Video Game Review: Addictive ‘Blur’ Tests More Than Driving Ability

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Video Game Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – May 2010 has seen a trio of racing games that might blur together for casual players but that all come with their own unique identities. Sony’s “ModNation Racers” (which we will review later this week) is about the customizable experience and plays closer to something like “Super Mario Kart” meets “Little Big Planet”. Disney’s “Split/Second” is a car chase scene from a Michael Bay movie brought to life. The most traditional and arguably most addictive is Activision’s “Blur,” a thrill ride that moves at such a high rate of speed that decisions need to made in the blink of an eye.

“Blur” is a simple enough game for anyone familiar with racing titles like “Need For Speed” or “Burnout”. It’s not a game in which the developers set out to break the mold; merely to put their own coat of paint and a few decals on it. The basic race structure follows that of a standard driving game although the tracks include power-ups, weapons, and other things that can give one driver an advantage over another.

Blur
Photo credit: Activision

In the “Career” section of “Blur,” the player progresses through a series of events that are based on ultimately defeating a rival and taking their vehicle. To get to the “One-on-One,” the driver must both fulfill a number of thresholds (that include a certain number of takedowns or even finishing a certain event within a set time) by competing in other events including “Race,” “Destruction,” and “Checkpoint”.

Blur Photo credit: Activision

Within each event, the player earns a series of “lights”. The first five lights are based on finish (with a 1st place getting the maximum five). The player also earns “Fans” by taking down opponents or narrowly avoiding takedown themself and enough of those can earn a sixth light. Finally, each event has a section where a series of gates can be triggered and if the players slaloms through the gates within a certain period of time, they can win fans and another light.

It’s a simple enough blueprint, so the success of a title like “Blur” comes down to the execution. First, the cars are expertly designed, animated, and executed. The different vehicles have unique strengths and weaknesses unlike a lot of racing games in which the variety feels mostly cosmetic. In “Blur,” you will actually have to choose the right car for the right race, depending on whether or not you need a vehicle heavy on grip, drift, or pure speed.

Of course, the most well-designed speedsters in the gaming world mean nothing if the race tracks aren’t equally well-designed and the maps of “Blur” are near-perfect racing creations. From tight city corridors to five-lane highways to aqueducts, my favorite design element of “Blur” may be the variety and personality of each of the tracks.

Blur Photo credit: Activision

What’s most notable about “Blur” is the speed with which the player must make decisions. As you approach a series of power-ups, the driver needs to immediately decide which one they can get to that they need the most. Is your vehicle in poor shape? Grab a repair power-up. If your toughest adversary is behind you, grab some mines. If you need a quick speed boost, there’s a power-up for that. And the split second decision process isn’t just in the bells and whistles. “Blur” feels like a game where you’re not merely speeding from point A to point B but making race-changing choices as quickly as any driving game yet released.

On the negative side, some of the thresholds needed to reach the “One-on-One” battles are a bit random and sometimes annoying. The game also runs into the standard driving game trap of repetition and the test-and-pick element of choosing which car for which event can be a bit frustrating. Sometimes it feels like there are certain events that can only be one with one or two cars in your garage and you merely need to make a few wrong choices before getting to the right one.

Of course, “Blur” has a deep multiplayer component in which you can race against actual opponents.

Ultimately, “Blur” blends the “Mario Kart”-esque concept of power-ups with a more believable, adrenalin-filled racing style in a very entertaining, addictive, complete package. None of the trio of racing games from May 2010 have been revolutionary but I have a feeling that “Blur” is the one I might still be playing in May 2011.

Before you start driving, check out this trailer for the Xbox demo, which may not be what was reviewed here, but gives you a great idea of what the game looks like in actual gameplay:

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com