Race Driver: GRID

I traded in my 360 to get a PS3 recently, primarily to get GT5 prologue as I have been a huge GT fan for years. Whilst that is not the disaster some people will have you believe, I was very under whelmed, and was beginning to regret having to get rid of Forza 2 and PGR along with the 360. At last though, a brilliant racing game has finally graced the PS3 and goes someway to alleviating the pain of not being able to play PGR or Forza 2 any more.

GRID does what PGR does perfectly, it makes racing games fun again. Whilst GRID is not as easy to pick up and play as some racing games, the handling is fine once you get used to it. Anyone who has played DIRT will know what to expect as it runs on the same engine and feels very similar. Where this excels over DIRT is in the number of cars on track at once. The AI is also superb and makes the supposed "new and improved" AI in GT5 look like a joke. Cars will actually try and avoid crashing into you, and will make mistakes as a real person would. Cars rarely, if ever, spin out in GT5 and follow the exact same lines lap after lap, even if another car is in the way. GRID feels much more real and gives a sense you are racing against actual people rather than the computer.

The structure is simple to follow, progresses quickly and has a very good learning curve. I laughed at another review that said the game was "intimidating". Although there are only around 45 cars, the game never feels repetitive. The challenges keep coming, and its one of those games that has that "just one more go" factor and hours disappear in the blink of an eye.

I could go on and on about how good this game is. In an age where games of all genres are fast becoming clones of each other, Codemasters have raised the bar for driving games with something that feels fresh and exciting. Graphically and aurally it is astonishing. There is no slow down, even when there is a massive pile up in a corner. The damage model is outstanding and the more it is compared with GT5, the more it makes that look very dated, even with its near photorealism. With Gran Turismo churning out pretty much the same game they introduced around 10 years ago Codemasters have to be applauded for making something which feels like progression and represents true value for money. Compare this to TOCA touring cars on the PS one and you will realise just far they have come. Compare GT5 with the original and, apart from the obvious leap in graphics, it is virtually the same.

Fantastic graphics. Great fun to play. Awesome selection of cars and tracks. Many times more exciting than the very very dull Gran Turismo prologue. Online mode works and is great fun.

However...

The load times between games are a bit of a disappointment, and disrupt the flow of the game. Also it is not the most intuitive of menu structures meaning that the (sort of) practice mode is quite hard to find. It is called Race Day and allows you to choose your track and car for a quick spin.

But all of these bad points do not detract from what is a very well made and very good looking game which will give many hours of fun to people of all ages.

The best racer available. Race Driver: GRID places its focus on actual racing, and injects a breath of fresh air into what was becoming a stagnant genre.
Simulation-heavy games like Gran Turismo & Forza are nothing like GRIDS arcade approach. In fact, its difficult to pinpoint exactly why GRID is such a good racer. Every aspect just feels refined and polished. It isnt perfect, but the closest thing available.

In the career mode GRID World, the aim is to climb the ranks. Simple aspects are introduced as the seasons progress, such as choosing sponsors and selecting a team mate. This is all done in a fashion not to overwhelm the player, and provides more objectives to chase than simply winning. Another great innovation in GRID world is the fact that progression is entirely dependant on the player. There are a total of 51 trophies to win, spread across Japanese, US & European racing. An almost unlimited amount of Driver Offers are also available, where specific criteria has to be met in order to win the cash.
Purists may complain there isnt more to tinker with (as all management is done above the bonnet); but this is all about fun.

Not every event in GRID has to be won. For example, if Drift isnt your thing then the whole section can be ignored and reputation points earned elsewhere. As your fame increases, so does your surroundings. Grids menu system is one of the most streamlined I've ever seen. Everything feels like a physical part of the world, viewed from inside the team garage. The whole thing is incredibly detailed.

One of GRIDs most innovative features is the ability to rewind crashes. A superb feature, again one that can be ignored, but helps prevent habitual replays. It doesent destroy the tension or that sense of accomplishment. The graphics are sensational, particularly in HD.
Just buy.