In It to Win It

In It to Win It
These sports titles deliver adrenaline-fueled action via feisty brawlers, arcade-style racers, and nimble feet.

FIFA 10
EA (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, DS, PSP, iPhone)
Soccer isn’t big business here (no thanks to you, David Beckham), but this series is an excellent diversion. They’ve fixed the positional priority and made it easier to get the ball under control, so you won’t throw your hands up in frustration. Instead, enjoy the new 360-degree dribbling.

Good to know: Manager mode features up to 50 major components; you can really get into the nitty-gritty of the game, if that’s your thing. If not, skip it and jump into the action.

Blur
Activision (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
This arcade-style racing game should decrease frustration for those of us, um, those of you who can’t keep the car on the road during hairpin turns. Race everywhere from the Los Angeles “river” to the streets of London in unlikely cars, including Hummers and VW Beetles.

Good to know: The game features power-ups as well as projectile electromagnetic pulses that you launch at enemies. Sure, that’s really similar to Mario Kart, but is that such a bad thing?

Forza Motorsport 3
Microsoft (Xbox 360)
This simulation-based racing game puts you in the driver’s seat of more than 400 cars. You’re able to rewind five seconds to get back on track, and speed through the Circuit de la Sarthe, where you’re likely to roll your precious Ferrari.

Good to know: With more than 100 tracks, an improved multiplayer track editor, and 200-plus single-player events, you might not even need the downloadable content…. Just kidding.

Tony Hawk: Ride
Activision (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii)
After skate. and Skate 2 challenged the concept of what a skateboarding videogame could be by switching up the controls, then adding the Wii Balance Board, Tony Hawk’s series goes a step further by letting players control their on-screen character with a skateboard-shaped peripheral.

Good to know: Wii owners have gotten the chance over the past few years to use unique peripherals in non-music games, but this opens that up to anyone with a next-generation console.