izigame.me

Oh my...
"GRID", or "Race Driver: Grid", depending on whether or not you really wanna be formal about all of this, is a racing game developed by Codemasters, and has been released on all platforms that matter (I'm looking at you, Nintendo). Throughout the game, you build up your reputation as a race driver, and are faced with a series of different racing disciplines to prove yourself in: drift, F1, Touring, and many more. All of this leads up to a grand finale in each season: The Le Mans 24 Hour Endurance Race on the infamous Circuit de la Sarthe (the version with winding turns on the straightaway). There's a lot of content to barge your way through, and it'll take you a bit of time to get through everything. It's been a while since this game came out, but...
HOLY SHIT THIS GAME STILL LOOKS BADASS
If you take damage, it's full-on damage. Windows will crack, hoods will fly off, fenders will be bent, and if you crash horribly, your race is over. Granted, it's still hard-body; you're not gonna get the detail that GTA IV gave you with its soft-body damage model. Still, the way tires can come off, and your car ends up looking like it just got done with a demolition derby (which is a racing discipline in-game, mind~), it's a marvel to behold.
That being said, the game is wonderfully optimized. While I'm running some low-tech equipment, I'm still running everything on mostly high settings. It's wonderful to see the inside of your car and how everything reacts according to what's happening on track. It doesn't sound like much, but it helps with the immersion. It's the little things that count.
The cars handle a bit differently than one might be used to. When given the choice between "arcade racer" and "simulation", Codemasters seemed to lean more towards "arcade". Some people might be turned off by this, but, in truth, this really, really adds on to the fun factor. There's no real penalty to being a dick to your fellow racers, which, coming from a jaded motherfucker, feels so fucking good. Drifting around corners at 100, just to slam into someone else and ruin someone else's day, is so satisfying. While the cars don't act exactly like they should, it's not going to take long to get used to their handling, and you'll find yourself knocking races out of the park in just a few goes.
GRID has a few issues, mainly with its AI. But, in truth, AI has always sort of been a problem (I'm looking at you, Bethesda). While the computer isn't as dumb as rocks, it most certainly could use some work. I'm not sure if it's intentional, but it seems as though the AI can be just as aggressive as you on occasion. Most of the time, they're as submissive as a small puppy, but regardless, a few can lash out like a goddamned rotweiller. It's jarring, but it keeps you on your toes, at least.
There's a lot I've missed in this review, but as much as I'd love to go over them, GRID just got done re-downloading, and that takes precident over everything else.
9/10