Game Rating: E
Game Publisher: Activision
Platform: XBox 360 (also available for PS3 and PC
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Buy this at: Amazon for $46.69

When I play video games, I generally play them for the single-player experience. What can I say. I am a solitary figure who likes kicking a game’s butt on my own. You can’t be like this if you want to enjoy Blur, a fast-paced race game with insane multiplayer options. While Blur’s single-player experience is okay, the multiplayer is enough to make even this lonely old dog want to get in on the action.

Don’t get me wrong, the single player action is okay, but it is rather convetional when it comes to your standard race game. You run a variety of tracks in some kickass rides. There is nothing wrong with this, especially since you earn lights and fans, which unlock new cars and content along the way. However, racing can seem a little tedious for some, especially the younger generation.

Frankly, I enjoy tedious racing. It reminds me of my days of youth playing Top Gear on my SNES. Back in those days we didn’t mind going in circles for hours at a time! Still, I have to admit, the multiplayer rocked my world. I remember racing my brother in our Top Gear days. Now, I get to race my girlfriend, which is even more exciting, because I’m not the type of guy to let his girl win…at least not at video games. Ash and I become competitive and things get downright dirty.

Blur has moments of innovation and moments of good ol’ reliable racing. You have to expect that there is going to be some repetition in the process of racing. You are, essentially, going around in circles with each track you race on, so if you find this becomes tedious, you may not be a race game fan. However, if you love the heart pumping adrenaline rush you get from racing your car at maximum velocity (and if you like sexy cars to boot), then this game is worth playing, even if you just happen to be renting it.

Blur features a high octane single player campaign. You are a brand new racer who is looking to prove yourself. You have some stiff competition and it won’t be easy to get the edge as you navigate the underground racing scene. You’ll go from race to race facing the same set of characters who either seek to help or beat you. The key is to win, so you’ll be facing a group of racers who will do anything to be the first past the finish line. The races aren’t exactly easy either. From the first race, you are expected to place and win both fans and lights, which can help to unlock new cars and other cool features.

Your options for your starter car in career mode are a Ford Focus RS, a Chevy Camero, and the Land Rover Defender SVX. Each car comes with stats on Acceleration, Speed, Grip, and Difficulty, as well as the Health of the car. I was able to upgrade to a Dodge Challenger SRTS fairly quickly, as I made it to the second level. As you move up the ranks you get a selection of cars released.

Your car can be shielded from the weapons of other players with the shield bar. Some of the cars were developed specifically by Bizarre Creations. On some of the more elaborate tracks, your car can even drift. The tracks are unique, original, and contain some pretty cool environments that have you sailing through buildings, off ledges, and across gravel and dirt roads, as well as racing on regular, paved tracks. A variety of obstacles stand in your way, as you race, including brush, glowing balls of rock/fire shot out by other players, buildings and rail barriers.

You can partake in split screen racing action, team races, and races against a slew of characters with original driving styles, boosts, and cars. From the streets of London to sunny Los Angeles and everywhere in between, you will race your way around tracks filled with powerups and the opportunity to perform stunts. As you race, you gain fans. Fan points bump you up levels. You gain fans even if you lose the race, based on other performance factors. Fans allow for upgrading cars, parts, and moving forward through single-player career mode. There are also fan challenges, mid-race, that can garner more fans if you pass the challenge.

Enjoyment/Fun Factor:

I’ve already talked a lot about career mode, which kind of follows its own little story. There are plenty of cars to keep drivers satisfied somewhat, if they like the typical style of racing. For those who want more, there is the ability for online, multiplayer action, which really heightens the level of fun. The tracks get more interesting, in my opinion and the level of competitiveness reaches its peak height, as you play versus online rivals.

The multiplayer options include both cooperative and competitive racing. Either way, you have to be fast, prepared and ready to roll. Like in the single player career mode, you will have the chance to use a selection of powerups. As you move through races and place in them, you add to your collection. You can communicate with other players, in game, form alliances to take out other opponents and earn in game cash by winning and through fan support. These multiplayer races also feature fan-driven side challenges in the middle of the game that boost your fan rating.

Online multiplayer games can consist of up to 20 other racers. Locally, you can race up to 4 friends. This provides a four-way split screen. In multiplayer games, you can choose the locale, number of drivers you wish to race against and the class of the car you want to drive. The computer system within the game can also set up these options for you. One option is World Tour mode, where you can go from race to race with random cars and tracks selected for you. However, multiplayer online games cannot be played in splitscreen. We tried.

