Codemasters is not just any car video game studio, it is the creator of games like Formula 1, Dirt and the well-remembered TOCA Race. So the question is: What type of driving are we going to face? In this review for PS5 we take those doubts out of you and tell you everything.
GRID Legends is the new racing game from Codemasters and Electronic Arts. It has a highly enjoyable arcade style with a steering wheel, which has been sustained since and since the first game in the series. This is not negative at all, but seeks to compete against direct rivals such as need for speed and Force Horizon.
the fort of Grid Legends is its story mode, the backbone of the game that in this edition is called “Driven to Glory”. The plot is narrated through sequences with real actors, as if it were an interactive series where each one expresses their conflicts, gives interviews, and interacts with other characters. Among them stands out, for example, Ncuti Gatwa, co-star of the series Sex Educationas the star of the rival team Voltz and who will be our antagonist.
This campaign, with its cinematics, has a duration of 8 to 10 hours of play that gives it a plus and the feeling of something different due to the presence of real actors. In other games Codemasters we could see similar modes, but with 3D characters like in the mode story of Formula 1 2021.
The story on the way to glory
The story begins when a driver who experiences a growth in his image by consecrating himself in amateur events is called to try out for a big team. Only with this first approach you can already smell in the distance that he will start a rivalry with his own teammate Seneca Racing, Yume Tanakawho at times will be competitive and distant with you, since he doesn’t look favorably on the arrival of a promising amateur motorist.
The story consists of 36 chapters, each with a new challenge to complete. We will be part of Grid World Seriesthe main event in the game universe, where we will drive different types of vehicles on closed or street circuits in different cities around the world, where our skills will be tested to become the best in the category.
In this mode we will not be able to choose the car since it is a fully scripted story where we must meet objectives. We are going to walk through different driving styles and circuits where we will collect badges and money to later be able to progress.
At the end of each race, either in story mode or in the rest of the modes, you will receive two types of prizes; one metallic and others of experience. These prizes can be used within your own team to expand your garage by buying more cars. And, the more experiences you get, you will be able to improve the mechanical development of the vehicles, being able to also improve the affinity and the characteristics of your teammate.
The way to evolve tune up of cars, it’s basic. We can change the color, the decals, as well as modify the mechanical relationships (short or long transmission, soft or firm shock absorbers, etc). And to be able to improve each car mechanically, you will have to use them repeatedly to increase your mileage and be able to unlock the 3 levels of improvements, which will allow you to become stronger in the other online challenges.
Graphically, the game looks amazing. We had the opportunity to test it in Playstation 5 and there are really no complaints in its fluidity and loading speed between races. The trigger As we have already felt in racing games, they exert different types of resistance when squeezed.
The recreations of the cities and their characteristics are magnificent: from London with the Big Ben until the Alpine Road where we see an impressive mountain range and beautiful green fields that leave you speechless.
The cars are meticulously designed and look impressive, something that is always present in games created by Codemasters and looking sideways at Forza and Gran Turismo.
In relation to the preview we did, we must point out that the game had substantial improvements. The addition of the destruction effects on the bodywork when colliding on the track with the retaining tire wall, being able to melt the engine and even burst the tires make us recall the beginnings of the brand with the acclaimed TOUCH.
Grid Legends cars break down
In this game we will have available to activate the option so that the destruction is only aesthetic or total. If we choose total, we must bear in mind that there are four problems that can leave you out of a race. First of all, if you hit walls or objects a lot, it can cause problems in the transmission and/or the shock absorbers, which will make the car pull to the sides and make it difficult to maintain direction.
Simultaneously you will damage the engine, this causes you to slow down and slow down during the race. Finally, the tires, which due to the action of excess friction, either against another car or due to many skids in the curves, over time wear out and explode leaving you literally on the rim. The solution for any of these problems is to choose the “reset vehicle” option and this will add a few seconds, although you will lose many positions. It should also be noted that any destruction that we cause in the car will impact our cash prize at the end of the race since a sum of money will be subtracted for the damage caused.
The gameplay has several improvements in the circuits to make them a bit more challenging than previous versions. Although the game has an arcade driving experience, the player can adjust the difficulty (which can be chosen from three options), as well as some driving parameters, such as the traction control, stability and ABS brakes. One recommendation is to raise the level of difficulty or AI of the opponents and seek balance with the aids, otherwise the game will not present a challenging difficulty and you will win all the races with the minimum effort and they will not be able to feel the difference of driving different cars on different types of tracks. You will feel that everything is very similar.
The system “Nemesis” is one of the best that the game brings. This means that if you hit another driver too many times, he will start to get more aggressive towards you and will continue to do so for the rest of the main story.
On higher difficulties, these can provide personal stories for each run: “We want to blur the line between AI and human drivers. So each AI pilot has a unique personality setting. We also have our choreographer, who adds human randomness to our AI; this allows them to make mistakes, crash, or experience mechanical failure. We want every race to feel unique.”pointed out Chris Smith, creative director of Grid Legends.
You are already wondering “once I finish the story mode, what else can I play?”
The Grid Legend It has more options so that the fun never ends. First of all, we have The Career Modewhich will offer nearly 100 cars and 130 tracks such as the famous Brands Hatch, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Suzuka International Racing Course or the streets of San Francisco, Paris, London, and Moscow along with 9 famous categories such as Touring, GT, Turner, Track Day and Open Wheel, which are added to the tracks with trucks, electric cars and drift. This mode is offline and serves directly to be able to complete the missions with your sponsors, the player’s experience and the mileage with the cars to level them up and be able to go online with a more solid base.
However, Multiplayer or online mode It will offer a progression: as the player adds up victories, he will have the possibility to run in special weekly and monthly events, being able to obtain exclusive rewards. An important plus of this installment is that it allows games online multiplayer crossplay between all platforms.
Race Creator mode, allows us to have control over many aspects of the game such as the weather, car classes, type of tracks, curve shapes, obstacles, among other things. It is a very used tool lately in racing games, since there are tracks created by the community that turn out to be extremely creative and very challenging.
After the purchase of Electronic Arts to Codemasters A future with many improvements and more economic freedom is expected for all the brand’s titles. If you like simulation car games, it may not be what you are looking for, but if you are looking for an intermediate between driving, arcade and a script that seeks to justify the progress of your career, Grid Legends may be the game for you.
Grid Legends will be available from February 25 on PC, Xbox One, PS4 and Xbox Series and PS5.
RELEASE DATE | February 25, 2022 |
DEVELOPER | Codemasters |
DISTRIBUTOR | Electronic Arts |
PLATAFORMS | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Series X, PC |