Blur is the racing game that you never knew you needed. If you thought that Mario Kart was enough, think again. Blur is here to shake up the genre like no other game has, and it does so in a fun, intense, and highly-polished package.
Let me start out by saying that Blur is the most fun I have had with a racing game. It is Mario Kart’s older brother, Project Gotham Racing’s mean cousin, and an in-law of the Call of Duty series. When they all come together, as they do in Blur, it’s simply a game you won’t be able to put down.
The premise of Blur is simple: finish first by whatever means necessary. Whether that’s using and abusing one of the game’s offensive power-ups to your advantage, or finessing your way through a race using boosts, shields, and defense – it’s all up to you.
Blur is truly Mario Kart on steroids (or maybe ecstasy with the whole vibrant colors / neon lights theme). If red shells don’t quite do it for you anymore, then it’s time to move on up to Shunts, Barges, Bolts, and all of Blur’s other power-ups.
Each of the power-ups feel just right, and the sense of impact you get when you slam someone into a wall with a Barge for example is second-to-none. Racing in Blur is intense, energetic, and always demanding the best out of you; and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Career
The single-player element of Blur consists of eight themed series -- in which you take on a set of challenges based upon the personality of a specific rival. Each series of races has six challenges, plus a one-on-one race versus the series’ rival. Once you beat the rival, you gain access to their car, as well as their unique power-up modifier (the ability to shoot four bolts, instead of the normal three for example).
After you defeat the eight rivals, or unlock the series early by earning enough lights, you can move on to the ‘Show Down;’ a final series that pits you against the eight racers that you previously defeated. It’s quite challenging, but it rounds out a very engaging and well-executed career mode.
Throughout the career, variety is handled superbly. There really is almost too much to do. Your primary objective is to earn lights, which are Blur’s main progression system. Each challenge has a total of seven lights available, though the final one-on-one races have eight. Every challenge has the following: five primary lights available for completing the main objective, one for completing a ‘Fan Run,’ and one for achieving ‘Fan Targets.’
Earning lights isn’t as simple as coming in first place in a race. There are three main types of challenges: race, destruction, and checkpoint. In races, it’s you vs. 9 to 19 other racers, and you’ve got to fight your way through them using power-ups, speed, ingenuity, and a little luck. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s pure mayhem.
Speaking of mayhem, destruction mode puts you on a track with only one power-up available – Bolts. Bolts are manually aimed projectiles, which you must use to destroy as many target cars as possible before you run out of time. Each car you destroy earns you more time; and the stronger the car, the more time is given. Be wary though; when you destroy a car, they will fire a car-specific projectile back at you, and if you wreck, the round is over.
The third mode is checkpoint, which is quite simple; complete the course as fast as possible to earn the highest amount of lights. It disperses nitro power-ups and stopwatches (which add 2 seconds to your remaining time) along the track, which must be collected strategically.
During each of the single player races, you can also earn lights by completing the two challenges mentioned earlier: Fan Runs and Fan Targets.
A Fan Run is as simple as driving through twelve gates during a race. That said, it’s not always easy. When there are 19 other racers around you firing projectiles and slamming into you, trying to drive precisely isn’t always an option. The other objective, the Fan Target, is a set amount of Fans you must accumulate during a single run of a track to earn the light. It should be mentioned that you must finish in the top three for either of these tasks to count.
Fans are Blur’s version of experience points, and can be gained a multitude of ways, including ‘Fan Demands;’ which are on-track requests to do a specific task as quickly as possible. For example, a Fan Demand may say give you a Bolt power-up and say, “Get 2x Bolt hits.” The faster you achieve this goal, the more fans you earn. Fans are also earned by hitting cars with projectiles, drifting, defending yourself from projectiles, and so on.
In addition, fans can be accumulated by completing challenges, which are handled similarly to the system in Call of Duty’s multiplayer. These are tasks that are earned as you progress through your career, and add that extra hook to keep playing or to try a different style of racing. The more fans you earn, the faster you rank up and unlock better cars.
Multiplayer
Multiplayer is usually not something that I dive into in a racing game, because it seems like only the best race online, which can be intimidating (and depressing). Blur however, is a joy to play online. It has a leveling system similar to that of Call of Duty, leaderboards, challenges, and much more. Online isn’t the only way to play though, as you can also duke it out over system link and up to four-player split-screen.
The multiplayer races are just as intense as those in single-player – only this time it’s more personal. When you join a lobby, you’ll be racing against the people in it until you (or they) decide to leave. While some may say this will lead to less variety, or that it is boring racing against the same people over and over – think again. For me, it’s a great way to form some temporary enemies and rivalries, which can make for some fun racing experiences.
Unique to the multiplayer is the Mod Shop, which is a parallel of Call of Duty’s perk system. You are allotted three slots per loadout, with each slot having up to eight perks (once unlocked) to choose from. It’s a good way to tailor your car to your own unique style of driving.
As you gain fans in your online career you unlock cars, as well as new events to race in. Events are basically playlists that you choose from, and have a nice variety to them. Everything from 10 or 20 car races, team racing, and destruction derby (called Motor Mash) modes are covered. There’s even a ‘hardcore’ racing mode, which is strictly racing with no power-ups.
HENCHMEN RATING:
5.5 out of 6
5.5 out of 6
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Amazing visuals | Slightly Unbalanced |
| Good Soundtrack | |
| Hardcore action | |
| Addictive | |
| Nice Controls | |
| Fun Fun Fun! |
Henchmen's Final Say:
Blur is competitive powered-up racing at its finest. If you’re tired of Mario Kart and want something a little more edgy, or if you still love Mario Kart and just want more of it, then this is the game for you. Even if you dislike most racing games, you might still like Blur, since it is so much more than just another racing game.
Blur is available on Xbox 360, PS3 and on the PC.
Blur is available on Xbox 360, PS3 and on the PC.
Monday, June 21, 2010
I want to get my hands on this but there's been so many other games released this month...
This game looks awesome. The damage to vehicles if "realistic" you will get a kart-style games. Actual vehicles used in the game and watch the game. Bonus is really cool when they are used and the color in this game is incredible live. The tracks that I ran so high and, based on solid evidence on the landscape. Everything in the game comes with bright colors.