Yay, it’s been a while since I got to beta test a game (back to the days of the littlebig planet beta I think). So I was more then excited when a Friend posted a beta code which he couldn’t use due to lack of a 360.

In addition, more recently I have been emailed an additional 3 codes to give out (for being part of the beta) for which I have given out 2. So the first person to ask for one in the comments either here or on MOREtotheGAME (where this post will also be featured) can have the last code. [UPDATE - Code has now been claimed]

Ok enough talking about beta codes etc, the actual game is a racing game which looks like your average racing game until you find out about the vehicular combat. Yes that’s right vehicular combat, gaining power ups, attacking other racers and leaving hazards on the track. All the usual stuff you’d expect in games like Crash Team Racing or even Mario Kart. But this game is much more serious and you still need a reasonable amount of racing skill required to win.

With games such as Mario Kart and using it as an example here, you will find first place stuck with damn koopa shells and the like whilst the player in last bullet bills theirself past absolutely everyone, then the cycle repeats on the person now in last as a result. With blur the powerups are out there on the track and you can see what each one is before you drive through it.

Bullet Bill (on mario kart wii)- If you are last, you'll get this a lot!

Also in blur you are driving a real car, not a tiny go kart which can somehow hop and skid around corners and which usually maxes out at about 30mph (despite what their speedometer might say). You have the feel of being in a serious racing game but with the added perk of vehicular combat. Now I know there are other racing games which do not have slow moving go-karts with weapons and/or powerups but if I can remember, pretty much all of them are set in the future, where as blur is set now with real cars.

Online multiplayer in Blur can take up to 20 players in a race lobby, and when you are in a race with about 10 or more it starts to get interesting, especially at the start when everyone is crowded together and cars are skidding and flipping everywhere with close range powerup attacks. The one downfall I have noticed is that the slots not taken by players are not filled by AI, so if you are stuck in a 3 or 4 player lobby and the race starts (lobby takes control of itself, giving a choice of 2 tracks for players to vote between and a 1 min gap between races) .

(Hit more to read on, complete with screenshots and trailer)

Now when it comes to playing online, wins are not the only way to rank up. Instead of experience the game uses fans, and when you gain enough fans you will rank up. You gain fans if you place in the top 3 of a race or during the race by good powerup usage and impressive racing. A few examples of these bonuses include:

  • Clean Nitro (use a nitro with no crashing etc)
  • Hitting someone with a powerup (different values depending on powerup used)
  • Impressive drifting
  • Dodging a shunt (can be tricky to do sometimes)

This game has defiantly caught my attention and I can say I will defiantly either rent or buy it on release, so keep an eye out here for a full in depth review.

So now I leave you with a trailer and a couple of screenshots:

NOTE: The trailer show below is slightly outdated, the trailer displays 5 poweups which they say are the only powerups, this is no longer true. Also the release date shown at the end is the original date (November the 3rd) I myself are unsure of the current release date, but is should hopefully be soon as the beta is now out.

Powerups actually shown on the track

Powerups actually shown on the track

In the background: The mighty shunt

To see trailer clip click here to go to this post on MOREtotheGAME