OXM UK: Race Driver: GRID Review - What do you get if you take the DiRT out of Colin McRae DiRT? This...

OXM UK writes: "To say that Race Driver: GRID is similar to Colin McRae: DiRT is a bit of an understatement. And we're not just talking about the stylish use of capital letters in its NAME. The interface, the handling and the wildly varied car choice are all seemingly taken straight from DiRT, which it has to be said, is no bad thing.

You compete, as ever these days, for "Rep" - reputation points from wins. These points add up to unlock higher licences in each of the game's three regions - Europe, Japan and the USA - with high point tallies unlocking tougher groups of races. And it's hard enough to begin with, as even the first tier of events at Rookie level on Basic difficulty had us cursing at the screen."

[bumnut]

Grid is a lot like dirt, it even has the same crappy scalextric handling

[VWGTI]

Just when I thought I was done with racing games, a game like GRID comes out and makes the genre fun again. I downloaded the demo from the PSN store and enjoyed it very much (except for the drifting, which I completely sucked at!). GRID seems like it's worth the $60 price tag.

[ar]

That film was awesome! =D

[boodybandit]

http://www.youtube.com/watc...
or
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

and then think to yourself.
One of these racers know what it wants to be.
One of them is 60fps vs 30fps.
One of them is 1080p vs 720p.
One of them is considered (only by fanboys) to be a glorified demo but is has more cars: 70 vs 45 and a cheaper price point.

All things considered you would think the arcade racer (GRID) would be on the right hand side column but it isn't. Why these lame one sided comparison always has to be shown when ever GRID is mentioned boggles my mind.

I am picking GRID up but I don't see it having a whole lot of replay value with only 45 cars unless you can tweak/tune them. On XBL and PSN the one thing that "drove" me nuts in the demo was morons driving the wrong way and totaling cars. If this makes it to the final version it will ruin the online experience even with damage turned off.

[ar]

1. To me those films are as much fanboyish as the one VWGTI posted.
But thats what being a fanboy is all about. Claiming everybody else to be a fanboy but being totally ignorant of your own fanboyish behavior.

2. Last time i checked the PC doesn't forces me to a certain frame rate and resolution.

3. It all comes down to taste. If you don't like GRID, don't bother with it. But don't clame everybody else to be a fanboy just because they don't share your taste. I liked GRID, found it entertaining and fun, but GT was in my eyes really boring. But if you find GT more entertaining, go play that instead! What's the problem with people having different taste?

[THWIP]

DIRT didn't have online racing...the best part of GRID...and HE DIDN'T EVEN MENTION IT!

[wolfehound22]

actually i did have online racing but you weren't on the same track which was my only true complaint about that game.

[THWIP]

DIRT had online TIME competition...nothing more. Perhaps you're not aware of what makes a "race". TOCA 1,2 & 3 had online racing; DIRT did NOT. Capiche? If you're going to make a lame attempt at correcting someone...know what you're talking about first. :o

[InMyOpinion]

This is the Ninja Gaiden of racing games. Don't tell me I didn't warn you...

[ROCCOZILLA]

GRID is REAL racing,not a driving game that has you sleeping in 15 minutes.GRID will be huge,and it will start the next gen as far as racing games go.GT5 is last weeks news from last gen.lets move on.RACE B3YOND waaaaaaaaaaaaay B3YOND!!

[GVON]

I downloaded the demo and I wasn't impressed, I think codemasters have gone downhill since c.mcrea 3 and race driver 2.

[bumnut]

dirt had the worst physics for a rally game i have ever experienced.

For me CM 2 was the best handling.

Colin will be turning in his grave at how poor the handling is on a franchise bearing his name.

[GVON]

Dirt was bad, but I understand why codies have toned down the sim side of things so the can try to appeal to a more global audience.

but in doing so the games have lost that bit of magic that made them stand out in the crowd, I feel there games are stuck in a sort of no mans land in between sim and arcade, trying to keep the fans loyal yet entice a new audience and it doesn't really cater for any of them fully.

shame really because I've got big respect for how they brought rally into the mainstream audiance here in the uk and along with polyphony how they helped define how race simulation games are today

[InMyOpinion]

The handling in GRID is crap. You never 'feel' the car lke in PGR4, GT5:P or Forza 2. It feels artificial and sketchy. The graphics and sense of speed are awesome but the gameplay is just frustrating.

I really don't understand why it's getting such good reviews.

[computer]

I agree with you... for some reason I downloaded it and it looks great and all but I couldn't for the life of me get used to the handling of the car in the demo.. at ALL.

[GiantHstx]

Strange review. Says "it's the sheer variety of cars and race types that makes GRID a winner", when the game designer himself has said that it doesn't have that many cars compared to competing games and that the thing that sets it appart from other is that it gives you an exciting race, not a car list.