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Race Driver: GRID Review

04:10 PM - June 12, 2008 by RaychelSnr

We have just posted our review of Race Driver: Grid.

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Game: Race Driver: GRIDReader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PC / PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 7 - View All

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Member Comments

# 1 yamabushi @ 06/12/08 05:08 PM

Im a huge TOCA fan (how about some BC M$?) and really lean to the sim side of things. But GRiD is a blast and a half. Ive barely touched GTA since I got it.

# 2 Matt Diesel @ 06/12/08 05:35 PM

This is one of the best games I have ever played. Its no sim racer, but it is so much fun. The production value and the immersiveness of starting ranked 500th as a driver and working your way up through the seasons is classic. Hiring a teammate with their own attributes and working with him in a race is top notch. There are some things they may need to do differently, but that is what sequels are for.

Take it for what it is; a game and not a simulation study and you cannot lose.

# 3 ajwines64 @ 06/12/08 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mddst34


	This is one of the best games I have ever played. Its no sim racer, but it is so much fun. The production value and the immersiveness of starting ranked 500th as a driver and working your way up through the seasons is classic. Hiring a teammate with their own attributes and working with him in a race is top notch. There are some things they may need to do differently, but that is what sequels are for. Take it for what it is; a game and not a simulation study and you cannot lose.

Couldn't agree more. This game is bad ***. I haven't touched nba2k8 in almost a week and I would play that game religiously. I have mainly been online and it shines as well. Need to do the single player but online with this game is addicting.

# 4 Hellisan @ 06/13/08 02:38 AM

Great review; I liked that you took it for what it is, and reviewed the game on its own terms, while clearly outlining what it is and isn't. That way, as a sim-only race gamer, I can honestly say the game wouldn't be for me even though I know it's a very good game for what it does. Nice job.

# 5 RockyTop1 @ 06/13/08 02:47 AM

Nice quality review Terry. Been a while since I read one like that. I got this for my birthday, will probably try it out tomorrow.

# 6 oldman @ 06/13/08 03:05 AM

That is a pretty dang good review. I agree, this game is not sim at all. I love the game but I can completely see where a sim driver wouldn't, especially in the online mode. People online slam into each other like crazy, but then you race the AI and realize the reason they do that is because that is the only way to win! I am really enjoying this game right now and am hoping it will hold me over until NCAA comes out.

# 7 bronco92 @ 06/13/08 03:59 AM

Excellent review TC. I'm going to pick this up now after reading that.

# 8 Webdanzer @ 06/13/08 03:27 PM

Great review, Terry! I went through most of the very same stages as you did...hating the arcade feel, then going with it; loathing the rewind feature, but then embracing it, etc. I'm not nearly the sim-racer that you are, but I was also noticing the same thing, that when I tried (at least) to race sim, I was getting smoked. Barelling foward, knocking and banging, yeah, that gets you places.

# 9 TCrouch @ 06/13/08 05:07 PM

Thanks, guys. Was a tough one, as I went in expecting one thing, then got disappointed, then ended up loving it. Crazy game

# 10 catcatch22 @ 06/13/08 08:12 PM

You compared the racing model to project gotham and I am extremely surprised. From the demo cars felt like there was just not enough friction between the car and the road. The cars in project gotham feel soo much better in terms of feedback given in the way the cars feel when you are on the road.

# 11 W Patrick @ 06/13/08 09:35 PM

Great review Terry, I think Grid will now move from a rental to a must buy for me.

# 12 Bahnzo @ 06/14/08 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catcatch22


	You compared the racing model to project gotham and I am extremely surprised. From the demo cars felt like there was just not enough friction between the car and the road. The cars in project gotham feel soo much better in terms of feedback given in the way the cars feel when you are on the road.

What kind of control do you use? Using an MS wheel in Grid gives it a much better feel than a wheel does in PGR. Like Terry says, the options for the driving wheel control in Grid are something that everyone should copy. I am sick of being ignored by driving games, and the new NASCAR is similar. We need options not just for linearity, but dead zones for wheels AND pedals as well. This was one of the things I really liked about grid.

Unfortunately, I'm really disappointed by the arcade feel of it. I think it's a step backwards in this respect. For the company, it's probably a good thing; more people will play the game because it's not as hard. But for me, Forza 2 is still the king of the racers. And I think proof of this is the fact that you can go online today and find dozens of games available to race in with others. And this is over a year after it was released. I doubt Grid will have that kind of impact or longevity.

I don't think an 8 is an overly high score, but I would rate it more a 7 to 7.5, that extra .5 being for the great wheel configuration.

# 13 catcatch22 @ 06/15/08 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bahnzo


	What kind of control do you use? Using an MS wheel in Grid gives it a much better feel than a wheel does in PGR. Like Terry says, the options for the driving wheel control in Grid are something that everyone should copy. I am sick of being ignored by driving games, and the new NASCAR is similar. We need options not just for linearity, but dead zones for wheels AND pedals as well. This was one of the things I really liked about grid. Unfortunately, I'm really disappointed by the arcade feel of it. I think it's a step backwards in this respect. For the company, it's probably a good thing; more people will play the game because it's not as hard. But for me, Forza 2 is still the king of the racers. And I think proof of this is the fact that you can go online today and find dozens of games available to race in with others. And this is over a year after it was released. I doubt Grid will have that kind of impact or longevity. I don't think an 8 is an overly high score, but I would rate it more a 7 to 7.5, that extra .5 being for the great wheel configuration.

I use the MS wheel and the controller.

# 14 Kruza @ 06/16/08 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laettner32


	Interested in this game, particularly the "Derby" mode. Anyone have any thoughts on how that plays...# or tracks..etc..Thanks!

The Destruction Derby race is almost set like an off-road race with the exception in that you can run into other cars as much as you please. (But expect to get passed up and end up near last place if you overdo it though, heh.) The Detroit DD course pretty much looks like a typical off-road course with a few sections of asphalt mixed in with the gravel surface. Then there is a middle part of the course where to jump... possibly into traffic which also jumps from a crossing path. Brace yourself if you're way ahead or way behind the pack!

As for number of tracks, there are several version of 15 tracks. Certain version of the tracks won't be seen until you reach the National races and higher Pro races though.

Kruza

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