Road Rage

Full Auto
Sega, XBOX 360


Remember that guy in Colorado a couple of years ago who built a fortified tank and bulldozed his whole town? Not to condone such behavior, and it’s awful that people were hurt and property destroyed, but … admit it, that kinda sounds like fun. Equally cathartic and less prosecutable is this combat racer, in which you take the wheel of an armored vehicle and let loose on a city where everything can be destroyed. These badass rides, complete with flashy rims and grenade launchers, compete for bragging rights that come from downing a giant building with a single shot.

It’s easy to forget that this is a race, too, so blowing across the finish line first must be accomplished by any means necessary. Riders can blow away the competition with an extensive arsenal or go all hippy-dippy peacenik and earn multiple speed boosts by destroying inanimate objects. Also, if you zig when you should have zagged, you have the handy ability to rewind time and try again, a skill that would come in handy in more than few real-life situations.

Car geeks shouldn’t expect to see any real-life licensed rides, as the uptight auto industry doesn’t want you to see how their precious wheels look after a short-range missile attack. But the make-believe cars’ smooth handling and pimped-out designs add to the Mad Max meets Cannonball Run vibe.