Racing, Rating TBA, $49.99
Available July 29
Acclaim
Gameplay: In XGRA (Extreme Gravity Racing Association), you can break the sound barrier--but that's just one of the kickers. Like F-Zero, Acclaim's future racer pits players in a high-tech, high-speed world of ruthless competition. But rather than just navigating tracks while cruising along at 800 mph, you'll have to sabotage your opponents by exploding parts of the raceway. Throughout seven unique settings--in both day and night, often amid nasty thunderstorms--XGRA is an intense ride.
Bottom Line: While licensed racing games such as EA's NASCAR are generally more popular among gamers, XGRA definitely fills a gap with its exaggerated take on the genre. It won't be a blockbuster, but a moderate number of techno-geeks should embrace it as an alternative to Gran Turismo. -- Jon M. Gibson