Burnout + ATV Offroad Fury = Nail'd

If Electronic Arts Inc.'s ERTS Burnout series and Sony's SNE ATV Offroad Fury series got together for some saucy, rubber-burning, mud-slinging love, they might have produced some beautiful offspring. But the resulting kids would never be as cool, as exciting, or as entertaining as Nail'd. Though you might not instantly recognize the title – between all of the delays that have occurred in 2010, it's hard to keep track of the games that were actually released on time – this is not one of those obscure niche racing games that only the hardcore crowd should play. It is challenging, no question: between the rugged environments, unexpected bumps, and countless twists and turns, Nail'd is not the cakewalk that so many racing games have become. But this game was built for all types of racing fans. Throw in an unparalleled sense of speed – think Burnout and Wipeout in an off-road setting – and you've got a game that is unbelievably impressive. While playing through Nail'd, there was actually a moment when I gasped. Frankly, I can't remember the last time a game has been able to produce that kind of a reaction in me. But with sharper, steeper, and more surprising drops than a roller coaster, it's hard not to be completely overwhelmed by the experience – in a good way. In terms of controls, Nail'd isn't all that different from the other top-tier off-road racers available. The steering is tight and precise; though you may find it hard to avoid getting “nail'd” during your first hour or two of play, the mechanics are accurate enough for diligent (or inherently skilled) players to use to their advantage. The same cannot be said for the trick system, which is the game's primary flaw. Instead of creating a host of stunts based on flips, spins, and other movements while flying through the air, Nail'd is more about skillful landing, ramming opponents and driving through checkpoints at high speeds. Points are earned for accomplishing these tasks, and though you don't have to worry much about them during a standard race, they are a crucial part of the Stunt competitions, which must be finished in order to complete the game. Still, it's hard to fault the developers for failing to include a traditional trick system that may have detracted from the rest of the experience. In a nutshell, Nail'd is the Burnout of off-road racing. The sense of speed is out of this world, the frame rate is solid (no clipping or slowdown, but the screen does occasionally lock up for half a second), and the environments look very good. Everything is rich and organic; the trees, dirt hills, mountains, caverns and other natural structures are absolutely gorgeous.