GRID | Xbox One | Review

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Liverpool vs Manchester United. Borg vs McEnroe. USA vs Europe. Whatever the sport, a decent rivalry can add so much more to a simple competition, eliciting passion, anger and excitement from spectators and participants alike. It’s an extra layer of intrigue that veteran motorsport developers, Codemasters, have successfully recreated in GRID thanks to their nemesis system, but we’ll get to that in a bit.

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by Liam
​Andrews

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@liam_andrews5

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Developer: Codemasters
Publisher: Codemasters
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
Players: 1 - 16

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We’ll start with career mode, the game’s main attraction. A sizeable offering, GRID’s single-player component features six different car classes that can be tackled in any order, each of which are composed of twelve events (save for the invitational class, which features double that number) and a showdown finale. Events are made up of between one and four races that feature a mix of city and traditional tracks, as well as car types, and come with different prerequisites for beating them, such as placing in the top three, winning outright or finishing with the fastest time.

​Completing an event usually unlocks a further two, making it easier to avoid those that don’t suit your play style or are simply too challenging. It’s a good way of ensuring progression isn’t stymied, while more experienced drivers and completionists can easily go back and mop up leftover events for extra prestige and in game currency to buy new cars. While the basic machines readily available to all players are competitive enough, there are one or two later options, such as the BMW M1 Turbo, that are well worth splashing the cash on.

Each class feels and handles differently, from heavy, ponderous muscle cars that lumber around corners to the boisterous F1000 series at the other end of the spectrum. There’s enough variety to keep things interesting, and although locations are often repeated (there’s more than 75 tracks in total, based on regions such as China, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, San Francisco, Sydney, Havana and Barcelona) tackling them in alternate weather conditions or in a different class of car often means approaching them in a totally different way.

GRID’s AI provide excellent opposition, keeping races both consistently competitive and entertaining.

Before each race, you’re given the chance to take part in hot lap qualifiers, which, while entirely optional, are a great way to learn each track’s nuances ahead of the main event and also give you a chance to improve your starting position. Leading the line going into a race is, naturally, a big advantage, especially when competing on GRID’s city tracks, where tight corners and narrow streets make it harder to break out from the back of the pack.

​Starting in the rear means you’re also more likely to collide with other drivers, and, intentionally or not, pick up a few nemeses in the process. It usually takes several collisions to spark a rivalry, though occasionally just a single bump is all that’s required to annoy the AI. Teammates aren’t immune to a bout of in-house rivalry either, and will actively ignore orders and requests if you hit them too many times.

City tracks are particularly impressive at night

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Rival drivers are marked out by an angry red indicator above their car, and will attempt to hinder your progress should they get the opportunity to do so, sometimes even to the detriment of their own race, whether its aggressively blocking an overtake or performing a surprise pit maneuver just as you’re taking a tricky corner. It’s a brilliant system that adds so much more to races, creating short-lived rivalries and added drama without ever feeling unfair or overpowered.

In fact, GRID’s AI in general provide excellent opposition, keeping races both consistently competitive and entertaining; we’ve seen computer-controlled drivers smash into walls, flip cars and take risks that, at times, mirror human behaviour, adding to the overall sense of authenticity. You can, of course, get a similar experience by delving into the game’s online offering, but without the option to pick and choose tracks, car types or weather settings (unless you’re hosting a private game), you might find yourself battling the conditions more than other drivers.

​Visually, GRID is a good-looking game, if not spectacular. Some levels stand out more than others; racing through one of Zhejiang’s city circuits at night, with neon lights reflected in the rain-soaked road, for example, looks amazing, but traditional circuits like Silverstone and Brands Hatch, with their wide tracks and open surroundings, are relatively bland in comparison. One of the more bizarre visual hiccups are the cars’ mirrors, which display reflected images in retro-like low-res graphics and reduced frame rates. If, like us, you prefer a cockpit view, it can be a little jarring, but it’s a minor issue that certainly doesn’t detract from an otherwise decent game.

Objects in the rear view mirror are actually a lot prettier than they appear

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GRID also caters to both petrol heads and newcomers alike thanks to a generous suite of difficulty options; while we preferred a more arcade-like experience, with automatic gears, race lines, cosmetic damage only and face-saving flashback abilities enabled, it’s possible to turn all assists off, increase AI difficulty and transform the game into a proper simulator. It’s this flexibility, along with the game’s solid racing gameplay, generous solo offering and excellent nemesis system that make it an easy recommend.

Pros

• Nemesis system adds spice to races
• Decent variety of cars and tracks
• Excellent sense of speed
• Accessible career mode
• Caters to both arcade and simulation playstyles

Cons
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• Online play lacks customisation options
• Low-res mirrors reduce immersion
• Traditional circuits are aesthetically bland

​8/10