Gaussian Blur

By Alphazero March 9, 2010 2 Comments

 

I drove my way up to about 12,000 fans and level 8 last night in the Blur Multiplayer Beta, and it's a pretty fun game. The comparisons to Mario Kart are certainly apt, but it is a harder *driving* game than its arcade-y plumber based inspiration. Drifting requires more controlled counter-steering, and the surface of the track can make a big difference between a tight drift around the corner and getting wrapped up and backwards on the edge.
 
The power ups are excellent fun, my favorite being the boost (which I wish had a mushroom icon... my poor brain is having trouble adapting) and the one that blasts energy directly around you to take out neighboring cars. You're given ample opportunity to pick up these power-ups, and learning the ins-out-outs of how they work was interesting. Of particular note is they all seem less cheap than, say, the blue turtle shell in Mario Kart. Most things attacking you have a counter. Use the blast at just the right moment to take out an upcoming red energy ball (aka red turtle shell).
 
 I started playing in the 4 to 8 player mode, and had a good time, but it was in the bigger up-to-twenty mode that was the most fun. The races became insane with cars bouncing off each other, firing power-ups constantly, and general mayhem. In this type of race getting ahead of the pack gives a big advantage, keeping you out of range of many of the enemy car's attacks. When you're ahead, if you drive well, you tend to stay ahead. The middle bunches up in a chaotic and fun tangle. The end gives a good opportunity to get the fastest lap time without anyone bothering you. Gauss could not have distributed the pack better.
 
The multi-player is "Modern Warfare Like" with the equivalent of perks and custom classes. Getting a better car, particularly one that can handle tight turns better, seems to offer a huge advantage. The perk that gives you a random power up right at the beginning of the race can zip you to the front of the pack right away, and as I mentioned above once in front you have a good chance of staying there. It's a big advantage.
 
All in all, it's a fun multiplayer game. My one request would be to make it downloadable, even if it's full price. This is the sort of game I'd want to play a few matches of before or after launching the disk based game in the tray. Having to get up and swtich disks might kill it for me. Yes, I'm that lazy.
 
Another request: add decals like Forza 2. Mine will be the blue turtle shell. Kapow!

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