Race Driver: GRID (Nintendo DS) - Review by Andrew

Introduction

Codemasters have always been renowned for their console racers so it was something of a surprise last year when they announced that Race Driver was to get a handheld version alongside the next-gen machines. The problem releasing it on the DS, of course, is the fact that the platform is saturated by racing titles with just about every publisher releasing their take on the genre. Race Driver turned out to be a roaring success though, with the track design feature adding a whole new element to what could have been just another title to disappear in a saturated release schedule. We're some twelve months on from all that now and Firebrand are back again with GRID. On the surface it appears to be uncomfortably similar to the previous outing but what new features have been added and is it worth purchasing if you already own the original?

Gameplay

GRID allows you to start out in any one of three continents (Europe, Asia and the US) with only a handful of events available initially and others being unlocked after success in races. Standard races start off simply enough with three golds for the winner, two for the runner up and one for third. Other challenges involve timed tracks, drifting, catching up with other cars, traveling through gates (with penalties should you miss them) and the more rounded Championship which takes place over three tracks with the winner being the competitor who amasses the most points. This means there's generally something to attack and unlike other similar titles, which can become a little repetitive, there's always a challenge. Some areas require you to actually design a track yourself but, rather than simply putting as many hairpin bends as you can, you'll be given various criteria such as length, types of track and, just as important, budget. This is actually very satisfying and you can design-a-track any time you wish from the front end.

The AI is pretty good but if you want to battle it out with other cars, they will almost always win and, unfairly, they don't even appear to suffer damage the same way you do. With this in mind it's always a good idea to indulge in some Multiplayer action and Firebrand have been good enough to offer single cart support albeit limited. There's also an on-line option (for up to four player) but even though this game has been out for a week now, it's difficult to get anyone to race with especially during the evening. Let's hope the positive reviews get more people on the GRID network.

Controls

As with all racing games, no sooner have you got behind the wheel than you find yourself crashing in to a wall or spinning out of control on a corner. This is generally because developers can go in one of three directions: Simulation, Arcade or somewhere in the middle. GRID have sensibly taken the middle road resulting in a very comfortable ride almost as soon as you start up your vehicle despite the fact that all the cars handle in very different ways. Another thing to consider is that damage actually affects your car's performance so tearing around the tracks and slamming into walls may get you ahead of the pack initially but it will also result in your car becoming slower and more unstable. This will require a visit to the pits, which will clearly take up valuable time so actually perfecting your driving style is imperative to success.

Graphics

Visually GRID looks just as good as the previous outings although there is a lot more variety thanks to the three separate Continents you can race on. One problem the original had though was with the fixed camera angle, which made some of the tracks more difficult than they needed to be. Thankfully this has also been addressed and now there are a few different ways to view the race: bumper, bonnet and chase. This means that you can now tailor the races to your own needs although most of you will no doubt favor the 'chase' option with a camera 'floating' over that back of the car.

Sound

The various soundtracks perfectly match the on-screen action and there are the usual engines whirring and tires screeching. The music isn't bad either.

Dual screen

During the actual game you won't use the touch-screen at all although the bottom screen does contain a handy map that is especially useful during the more challenging tracks. Your stylus does become important in the more creative parts of the game such as the Decal and Track designers, both of which would be somewhat more challenging with more traditional controls.

Final comments

GRID is, quite simply, a great addition to the DS' huge catalogue of racing titles and, even if you have last year's model, this is well worth a purchase. This is mostly due to the sizeable improvements which have been included in this version; not only are there now more varied tracks to race on, but other aspects like the camera have been tweaked to provide a more entertaining, and less frustrating, experience for the gamer. In addition to this there's a Multiplayer (with single cart support) and the ability to race on-line making for almost endless possibilities for the game.

Pro: Looks and Sounds Great, Multiplayer and On-Line Modes.
Con: Very Similar to Last Outing, Track Design Can Be Tricky at First.
Final score: 8.7

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