old Kudos score. I've had a blast with this game. The custom soundtrack makes it all the more worthwhile... plus it still is the best looking racing game of all time... TECHNICALLY speaking that is, Rage Racer is the best looking GAME period... due to the style of the art, the colors of the courses, cars and so on...

 

[captainbiotch]

Project Gotham Racing 2
Rallisport Challenge 2
F-Zero GX
San Francisco Rush 64
Need For Speed Underground 2

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

1. Super Mario Kart (SNES)
2. Sega Rally2 (Dreamcast/Arcade)
3. R.C. Pro-Am (NES)
4. Wave Race64 (N64)
5. Mario Kart64 (N64)

 

[kumanoki]

1. F-Zero
2. Mario Cart
3. Initial D 3rd (I live in Gunma, Japan, where the manga is set.)
4. Gran Turismo 3
5. Gran Turismo

 

[worldrunover]

1. NFS Hot Pursuit 2
2. Mario Kart 64
3. Burnout 3
4. F-Zero X (GX sucked hard)
5. Mario Kart DD

 

[Do The Mario]

1. Mario Kart (snes)

2. GT3 (PS2)

3. Diddy Kong Racing (N64)

4. Mario Kart (N64)

5. Outrun (acd)

 

[Virgin Wii]

The best part about the Wipeout series, especially XL is that it plays like no other racing game ever, because it was the first, and even still the last. To be able to take turns better with the shoulder buttons is a controller setup that beats them all.

Actually, the original F-Zero on the SNES was the first to do this.

 

[XS+]

SCUD Race (best drifting ever like that other guy said)
Ferrari F355
Daytona USA
Hydro Thunder
San Francisco Rush

Outrun 2 is cool but is it really a racer?

 

[I Work For UbiSoft]

1. Nascar Racing 2 (PC), Sierra at its best...

2. F-Zero(SNES), don't know how many hours I spent on this game

3. Nascar Racing 4 (PC), truly one of the best racers I've played...

4. Mario Kart,(SNES) Do I need to say more than it was fun as anything

5. Need for Speed Porsche Unleashed(PC), the last fun EA's NFS game for me.

 

[sandman]

Daytona USA
Crazy Taxi
Sega Rally
Outrunners
GT1

 

[robox]

battle gear 2
ridge racer
ridge racer v
rage racer
super mario kart

 

[The Interrobanger]

1. Beetle Adventure Racing (N64)
2. Extreme-G (N64)
3. San Francisco Rush 2049 (DC)
4. Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit (PSOne)
5. Mario Kart 64 (N64)

 

[jett]

No order:

Top Gear

Wave Race 64

Gran Turismo

Ridge Racer Type R4

OutRun

 

[Ronin]

Daytona USA
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4
Sega Super GT
Outrun

 

[Lumix]

1) Sega Rally 2 (DC) – I don’t think I have had a racing game, affect my life as much as this one.
Time Attack was definitely where it was at.
The experience of placing high on all three (EU, JP, & NA) ranking boards, against some of the best players from Game-411’s old weekly competitions (some of which post in GA forum), was one of the best times of my life.
Navigating the course, finding the best driving line, which corners to drift or grip, choosing the correct tires, adjusting damper settings and gear ratios…. all just to beat rivals in the U.S. by a certain deadline on every late Saturday night. There was a certain strategy to posting times as well, almost like last minute bidding on eBay. Do I send in my time, to make sure it gets accepted before the deadline? Does submitting my time now, give my rivals enough time to counter one even better?
The competition was so intense that at one stage, three of us were only separated by a thousandth of a second on the Japanese ranking board. We ended up in the top 15.
Spending hours on a course, with numerous restarts was so stressful and frustrating, but just like Gran Turismo’s license tests, so rewarding with the amount of effort that was made.

A lot of what I experienced back then, is now applied to what I do now:
Solo 2 Autocross in the California Sports Car Club.
Drift competitions, such as Video Option’s Ikaten & D1 Driver Search, as well as Falken Tire Drift Showoff and Drift Day Advance.
Road racing at Willow Springs and Buttonwillow Raceway.

