Summary
A high percentage of games, regardless of the genre, feature a humanoid protagonist, either as an avatar in first-person or third-person perspective, or as the player’s representation instrategy gamesor similar. The reason for this is simple: people find it more natural to identify as something with at least a passing similarity to themselves.
Not all PC andconsole gamesfeature a humanoid protagonist though. Some see the player becoming the embodiment of an animal or spirit, for example. And a select fewput the player into the “shoes” of some kind of vehicle.There are a number of excellent games where the player is actually the vehicle they are controlling, and not a character driving the vehicle.
5Stunt Race FX
Classic SNES Gameplay
Many games of a certain age began their gaming journey with theSuper Nintendo Entertainment System. The SNES had graphics and sound far more advanced than other consoles of the day, and conquered the market for a short while. One of the advanced features of the SNES was the Super FX chip, which could be plugged into the SNES to add additional 3D graphics capabilities, spawning a whole range of games that could exploit this feature, includingStunt Race FX.
InStunt Race FX, the player must select from a number of vehicles that will become the player’s avatar. Each of these vehicles is unique, with a very human personality and some serious quirks. Once a vehicle has been selected, the racing begins.
There are a few race modes inStunt Race FX,ranging from simple circuit races and timed sprints to complex tracks crammed with obstacles. The game takes a place on this list for being one of the very first 3Dracing games, and one that didn’t even feature drivers.
4Cars
Based On The Pixar Franchise
The original 2006 Pixar movie,Cars, grossed almost half a billion dollars at the box office internationally. Being an animated movie, it was a prime candidate for spawning a game franchise, which is exactly what it did. The originalCarsvideo game was released in the same year as the film.
In the game, the playertakes on the role of Lightning McQueen, the original star of the movie. They are then free to roam an open-world map, exploring as they go. Exploration will uncover events and races that the player can compete in. There are also minigames that can be completed as well.
Story-wise, the game takes place after the events of the movie, following the end of the Piston Cup Championship. Overall,Carsis a great follow-up to a fantastic movie, giving fans a way to enjoy the franchise in an interactive manner.
Choose An Autobot
Transformers: Devastation
The TRANSFORMERS are back, and this time they’re in the hands of acclaimed developer PlatinumGames, who have combined their over-the-top brawler action with comic book inspired art to create a TRANSFORMERS game like none other.Surprise the enemy: PlatinumGames signature fast action allows instant robot to vehicle attacks, slam downs, counterattacks, and infinite combos for to create a unique master combat system.Five playable AUTOBOTS: Wreak havoc on the DECEPTICONS as OPTIMUS PRIME, BUMBLEBEE, SIDESWIPE, WHEELJACK and GRIMLOCK.Actors from the original TV series: Reprising their roles are Peter Cullen (OPTIMUS PRIME), Dan Gilvezan (BUMBLEBEE), Frank Welker (MEGATRON and SOUNDWAVE), and more.Play again and again: 5 difficulty levels with overhauls in enemy composition, combined with a deep customization system, means hours of intense gameplay.
Transformers: Devastationis an action game that is based on theTransformersanimated series, which also spawned a whole string of successful movies. The game uses the same graphical style as the animated series, and looks great even today.
The player is free to choose from a range of Autobots to play as, including favorites such as Bumblebee and Optimus Prime. Each Autobot, as fans of the franchise will already know, can transform into a specific, unique vehicle. For example, Bumblebee transforms into the iconic Volkswagen Beetle.
The gameplay revolves around going head-to-head with the Decepticons, theevil version of theTransformers. The Decepticons have hatched a plan to cyberform Earth, and only the Autobotscan save the planet. Overall, this is an incredibly fun game that pays homage to its parent franchise in a very accurate manner..
EVE Onlinelikely needs no introduction. This legendary MMORPG has been operating for over two decades at this point. It has broken world records for the most players online in a single battle several times in its history.
Players ofEVE Onlineare sealed inside a small capsule, which is inserted into whichever ship they choose to fly. They are, in effect, the ship they are flying, as they are playing a consciousness directly wired into the ship’s sensors and control systems. Depending on the ship type, the player may be mining valuable ore, transporting goods, departing on a journey of exploration, or fighting either NPCs or other players.
With its hugeopen-world universe, completely player-run economy, and complex player politics,EVE Onlineis a game like no other. It deserves a place on this list for the influence it has had on the gaming space, its depth, and longevity.
1Cars Race-O-Rama
Run A Racing Academy
This list ends with another game based on the Pixar movie franchise that began withCarsin 2006.Cars Race-O-Ramais something a little different though. The game is aimed firmly at a younger audience, although there is nothing stopping mature gamers from enjoying the title as well.
With its cute graphics, it is easy to overlook the complexities of this game. Taking on the role of Lightning McQueen yet again, the player can undertake races and other events across a wide range of backdrops, from beaches to large cities. There is plenty of scope for the player to customize their avatar, as well as upgrade it to improve performance. This title takes the top place on this list simply because it does such a good job of making a fun game accessible to a younger audience.
