Fall Games Guide 2009

Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation3, PC, PSP

Release Date: In Stores Now

A venerable racing series shifts into a whole new gear. Trading arcade hi-jinks for realistic simulation, NFS: Shift heads in a different direction with accurate, physics-based driving, full customization and intense new graphics.

Why It's Hot:

Okay, so technically this racer is a summer release. But since we missed including it in our Summer Guide, it just looks so darn cool we had to throw it in here. The amazing new graphics engine and thrilling in-car view -- the crashing is totally insane -- go a long way towards distancing it from the pack. In our brief hands-on time, we were impressed.

Why It's Not:

As a franchise, Need For Speed has a lot of 'splainin' to do. The past few games failed to catch fire with critics or consumers, and while Shift looks like one helluva reboot, we're not sure it has enough in the tank to leave its recent past in the dust.

Did You Know?

It's old. Real old. Like, quite possibly older than you, dear reader. The series started way back in 1994 on the 3DO under the title Road & Track Presents: The Need for Speed, making it one of the oldest racing game franchises in the world.

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