One of the best racing games ever made-only shares the most superficial qualities with 'realism', but for exhilaration there's no competitors-going around a corner at 200 with a Spike Strip slung into the cop behind you at night WILL make you feel like a badass. This game is in my Favorite position for a reason-whenever I find a really good banger, I'll often start it up to wreck some Cops.

Those looking for free-roam games or simulators should steer clear, but those looking for arcadey fun will find few better. Difficulty ramps up slowly, with many opportunities to skip difficult levels by playing others until you grind up sufficient Bounty to unlock later levels-and an excellent primer on more realistic gameplay for those accustomed to kart racers. While a few cars are largely pointless (BMW Z3 iDrive, Maserati GranTurismo, Alfa Romeo 8C Spyder, I'm looking at you) every car feels slightly different, and certain cars (Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR, Aston Martin One-77 and the Koenigseggs in particular) are stone cold bastards to learn but responsive and enormously fun once you get them down.

(I may or may not regard a good run on Highway Battle as a religious experience.)

And, on a technical note: it handles tabbing out well.

Now get it and play it. I WANT TO BEAT YOUR TIMES.