GRID 2
Review
Back in the driver's seat
by William Thompson
reviewed on PC
Spectators beware
Each of the cars handles differently, too. And if you choose, like I did, to have damage effects reduce handling, then you will definitely notice how it takes effect. Take too much damage and the car will begin to slant to one side. The commentary will often inform you to keep an eye on the car. And whoever makes the protective barriers on the side of the road must be commended, because much of my turns (especially early on when I was getting used to how each car handled) resulted in sideswiping or brushing past the barriers. The crowd at the side of the road somehow knew that I drive a little crazy but felt comfortable behind the barriers.
Maybe they just know about the Flashback system. It is a system that allows racers to rewind their race in the event that they produce an error in their driving. Each race allows five flashbacks, which encourages gamers to push a little harder knowing that if an accident such as careening into the local scenery occurs, they have the chance to redeem themselves. There can definitely be a strategy involved with using them, gaining an advantage against an opponent as you slip out of the final corner.
Taking the World by storm
The races take place, as you would expect considering the competition is named the World Series Racing, all over the world. They start in the United States, racing on streets circuits in Miami and Chicago as well as the mountain countryside roads of California which are reminiscent of the early Test Drive titles. The locations are wonderfully detailed, with the Californian countryside especially stunning as you wind your way around mountains and through forest sections.
After moving up to the next level, Europe awaits, where racing takes place in the city of love, Paris complete with the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. Barcelona and the coastal tracks of the Cote D’Azur also feature to great effect. After that, you move on to Asia and the drifting-centric street circuits of Hong Kong, the F1 track at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi and the scenic mountain trail of Okutama in Japan.
OK, so there aren’t a heap of locations and there is a somewhat limited amount of tracks and circuits, but the tracks located within the city can change from one race to the next meaning that you have to keep your wits about you and not get too complacent. Indeed, the new feature known as LiveRoutes, works well in the races as it requires gamers to take note of their surroundings rather than simply checking the mini-map to know the nature of the turns. Having a certain familiarity with the tracks in the city helps, as the LiveRoutes uses stretches of the city circuits, but sort of puts them in a random order.
World Series Racing is here to stay
As I mentioned at the start, I was initially a little disappointed in the less realistic nature of GRID 2 when compared to prior Codemasters titles. But after playing through a few seasons, the quick nature of the races began to grow on me. Indeed, if you are a gamer that doesn’t spend much time in a single sitting, then GRID 2 will suit because of the short, speedy events. I was personally disappointed by the short length of the Endurance races, but can overlook my disappointment somewhat. The rest of the game plays really well.
The spectacular scenery of the California countryside and Okutama had me flying off the side of mountains at times, as I was looking at the detail amongst the trees instead of looking where I was driving. But the Flashback feature was able to put me back on track if I did so. And there are certainly enough cars to keep most people happy, each with their own handling and sound. The commentary begins to be recycled after a while, but does a decent job of letting you know where you stand. The online aspect works surprisingly well too, the short nature of the races supporting this. In all, the game is well rounded and despite its arcade feel is a worthy racing title. See you on the track soon.
8.0
fun score
Pros
Lovely visuals, a range of race types to keep the racing fresh and plenty of cars to drive.
Cons
Quick sprint races and a more arcade racing feel may not suit the Codemasters faithful.
