I must admit, driving games have never really been my thing. I've played most of Codemasters previous efforts, and found it difficult at times even making it around the first bend! This is pretty much the same for most driving games that I attempt to play. I'm just a bit rubbish at racers.
Despite this, I've still got a decent feel for Codemasters racers. Race Driver: GRID may not be TOCA by name this is TOCA in spirit. Its clear RACE Driver: GRID is a game put together by a team who have been here before.
Visually, it's up there with the best on next-gen systems. Race Driver: GRID looks exceptionally crisp and clear, with cars reflecting their surroundings and smoke from spinning tires. It is, at times, breathtaking – and matched by the aural side. Sat at the start line, the engine roars hungrily with every rev, and no two motors really sound alike. Petrol heads will instantly love this.
Gameplay in Race Driver: GRID is very solid. The first car I used, an American Muscle car (maybe not the best choice for a first timer) was a powerful beast, screaming away from the start line and swinging the back out wildly on corners. Sufficed to say, it wasn't long before I eventually/inevitably crashed and totaled my car.
But when I did, two surprises presented themselves:
The first was the crash and damage physics. Not over the top and not restricted; if you're going at 130 mph and you hit a protruding wall in Race Driver: GRID, it'll total the car. If you're going 30 mph it'll merely make a ‘nice' dent. Race Driver: GRID has damage modeling to make GT fans jealous.
Erase and Rewind
The second feature, which is especially nice for us beginners, is Race Driver: GRID's Flashbacks. Basically if you crash and right the car off, you can rewind back by ten seconds or so before you crashed and try to ‘re-do' that section to try to correct your error.
Another handy feature is pit updates, letting you know lap times, rival positions, the car condition and giving general encouragement when you're not doing so well. Driver AI also seems to be on the ball too. The majority of racers out there have opponent AI that seems to run like a train on the tracks, religiously follow the racing line. In Race Driver: GRID, however, they'll smartly follow the racing line, but in a more individual way – reacting to the presence of rival racers around them.
Variety in Race Driver: GRID is impressive, with a host of city tracks, racing circuits and large number of motors, from muscle cars to tourers, tuned cars, Formula 100 motors, demolition derby bangers and more, there's plenty on offer here. And you'll enjoy most of this via Race Driver: GRID's comprehensive career mode, in which you'll buy and sell cars, develop a reputation, get sponsorship, build up a team to race with. It's compelling stuff.
Race modes don't disappoint, either. A grueling Le-mans race will sate hardcore driving fans, while single event Race Day lets you spec up a race to your taste. Test Drive lets you set a fast lap time to upload to the leader boards online, while Demolition Derby is perhaps the most likely to throw up some jaw-dropping slow-mo crashes.
As well as online leader boards, Race Driver: GRID boasts online multiplayer for up to 12 players, with a voting system determining what region the race will take part in, and the race type selected. It's a welcome feature ensuring races aren't entirely at the host's mercy.
Race Driver: GRID is an extremely impressive game loaded with lush visuals, features galore and plenty of gameplay possibilities. With a wide variety of tracks, modes and vehicle types there's some severe experimentation to be enjoyed, and with online play added to the mix it's bound to last a long time, whether you're a hardcore driving nut, or a casual, slightly-rubbish racer like myself.
Grid: Autosport is kind of an odd name. Kinda sounds like Forza Motorsport too. I like it simple, just Grid 3 sounds good to me.
You mean Forza 5?. Nobody says: "Forza Motorsport 5" So stop being a stealth troll you smelly peasant.
@SPAM-FRITTER-123 Wow. I love Grid and I never said anything against it. I was just making a whimsical observation. Way to get your panties in a bunch.
Clickonline writes "Just to reiterate – This is a subjective list. It is not ranked. And it’s in no specific order… besides the one we reckoned would make for the most varied, interesting read.
We’ve already posted Part One.
It can be found right here.
Great. Now we’re on the same wavelength. Ok. GAMES!"
VVV: "In just over a week’s time, Codemasters Racing's much-anticipated arcade racing game 'Grid 2' will - after what seems like an absolute age - finally go on sale in the UK.
With the pre-launch buzz surrounding the upcoming title, though, it's very easy to forget about its six-year old predecessor: the critically-acclaimed racing game star of the seventh-gen, Race Driver: Grid.
At least, that's what most of the folk who reviewed the title in 2008 reckoned Grid was. The question, though, is this: Does Race Driver: Grid still have what it takes to be described as one of the top racing games of the last six years, or has misty-eyed nostalgia tainted our memories and perception of an out-dated game?"
For one, I love your writing style.. It's very easy to read and I fell right in and read the whole thing, which does not happen often.
Great review... I hope you review more games here because I really enjoyed that review... Just really well done.
I think I will indeed get this game. I played the demo and fell in-love but was on the fence about the purchase. (this review confirms just how I thought the game would be so it's a must buy for me now.)
Thanks again for such a well put together review. Really Nice Job.
very well written review.
i, too, have been on the fence with this game since it came out, and your review just pushed me over. i'll be grabbing this game for the weekend!
the demo was nice, but its great to hear how deep the game is - thanks for putting together a nice comprehensive write-up.