"Just last year Codemasters brought us the graphical masterpiece DIRT. Once again, they have shown their graphical expertise in driving games and delivered GRID. From the initial intro movie to the actual gameplay you’ll notice GRID’s superiority to all other driving games that have come before it."
Overall: Codemasters has been providing us with fantastic racing games for a few years now, and, GRID displays all off their graphical and technical might. There are multiple reasons why GRID gives you the fullest racing experience of the continuing series and multiple reasons why you'll be pulling all nighters quite often with this game the same way i do and i guarantee you won't be putting this game back into the box for a very long time. Gameplay: As soon as you arrive at the main menu of GRID you'll be offered a road to take first. You've got GRID world which is the main career mode, race day which allows you to try out any car on any track without risk, multiplayer where you can share the brilliance of the game with someone else, whether it be on xbox live or right there on your tv screen and an extras section spotlighting credits and development of this brilliant game. Now, although the physics may take getting used to at first, they are quite well executed. The handling, speed, braking and acceleration are all evenly distributed depending on which vehicle you take whether it be a 1018 hp Koenigsegg CCXR or a 180 hp open wheel 1000cc one seater. Opponents you face have a bit of aggression formed together with a bigger focus on making it to the end before you do. One thing that should have been worked on is the drifting mechanics, as they can be unpredictable and volatile at times, sending your car into a wall for no good reason. It still deserves a 9.5 however. Graphics: The minute you enter a race the visuals will take your breath away. The cars look fantastic and the enviroments just as good. Lighting is absolutely perfect in every aspect, and the crowds that litter the sidelines of the tracks look vibrant and alive. No expense is paid to the detail. From brake discs heating to an orange color under pressure to shadows changing based on time of day to the accelerated daylight and nighttime of the 24 heure du mans events. It is all so well made that there is absolutely nothing left to be desired. The damage modeling is astounding in both detail and effect on the vehicle and the @!%#*!pit view is amazingly accurate to that of the real car. The driver can even be seen stomping on and off the accelerator and changing gears based on the stick layout. Breathtaking. So good it'd be a sin not to give it a 10.0 for visuals. Sound: The audio is very strong in the game and matches the visuals and gameplay as though they were conjoined triplets. Enviromental sound such as tires squealing before an opponent gets owned hard by a wall followed by a kaboom of broken gl@!%#*! and twisted metal sounds beautiful. Cars make pretty accurate growls and barks and turbochargers and superchargers can be heard playing a role in the sound of the car as well as the gearbox whining and gears changing. The music is extremely catchy and matches very well. The text however will get old quick which is the only thing that keeps the perfect 10 out of reach for audio. However it gets a well placed 9.5. Suggestions: Codemasters has done an amazing job with this game. A few things whould make it better though : downloadable car packs. Although the cars already included are all fantastic, there are only so many. 43 to be exact. Perhaps a Bugatti Veyron and a McLaren F1 can be thrown in to spice up the car list along with some group c and imsa cars. But otherwise, excellent work codemasters. Final grade : 9.5
Overall: GRID is third installment of Codemasters TOCA style racing game. Part sim part arcade, you are driver/slash owner of a racing team. Grahpically, this game looks great cars are almost photo realistic. As I am from the D.C. area I paid attention to the city detail, not only did it look good, streets and buildings were very accurate. The audio we pretty good as well. The cars all have a distict sound sound field sepereation was very good. You can here care coming and going. Also road noise was on point. Theres lots of bumbing smashing and crashing in this game. All of which sounds great. The only problem with the game is your in car pit man, he tells you everything late especially accidents ahead! Additionally his attempts to warn of terminal damage are inaccurate. Older versions of this game did a better job.
As for the game play lets talk first about whats not there:
No pit stops
No tuning
No email
However you do have sponsorship to help you earn money to buy cars to race. You can change your car graphics, although the choices are fixed but, colors are endless. They game has three regions and about four teers. You have to earn rep to gain the ability to race up the teers. This is similar to Dirt. Playing the game can be extremely easy to extremely hard dependign on your settings. Leave all the @!%#*!ist on and you stop, turn, and accelrate on a dime. Take them all off, and its slip and slid, crash and burn. Until, you master the feather touch on the throattle and brake. However, if you do crach and burn you can replay and start before the crash and try to avoid making the same mistake again. This is very useful on the final lap when your up front and goof up. All n all, with the m@!%#*!ive variety of cars tracks cities and the graphic and sound quality this is a great game for the none tuner(see FORZA), who likes raciing all kinds of care even demolishin derby. You can make it hard or easy and take time to redo your mistakes. If you loved Forza but hated tuning this is your game.
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