Blur, a game that will be best known as Bizarre Creations financial disappointment and Activision's first major strike against the British developer before going for closure after 007 Blood Stone.
Bizarre's last racing title is an example of both how hard it is to succeed as a new IP and as a unique style of racing in a genre dominated with two serious simulation series (Forza & Gran Turismo) and an annual arcade powerhouse (Need for Speed).
The brand has managed to stay alive with Blur Overdrive, released in 2013 for mobile platforms, but lets take a look at one of the previous generations most underappreciated games.
Blur is a fantastic racing game, one that aims for a mature take on the kart racing genre a la Mario Kart and Crash Team Racing. Its got a style of its own however, with real world locations and Vehicles lighting up the game with neon glowing weapons and loose handling, set to the feel of exciting nighttime racing. It truly is light painting in game form!
The racing mechanics themselves are very smooth and accessible, though the one thing that sticks out the most is that the drifting isn't quite what it should be. The burnout series for me still stands as the best example of sliding around corners as it feels you are going faster than following the line. Blur's drifting by comparison definitely has you not feeling as fast when sliding around corners, and it feels like something the developers wanted over conventional cornering so that's a shame. The sense of speed is excellent, especially noticeable when picking up the nitro speed boost power up. Three in a row makes you a speeding bullet barely able to notice the road ahead, and if you have memorised the route, you may not even care about it as you zoom past opposition.
Blur received criticism at the time of its release from some reviewers for not being the addictive, competitive online game that people wanted it to be, and not having enough defining moments. To those critics, I ask them to play the multiplayer mode, be it split screen or online, and return with compelling reasons for why it is not. Blur has constantly been in my xbox since I bought it, and while the online player base may be tiny, that it still runs so well, mostly lag free, and with most players in it to win it, the competitive element is strong.
Multiplayer is not just for the online crowd either. Its a sad fact that all too often games nowadays shun split screen for the online experience, but Blur handles split screen just as well as its online component. This is a feature made for nights in with friends over drinks and pizza. Get four controllers, a motor mash mode and watch sparks fly as your mates laugh at the fella that drove off the multi-storey car park!
Blur is a fantastic racing game, one that aims for a mature take on the kart racing genre a la Mario Kart and Crash Team Racing. Its got a style of its own however, with real world locations and Vehicles lighting up the game with neon glowing weapons and loose handling, set to the feel of exciting nighttime racing. It truly is light painting in game form!
Courtesy of Noctography
This is a racing game with a lot of style, so much so that the somewhat dated graphics don't matter at all when all of the weapons effects are flying on screen. The red smash of a shunt flipping a rival racer, the purple lightning bolts striking the front of the pack, or the pulsing mines scattered around the track all are examples of things that you just do not see in other contemporary racing games. This is the wipeout of our time, definitely made for a similar audience and with gorgeous effects and animations of weapon hits.
The racing mechanics themselves are very smooth and accessible, though the one thing that sticks out the most is that the drifting isn't quite what it should be. The burnout series for me still stands as the best example of sliding around corners as it feels you are going faster than following the line. Blur's drifting by comparison definitely has you not feeling as fast when sliding around corners, and it feels like something the developers wanted over conventional cornering so that's a shame. The sense of speed is excellent, especially noticeable when picking up the nitro speed boost power up. Three in a row makes you a speeding bullet barely able to notice the road ahead, and if you have memorised the route, you may not even care about it as you zoom past opposition.
Blur received criticism at the time of its release from some reviewers for not being the addictive, competitive online game that people wanted it to be, and not having enough defining moments. To those critics, I ask them to play the multiplayer mode, be it split screen or online, and return with compelling reasons for why it is not. Blur has constantly been in my xbox since I bought it, and while the online player base may be tiny, that it still runs so well, mostly lag free, and with most players in it to win it, the competitive element is strong.
Multiplayer is not just for the online crowd either. Its a sad fact that all too often games nowadays shun split screen for the online experience, but Blur handles split screen just as well as its online component. This is a feature made for nights in with friends over drinks and pizza. Get four controllers, a motor mash mode and watch sparks fly as your mates laugh at the fella that drove off the multi-storey car park!
Mario Kart for Adults
I may have criticized the graphics earlier for being dated, but they get the job done in regards for giving each location its own look. You obviously will see the difference between Route 66 and Tokyo, but the little details, such as Hackney's bus stops or roadsigns, and San Francisco's Tramlines and elevated roads, make for each tracks identity. The Geography of the locations come into things too. Mount Haruna is a drifters paradise, while Hackney has tight corners and not much room to breathe. Vehicles look the part, with a large selection of the sort of vehicles you expect from a street racer. Even the VW beetle gets a bit of love, and true to Bizarre Creations tradition, a Ford Focus is the starter vehicle for your first spin around Barcelona.
Sound is great, especially in game assets. The underside rumbles of your car are very convincing, as is the sound of the environmental hazards like the LA Dockside container ships or smashing of street signs. Weapon effects are the big standouts here though, each unique in their sound and appropriately jingle when used. The soundtrack is an eclectic mix for those who enjoy warehouse style raves in general and Crystal Method in particular, but if thats not your thing you can turn it off.
If you never played Blur when it first came out, its understandable given other racers were out at the same time, most notably Split/Second Velocity, and that you skipped over it. However, this is in my opinion just as good as Split/Second (a comparison will be done soon) and deserves a lot more love. Find a copy on Amazon or eBay, give Blur a chance, and if you have a few hours spare on a Saturday night, play with the few folks that still play this after five years online, and prepare to have a fantastic racing experience. You don't want to miss out on the enjoyment.
Brighton Beach, some spot for a race!
Sound is great, especially in game assets. The underside rumbles of your car are very convincing, as is the sound of the environmental hazards like the LA Dockside container ships or smashing of street signs. Weapon effects are the big standouts here though, each unique in their sound and appropriately jingle when used. The soundtrack is an eclectic mix for those who enjoy warehouse style raves in general and Crystal Method in particular, but if thats not your thing you can turn it off.
If you never played Blur when it first came out, its understandable given other racers were out at the same time, most notably Split/Second Velocity, and that you skipped over it. However, this is in my opinion just as good as Split/Second (a comparison will be done soon) and deserves a lot more love. Find a copy on Amazon or eBay, give Blur a chance, and if you have a few hours spare on a Saturday night, play with the few folks that still play this after five years online, and prepare to have a fantastic racing experience. You don't want to miss out on the enjoyment.
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