Video Games : Race Driver: GRID (Xbox 360)

Rating: - Better than FM2?
Make no bones about it, GRID is an awesome looking game. It plays well and, coupled with a Force Feedback wheel, feels VERY (and I mean VERY) realistic.

Theres a very good range of cars although no where near as many as Forza Motorsport 2. Likewise, there is a wide range of tracks though again, not as many as FM2. Your ability to alter the cars handling characteristics is largely limited to whether or not you have ABS, stability and traction control on or off. Again, true FM2 fans will be horrified to learn that you can't adjust race setups in any other way. There appears to be a limited number of competitions, split between 3 regions (USA, Europe and Japan) and some inc Demolition Derby and drift races which FM2/track racing purists will see as a waste of time. There are a coupel of F1 type tracks, namely Nurburging, Istanbul and Spa. It has to be said, hitting Eau Rouge at Spa, full tilt in an F3 car, cockpit view, with a wheel and pedals is easily one of the best gaming experiences I've ever had. Driving in teh Le Mans 24 hr, you actually experience the transition from day through to night and back again. FM2 does not do night racing. GRID does, albeit only at Le Mans. You can change the livery of your car, but only in so far as the numerous default patterns and colours. There will be none of the tremendous paint schemes we know and love from FM2.

But lets look at what is wrong with it in its own right. Online with the Xbox 360 for a HUGE start. Races seem to end early with people who were behind you magically (and I mean MAGICALLY) winning all of a sudden. I'm not sure if this is a cheat they have (I've tried Google - no joy) or if it is a bug (of which there are reported to be many) but whatever causes it, it will hack you off in a big way. I was half a lap away from winning my first online race when this happened. Recorded lap times also seem to be stupidly quick to be genuine, such as online lap records of 2 secs. I don't care what car your in, you are not goign to do an entire lap that quickly. Again, this is more than just irksome, it spoils an otehrwise good game.

So what would make you buy this if you already owned FM2?

It LOOKS so much better. It plays so realistically. The team based racing with actual seasons. LE MANS!!

That said, the online element of this is not what it could be due to the issues outlined above and this is why it gets 4 stars. Unlike CoD4, which exists in my house PURELY for the online, GRID is used exclusively OFFLINE. That instantly gives it a much shorter self life.

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Rating: - Great fun, but shallow
I cannot disagree with any of the superlatives described by other amazon customer reviewers. However, because of the lack of depth to the handling mechanics, the game gets old quickly.

I am still playing Forza Motorsport 2 because of the superior and more realistic handling. If you like realistic handling in racing games i would advise you think carefully about buying GRiD, it's like driving a hovercraft. Which can be fun, just don't expect Forza.

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Rating: - Pole Position !
What a game this is, superb graphics and great gameplay, when you win a race you really feel like you have earned it, you cant just barge the others into the armco and go on and win, they are more likely to try and do that to you as the AI is quite tough but this just adds to the experience. The variety of disciplines sets it apart also with touring cars, gt, drift, demolition derbies, single seaters etc etc and you can feel the difference between the different cars. This and PGR 4 have really pushed on the benchmark for the 360 and make Forza 2 look quite tame although to be fair that is a different type of game and is still exceptional, put simply if you want edge of your seat thrills and next gen graphics get grid or pgr 4 otherwise stick with the solid Forza 2. Thanks for reading and i hope this helps you make an informed decision.

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Rating: - A GREAT GAME
A great game the racing is quality as it is so real even the ai cars end up ploughing into each other. When crashes do happen tyres fly everywhere and bits of car scatter the track. The cars also handle really well and each car handles diffrently you can tell a front wheel drive to a rear wheel drive to four wheel my only gripe with the game is the drift races but with a little practice it is easy to master and you feel great satisfaction when you do a mad drift a def purchase

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Rating: - Excellent driving game
Please ignore everyone who says it's "too hard" I bought this game not really knowing much about it and took it round a mates house. We played for a few hours and had a lot of trouble winning and staying on the track. We then went back to COD4.

I then went home and played on my own 360, and it clicked! got the handling right and worked out how to stay out of trouble on corners and then started winning!

The graphics are brilliant and so is the game play if you spend a bit of time getting the driving style right. Please give this game time and dont play the demo as it's not enough. If you can, hire the game, you'll soon be down the shops buying it.

The crashes are good fun as you can rewind a bit and try and take the tricky corner a bit better or try to keep away from the other cars!

5*'s from me!!!