GRID (2008)

If Colin McRae: DIRT was a sign of Codemasters regaining a foothold in the racing market, the latest Race Driver is evidence of the publisher taking full control. GRID makes the high points of its rivals feel like false dawns, and if what’s on offer here is a sign of things to come, we’re all in for a remarkable ride.

Is GRID the next big thing in the automotive game genre? I think so. The game has incredible arcade form, and I think the Flashback feature is one of the best new ideas we've seen come from this genre in a long time.

There can only be one recommendation for PC-Gamers who love racing games this year: Get Race Driver GRID! Great graphics and the fantastic driving experience that will satisfy fans of simulation as well as arcade racers will convince any car freak. Go already and get it! [Issue#14]

No pit stops, no car tuning. Race Driver: Grid is all about driving, having fun and running a racing team. The game drops you right into the race without training laps or qualifying. AI opponents with almost humanlike behaviour, physically correct damage modelling, up to 40,000 spectators in 3D, bloom effects, smoke and force feedback create an amazingly intense feeling of being right smack in the middle. Need for Speed feels like bobbycar racing in comparison.

Race Driver: GRID is tearing up the tarmac this summer without a challenger in site.

While the game's focus is clearly on driving, managing sponsors right will double or triple the income of winning an event and is a fun minigame on its own; making lots of money is crucial to entering higher-level, ultra-costly racing series.

Like going to dinner with a supermodel only to discover she's also as witty as a stand-up comic; GRID is gorgeous and emormously good fun. [July 2008, p.104]

GRID has something for everyone, and is enjoyable by all racing fans. The visuals are great, the gameplay is frantic and the atmosphere oozes perfection.

The game looks and sounds as good - and with moderately decent hardware looks even better.

The complete racing package, Race Driver GRID is perfectly tuned to produce a fine balance between fun and realism. A large range of classes means the comparatively small number of cars does nothing to detract from the sense of scale.

The PC is an excellent offering, but if you’re without a wheel and you’ve got the choice – grab it on console.

Codemasters celebrates the racing circus with such enthusiasm that the gamer can’t resist. This game is surprisingly well done.

Codemasters' racing studio know what they're doing and have again got the key elements right.

A racer made of style and substance. [July 2008, p.84]

A racing experience that both simulation and fast thrills lovers will enjoy.

There are plenty of other racing games on the market, but Grid captures the soul of the track like none other. The crashes are insane, the races are intense, the cars are coated with style and the overall presentation is just plain sexy.

Race Driver: Grid looks excellent and presents many interesting car classes. Still, bad A.I. and unbalanced physics engine that works for some cars and feels absolutely awful for some other of them, ruins the good potential. Grid is great entertainment at the beginning to show the potential of recently bought new generation console, but that's basicly everything it offers. No multiplayer game tested. [Aug 2008]

The game entices you with its beauty before hooking you with its effects and finally landing you with its enormous gameplay depth. [Sept 2008, p.66]

So, there, you go. Race Driver Grid is a great game. Unfortunately, it's part of a series, and as such, the only thing it excels at is the graphics.

GRID is a driving game that won’t disappoint speed fans, especially those who follow Codemasters games.

Both “x-treme” racing fans and racing aficionados alike will find something to enjoy, making it the possible Great Uniter of racing videogames.

Although the game is challenging, it's not so tough that winning seems completely out of reach for novice drivers, which makes this racing game worth having.

This is the most arcadey racer made by Codemasters recently and it looks like they did not forget how it's done. Textures, models and special effects are polished to perfection, it takes only a small while to fall in love with this game. [July 2008]