Mr. Angry Reviews GRID

For us gamers out there choosing the right racing game can be a true PITA. You have Forza Motorsports 2, Gran Turismo, Burnout, etc., etc. Well, now there’s a new kid in town and he’s coming out with guns blazing. GRID is the newest offering from Codemasters, the same people that brought you Colin Mcrae’s DIRT. I recently had the opportunity to play a demo of the game and came away thoroughly impressed. First off let me say that this is a RACING GAME. If you want to put decals, wings and funky wheels on your car then look elsewhere.

The beauty of GRID is the games physics engine. Car control is precise, and a nice compromise between on a full on simulator and arcade-like control. Veteran gamers as well as beginners will be impressed with this. The cars react very well to the gamer’s input and let you have a blast with car without driving you crazy. GRID also offers a really cool new twist on damage that is very "real world." For example, if a car loses a part on the racetrack due to a collision, that part will stay there. That part will also do damage to your car if you decide to run into it and or over it later in the game. I mention this because in most all other racing games when there is debris on the track, you can simply hit it and push it out of the way. Not so in GRID–run over a piece of a bumper or fender and you’d better be prepared to have your car adversely affected by the collision. Continue reading…

Graphically the game is simply beautiful. Textures and lighting are top notch as are the effects produced by the different cars. The way Codemasters has simulated smoke for instance is SOOO cool. At one point I just sat doing donuts in the one car and lost sight of everything around me due to the amount of smoke I created–it was a blast. Speaking of smoke, GRID also offers drifting–it is by far the most realistic drift experience you will have in any game offered today. Car modeling is spot on as well–seriously, if you’re a real car guy like me you will notice such details as the cars interior bits and how they are exactly like their real-life counterparts. Some people may not care about this, but you know what, I do, and it’s great to see that some people are going to these lengths to get it right. 

Bottom line: GRID is a rock solid game. It nails the greatest aspects of a true racing game while at the same time leaving out all the hokey crap that most gamers have become used too. So GRID is a keeper… or at least it will be when I can buy in it in early June. Way to go Codemasters, please keep em’ coming.