Blur (Xbox 360) Review - PAGE 1

Now someone at Bizarre Creations must have been a massive Mario Kart fan but felt unsatisfied with the choice in cars. So now we have Blur, a race that can be summed up in just a few words, in no particular order: insane, pretty, multiplayer.

The premise of Blur is “powered-up racing,” where you and your opponents spend most of your efforts on brutalizing each other with Power-ups picked up along the track. You’ll find eight different Power-ups on the track, always in preset locations without any kind of randomization. Their distinctive icons set them apart, letting the player choose exactly which ability they want. The respawn rate is pretty generous too, so even if the driver a few feet ahead takes a Power-up you were eyeing, another pops up within seconds. 

Most are near-exact recreations of the special attacks in Mario Kart. Nitro gives a momentary speed boost like a Mushroom, Mine is similar to the ever-irritating Banana Peel, Shock slows victims down like Thunderbolt – need I say more? This basic formula means just about anyone can get into Blur, yet its simplicity is deceptive. A few races in and suddenly, you realize something: this game is really hard.

The main menu is split into Single-player and Multiplayer.  The single-player Career is set up a bit like Scrap Metal (great li’l XBLA game, by the way) where every stage is governed by a champion racer. These rivals each come with a specific set of challenges, which you’ll need to complete before earning the right to face each rival one-on-one. Winning unlocks said champion’s car and unique Mod for your personal use.   

For other vehicles, fans come into play. Fans are earned by performing cool stunts during races, which usually entails an impressive Power-up assault or skilled driving; even combos are possible, like landing a hit on another driver while performing the perfect drift. By pleasing the audience, you attract more fans, and as your entourage expands, so does your car selection.

Progression follows a separate challenge list, meaning you’re not required to take out one rival to unlock another. The next stage becomes available once you've collected enough Lights (little "b" icons), simply by completing races and driving events.   Easy peasy, right? Wrong. Along the way, the AI does its best to kick your ass, pile drive you face-first into the mud, then reverse over your corpse a few times before going about its merry way – figuratively. On “Medium” difficulty, AI drivers are aggressive and mean as they come, strategizing like live players, meaning they know exactly where and when to Shunt you in the arse and steal your cushy position in the race.

Not that multiplayer is a walk in the park. Mods can be equipped to your attack rate or evasion, and you really feel their effects during MP, when just about everyone has a different Mod. With up to 20 drivers per track, each race has the potential to degenerate into absolute chaos of flying cars and flashing colors. The Power-up animations are absolutely gorgeous, though potentially distracting. 

Shock creates pillars of blue lightning to net your passing vehicles, the Mine looks like a moving black hole consumed in orange fire, and even Shield encases you in a translucent white bubble.   Personally, I revel in pandemonium, but for anyone desperately pining for orderliness, there’s the Hardcore Racing mode, devoid of Power-ups. If you love Power-ups but not the racing aspect, Motor Mash plants players in an arena a la Twisted Metal.

All the frustration and rage is unavoidable. I wanted to fling my controller out the window and set the game disc on fire in retaliation on more than a few occasions, yet the game is undeniably fun. Absolute failure is never an issue in Blur because everything is measured on its own system. Lose a race and earn fans, or go for first place and forget fandom. So really, underneath that rape-tastic AI, mayhem on the track, and being an overall jerk toward your fellow gamer, Blur is all about positive reinforcement and friendly intense competition.

Winning never felt this good.