List of Powerups:
Barge: Energy Wave that shoves nearby opponents off the track
Mines: Explosive balls of fire that cars can run into when dropped on the track
Nitro: A boost of speed that is incredibly powerful for a short time
Repair: Repairs cars without pit stops
Shock: An electromagnetic pulse sent to the cars closest to you
Shunt: It looks like a missile, which shoots out to explode cars up ahead or bring you closer to them

The best part about Blur is how realistic the racing seems to be. Your car will get smacked up, and be inflicted with some deep amounts of damage. These cars are downright beautiful.

Replayability:

For the average gamer, the layout of the Xbox 360 controller is fairly standard. You hold down the right trigger to move your car forward. This feels relatively comfortable for long term gripping. You use the left analog stick to steer your car, and it is pretty sensitive. The right bumper changes the view of the car from first to third person and the left trigger puts you into reverse. The A button is used to release/use your powerups and the Y makes them disappear without using them. The B button is your brakes and, of course, you can pause with the start button. Essentially, it’s about as self-explanatory as it gets, and you won’t be reaching all over the keypad, mid-race, to hit buttons while playing Blur.

Ease of Use:

The thing that makes Blur so special is the visual quality. Even when you are racing in a “blur” the graphics pop off the screen with amazing clarity. Every detail, from the paint job on the cars to the ever expansive backgrounds of the various racing environments, are teeming with detail. Using powerups allows for an eye orgasm as your vehicle explodes across the track. You feel almost as if you are inside the game, as the camera adjusts its angle from virtually within/on top of the car you are driving. The only bad animation is the characters, who aren’t developed realistically enough for smooth and effortless movement through these environments. It is obvious the focus was put on the cars, and when it comes to the cars, the graphics are superb.

Visual:

The audio quality is pretty good. The music is loud enough to come through with crystal clarity and the sound effects explode through the speakers. I expect some hardcore electronic tracks for my racing. I won’t say this is the most innovative soundtrack I have heard, but there are some nice techno/electronic mixes on here. With The Crystal Method, Dj Kentaro, Pest, The Qemists and Coldcut among the artists providing tracks for this game, I expected some cool sounds to accompany gameplay. My favorite track has to be “Smile” by The Crystal Method, which is the music for the opening game menu. While some of the tracks are hit or miss, they always sound good coming out of my television’s speakers.

Here is the Full Track List released by Activison:

1. “Atomic Moog” (The Qemists Remix) – Coldcut
2. “Bump” (Best Fwends Remix) – Spank Rock
3. “Coleen” (Rhythm Beater Remix) – The Heavy
4. “Delucid” – Pest
5. “Dem Na Like Me” (VIP Mix) – The Qemists feat. Wiley
6. “Everything is under Control” (DJ Kentaro Remix) – Coldcut
7. “Gadget Funk” – The Herbaliser
8. “Harvest Dance” – DJ Kentaro feat. Hifana
9. “Let There Be Light” – The Qemists
10. “Make It So” (xxx Remix instr) – Daedelus
11. “Nothing 2 Step 2″ (Trevor Loveys Remix) – Thunderheist
12. “On The Run” (VIP Mix) – The Qemists feat. Jenna G
13. “Pat Pong” (Solid Groove remix) – Pest
14. “Red Laser Beam” – Hexstatic
15. “StompBox” (Spor Remix) – The Qemists
16. “S.W.A.G.” – The Qemists feat. Zoe Devlin Love
17. “Te Quiero” (Aftc Remix) – Zero dB
18. “That Girl” (Instrumental) – 2 Fingers

Audio:

For those who have mobility impairments, you may struggle with the single player mode, as you consistently have to hold down the right trigger, and face very tough AI computer challengers. I was able to navigate the tracks, but I took frequent breaks, as I could not keep up with consistently holding down the trigger. I tried holding the controller in unconventional ways to try to give myself an edge, but that made it hard to hit the button that released powerups. While it is not impossible to play this game, it isn’t going to be easy, either.

While Blur is a solid title for the racing genre, it isn’t going to be so original as to step outside the box of racing in the single player mode. You will face tough enemies (the AI is harsh) and have to trick your way into winning. Online and multiplayer options provide for a more entertaining racing experience where you can show of your skills and take advantage of all supersonic features that make this game worth owning. Get this one for the online and multiplayer play, not the single player campaign, and you will be happy with your purchase.

Overall Rating:

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