Video Game Review - Blur

Blur
Release Date: Available Now
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Publisher: Activision
Multiplayer: Xbox Live, PSN, Split Screen 4p
My Time with Game: Uncompleted (3 days)
One Sentence Review: Released at a time alongside two other racing games Blur does a darn good job at creating an adult kart racing genre.

 

Blur is like Mario Kart. Picking up power ups, drafting, using well timed attacks to force your way into the next position. Blur is also totally not Mario Kart. Bizarre Creations has managed to develop a game that takes the power-up heavy play of kart racing series and add an adult flavor to it with real world locations and vehicles.



      At the core of this game is racing. You are using both the skills of your driving and the speed of your vehicle in order to claim your deserved rank in the race. That part is simple. Next add a bit of the kart flavor with power ups thrown all around the track and add a somewhat excessive amount of racers to one race. This has then evolved to racing...and surviving. Like Nintendo's kart racer the player is forced to balance both speed and control along with managing aggressive attacks in order to win. Where this game really differs from the classic kart series games is that the power ups are not randomized. They are very specifically placed on each track and coming in first, means you have to study, strategize, and enact a very specific plan on each race track. Playing through I often found myself sticking to specific routes on the track just so I could constantly pick up the boost power ups. I win by speed bitches.
    Blur earns the first bit of its adult description by this strategic take on combat racing but finishes the job by placing drivers in real world vehicles. They are pretty accurate as far as I can tell. Not exactly an expert on cars that aren't covered in dust and sadness. Go recession. Each vehicle has its own simple stat structure and choosing them is somewhat critical against veterans but the power ups can even a race out even with a low level car. In addition, the game takes place on tracks based on actual world locations. The feeling of speed in a world you can identify with feels somehow more rewarding. Maybe its because I know how much a ticket in real life costs if I get caught going 115mph.
    I enjoyed this game. I am currently in a racing trend in terms of my purchases simply because thats what's arriving on my doorstep, but this game takes some credit for being able to pull me back to it. It definitely has some competition with Split Second and ModNation Racers but it has enough of its own flavor of play to warrant its rivalry with those titles. Online play on Xbox live is fun and you'll fear taking to the real road after seeing how vicious some of these players can drive. Split Screen is definitely a welcome addition as the online world expands the in home multiplayer realm shrinks. The single player game is definitely fun but there is a bit of a learning curve because of the unique style of combat that takes place in the races. You are going to learn to hate the Lightning Storm power up. cheap i say! cheap!