Blur.

Funny, video game reviews were really what started me reviewing and I think it's been about a year since I did a proper one. Really I had no plans on doing video game reviews again because by now I've realised gaming is just not really for me, not something I'll ever be particularly good at and gaming itself is surrounded by so much elitism, just a casual gamer like myself is never really taken seriously. That being said I've got no real plans to properly sit down and do a movie review for quite some time either, so this is basically filler. I'll put as much effort into this as any other review though, don't worry. Enjoy?

Blur is the first video game I've genuinely enjoyed for quite some time because it's just so...playable. I mean genuinely playable and not just like SFIV playable (well you can press the KICK button from the start, totally casual friendly!).

One of the most puzzling things about video games for me is the notion that I pay a price three times of that of a DVD and I may never get to see all the content and everyone is just okay with that... I mean could you imagine a film where you get quizzed on every five minutes of footage and if you get one question wrong the DVD player just shuts off? That's different you say! Well no, it's basically the exact concept of video games.

So although I have enjoyed games like Bulletstorm or New Vegas over the last few months, it's slow going as I get stuck every few missions for a few hours. The major difference with Blur is, is that Blur is an arcade racing game...with lasers. So as long as you can hold down a trigger and move an analogue stick you have practically everything you need to play and enjoy this game.

The notion of powerups make it even more casual friendly, although there are benefits to careful driving and utilising powerups strategically, I've gotten by just fine smashing into corners rather than going round them and blowing up other cars to get to first place rather than the use of careful driving. And this just makes me so happy. This game is just all about fun. I'm good at this game and yet...I suck at it all at the same time.

I don't have to get every corner spot on, I don't have to know how each powerup should be implemented, I can have no skill, throw myself around tracks wildly shooting at things and still come first. Having fun should be rewarded. Challenge is fine, but I don't believe it belongs in every nook of gaming. Some games deserve to be challengeless, to be picked up and played, to make you smile and happy and never leave you frustrated. Blur is not only a favourite of mine, Blur's pick up and playness is so good, it has first billing whenever my friends come over. If gaming wants to continue to get money from me, it can keep its Demon's Souls and give me more content like this.

So basically the plot of Blur is you're racing in a race. The end. Honestly there are like Boss drivers and specific challenges and races and locations but there is no actual story. And honestly, I don't think there'll ever be an explanation that can make sense of giant floating neon powerups that allow you to blow other cars up and all manner of other things. Surely the death-toll in every race is in the hundreds? There are crowds standing inches away from exploding cars with only waist high barriers between them and the wreckage. But it's a fucking racing game, it doesn't need a story. Really, you make your own story.

Remember that race where I was in first and then I crashed into that pillar and came in eighth? Well you won't remember that, you weren't there. But my friends still don't leave me alone about it. Basically, this game is all about the game and that works just fine.

The game is split into different game types. A straight race which technically isn't straight racing as you can blow people up and crap. A 'hardcore' race which is boring as shit since it takes all the powerups out and leaves just the racing in. Then there are other modes like a destruction derby, only its just you and whoever is playing with you on your bed/sofa/chair/beanbag/floor etc so it's kinda wasted potential, if they had a load of AI cars thrown in it would have been amazing. There is also Destruction where you get only one powerup and have to destroy enough cars within a time limit, it really isn't as fun as it sounds. And some other mode where you have to race through gates and against the clock and is easily the closest thing this game has to frustration.

Okay, okay I may have exaggerated a little in the whole challengeless thing. I'd gotten so used to Split/Second's drift around every corner no matter how tight thing that I basically can't turn on this game at all. I've been practising for weeks but I still find myself going nose first into walls if a corner takes me by surprise. Plus, the AI is brutal even on the normal difficulty settings, they come at you with everything they've got and have a fair amount of strategy for a load of AI controlled cars. So although the game is never really frustrating so much, if you're around sixth place in the middle of a race, don't expect to get out of it because if you get trapped between cars and all the powerups they pick up, you practically have no chance to escape. You can only really win races if you manage to pull so far ahead of all the cars that they can no longer provide any threat. If you're thinking there is some kind of strategy to this, you're wrong. Really it seems completely down to luck whether you end up in tenth, first or trapped in the cluster fuck that is the middle. The cluster fuck is by far the most fun part of any race, but don't expect any rewards for coming in sixth.

Visually, the game is beautiful. The tracks are stunning (although especially in city locations they can be rather bland when you get yourself on the stretches), there is a great selection of really cool cars (although I know nothing about cars so don't ask me to elaborate) and nothing beats the moment when all manner of neon flashes explode around you as cars smash into walls, flip into the air and just in general spray the track with pieces of their wreckage. Awesome.

And really, nothing beats sharing this experience with a friend. It'll become competitive quickly but never really frustrating. And with every game mode and car and powerup available from the beginning on multiplayer, it doesn't really get boring. Even if you've played every car on every track, the use of a specific powerup in a specific moment can change everything and make new, unique stories for every race.

Should you play it? For those hardcore faggots that think gaming is all about frustration and depth, this game has nothing for you and thank God for that. For those who don't think gaming is all serious business and use it to blow off steam and have fun for a few hours this is practically the perfect package.

Think About It!

-Locke