Thanks to Moayad, TP, Keith, Kruza, Player 1, PEZ, Kiriakos, Shinobi, and Solid Snakex for the good times.


The others:

2) Gran Turismo (PS)
3) OutRun (Arcade)
4) Rage Racer (PS)
5) Super GT / SCUD Race (Arcade)

 

[MarkRyan]

1) Wipeout 3
2) Ridge Racer V
3) Colin McRae 2005

 

[Matlock]

1. Super Mario Kart
2. Mario Kart: Super Circuit
3. Crash Team Racing
4. Burnout 2
5. Gran Turismo

in that order

 

[Xellos]

No order: Daytona, SF Rush, F-Zero, Rage Racer, SF Rush 2049

 

[soundwave05]

1.) Super Mario Kart
2.) F-Zero X
3.) F-Zero GX
4.) Super GT/SCUD Race (arcade)
5.) Outrun 2

 

[Guileless]

Sega Rally 2
Ridge Racer Type 4
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
PGR 2
Ferrari F355

 

[Link316]

1. F-Zero X (N64) wish Nintendo would make a sequel to this instead of those GBA games

2. Super Mario Kart (SNES) still the best version

3. F1 Built To Win (NES)

4. Rage Racer (PS1)

5. Outrun (arcade)

 

[bjork]

-5000 to thread for no mention of the best:

Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2 - Dreamcast

Others:
Beetle Adventure Racing.

then other stuff.

 

[mrklaw]

1) Daytona USA arcade: Awesome machine, awesome graphics (for the time) and amazing controls. Never before - or since- have I felt so in control of the cars. The drifts were just perfection. I spent hundreds of pounds in the local arcade racing against a friend to get the best times, shaving off 1/100ths of a second on Expert track each time.

Oval sucks though

2) Rage Racer : Best of the Ridge Racers. Great sense of momentum, with the hills and all.

3) Ridge Racer (PSOne) - First PSOne game I got, and what a game! Played it to death. Constantly practicing the first track until you could go around the grey slightly banked corner without drifting using the devil car. Sublime.

4) Mario Kart (SNES) - one of the best multiplayer racing games - Full Stop. We had a league table at work when this was out.

5) Mashed (Xbox) - the current game of the moment for lunchtimes at work. We go into the game room (small office with sofa and TV) and smash the living daylights out of each other. Micro Machines/Circuit Breakers brought up to date. Go get it if you don't have it (didn't sell well so it'll be cheap)

 

[TTP]

1. Gran Turismo Prologue
2. Gran Turismo Concept
3. Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec
4. Gran Turismo 2
5. Gran Turismo 1

 

[Parallax Scroll]

1. Super Mario Kart
2. Burnout 2
3. Rush the Rock
4. Mario Kart: Double Dash
5. Burnout 3

 

[Gahiggidy]

1. Bettle Adventure Racing
2. F-Zero X
3. Ridge Racer N64
4. F-Zero GX
5. ... haven't played any other racers.

 

[ourumov]

In no particular order:

Super Mario Kart
Diddy Kong Racing
Ridge Racer V
Gran Turismo 3
F-Zero X

 

[Suerte]

1. San Fran Rush 2049 (DC)
2. Beetle Adventure Racing (N64)
3. Snowboard Kids (N64)
4. San Fran Rush (N64)
5. Super Mario Kart (SNES)

 

[johnjohnson]

1) Colin McRae Rally 2 (PC + Microsoft Sidewinder FF Racing Wheel)
2) Need for Speed Porsche Unleashed (PC + Microsoft Sidewinder FF Racing Wheel)
3) Grand Prix 3 (PC)
4) Super Monaco Grand Prix (Mega Drive)
5) Project Gotham Racing (Xbox)

 

[callous]

Sega Rally Championship
Wave Race 64
Ridge Racer Revolution
R4
Battle Gear 3

 

[mumu]

Bleifuss

Jaguar XJ220

Wipeout

Pitstop II

Wave Race 64

 

[callous]

1. Gran Turismo Prologue
2. Gran Turismo Concept
3. Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec
4. Gran Turismo 2
5. Gran Turismo 1

That just looks painful :/