Need for Speed: Carbon
EA (PlayStation 2 & 3, Xbox, GameCube, 360, Wii, PC)
Rated Everyone 10 and Up
This is a game you play not for the incredible plot, but for the incredible cars. And this time around, EA has given us a whole new class of cars to play with.
Gone are the SUVs of last year's Need For Speed: Most Wanted. In their place is a lineup of American Muscle cars like the '67 Chevy Camaro SS and the '07 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. For those who prefer more familiar Need for Speed machines, Tuners and Exotics like the Mazda RX8 or the BMW M3 GTR are also included. Once you've got a car in your garage, you have to spend some of your race winnings on tuning it up and giving it a fresh coat of paint.
Carbon introduces the concept of team racing, in which you hire other drivers with special talents. Canyon races, which take place in the hills outside of town, add another interesting new challenge. These are all nice additions to a continually evolving franchise.
