On one hand, this game is technically a marvel. The graphics are lovely, the sheer number of vehicles available is rather impressive, especially considering the level of detail that went into them, the physics and control is nigh perfect, the AI in this game, while a tad aggressive at least doesn't suffer from rubber banding at all, and the flashback function where you can return to aOn one hand, this game is technically a marvel. The graphics are lovely, the sheer number of vehicles available is rather impressive, especially considering the level of detail that went into them, the physics and control is nigh perfect, the AI in this game, while a tad aggressive at least doesn't suffer from rubber banding at all, and the flashback function where you can return to a previous section of your race is brilliant. As a long time racing fan, this game seemed like everything I was waiting for. Uuuuuuntil I got into the races. There is a reason that street racing games such as Need for Speed have short races, it's because it's a small number of cars on large open tracks with somewhat arcade-y physics and aggressive tendencies. It works for them. In a touring car race with up to twenty vehicles in a race on the other hand, you NEED to have more than two laps, personally I'd put AT LEAST five laps, otherwise it turns into a manic dash to the finish and all skill in the race has exited with nary a farewell. The vast majority of tracks are well-designed, but again, thanks to the lap system, some of them just don't work, particularly the urban ones such as San Francisco and that blasted dock area in Japan. And that leads directly to my BIG complaint, the Japanese circuit. Now, don't get me wrong, some of the tracks are good, and I personally enjoy the idea of touge, a duel-based racing system that goes down and up mountain roads. However... to put it politely, the NIGHT touge, where there are cars on the track, can piss off. And drifting, oooooh.... oooh drifting. Allow me to speak very bluntly: drifting IS NOT RACING. It is an automotive showboating technique, equivalent to aerobatics and gymnastics, and while it is entertaining to watch and takes skill, it does not belong in a racing game! At least a game like Need For Speed has the excuse of it being part of the culture, in Grid it's just completely out of place. I hate drift competitions, with a burning passion, and the fact that about half of the early Japanese circuit includes drifting... well... I decided to completely IGNORE the Japanese circuit for as long as possible. I was under the impression that this was a professional game, and yet here it is, presented as if it's equal to the Le Mans circuit or open wheel racing. At least there weren't any oval racing
Now, on to the rest. The idea to let you choose a name and nationality is actually quite interesting, and not from the idea of having a name to go off of in the races, but rather the fact that you have an auditory name. Throughout the game, you have a crew chief and a team manager who both refer to you by name, and to their credit they're competently voice acted--even the various teammates you can get are reasonably well-designed, though the first guy you get--inevitably a pathetic Englishman that sounds like he just joined racing yesterday--will make you want to flatten his face with a cricket bat. However, there is one problem with the voice acting, and it's tied to one of the more impressive facets of the game.
Throughout the game, you'll notice that different teams have different skill levels, including a variety of high-tier "ace teams" for lack of a better term. The top of these is "Ravenwest Motorsports" and to be perfectly honest, they're downright impressive in their programming. However, again they have the lap issue where you need time to beat them, something you usually don't have. And then there's your crew chief... oh the crew chief. Throughout the game he shows himself as being confident but supporting, cautious but only intelligently so. When Ravenwest comes around, he turns into a pansy. "Uh oh, Ravenwest are in this one. We'll shoot for third." That's literally what he says, and it makes me a lot angrier than it should. It shows a self-esteem hero-worship issue with this game.
Some people may complain about product placement, but I get the feeling that was what funded this game in the first place. So overall, this game is technically competent and actually quite impressive and, usually entertaining, but so many little details were skimped on and unnecessary additions that get in the way of the entertainment.… Expand
GRIDYour Score0 out of 10User Score
