3. Carmageddon
The handling of the vehicles was improved immeasurably for the last game, and don't let anybody tell you otherwise. It's when the series graduated from pick-up-and-play arcade silliness to something approaching simulation. When a series that's always been about driving cars actually tried to replicate the feel of driving cars. We constantly hear how "hardcore gamers" aren't being catered for these days by an industry increasingly obsessed with smartphone games, so you'd think they'd have been happier with this increase in difficulty. But no. It was tricky to get used to the new mechanics, but once you learned how to handle the cars (the trick is not to hold down the accelerator the entire time - like in real life) it made for an infinitely more rewarding experience. The satisfaction gained when ending a high-speed death-chase with a pristine car, unblemished by dents and bullet-holes, is priceless under such conditions. Sliding between two oncoming police cars, and then cruising around a tight bend and down an alley way - shedding your 5-star wanted rating en route - is a thrill increased by the extra skill needed to pull it off. Yet Rockstar will no doubt boast of "improved handling" this time around - by which they will almost certainly mean "easier handling (so please stop yelling)". GTA V is sure to be less Michael Mann and more Michael Bay.