Blur vs Split/Second: Demo 1

I don’t blog about videogames that often. However, there’s always a time when you must finally do something that you haven’t done in a long time. There is a mini-dilemma which myself and others are trapped in: which upcoming racing game, Blur or Split/Second deserves my money? Having the opportunity to go to Shawn’s yesterday to actually play the X360 demos (Blur is TBA; S/S demo comes May 11 for PSN) was very helpful…

Blur:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3Q62os0Jik[/youtube]
You look at this trailer, and you think to yourself, “Isn’t this just…Mario Kart?” and you’d be correct in saying so because that’s exactly what it is. Blur is essentially Mario Kart skinned with licensed cars, damage modeling and an XP leveling system. The 360 demo was a strictly multiplayer beta (online lobbies of up to 20), so there was no way to see how the 4-player local would run. This, of course, is where my largest interest comes in – the local multiplayer!

However, playing the beta already gives you somewhat good glimpse and grasp of how the game is. Drifts are tight, boosts are fast, control depends on what car you’re using (you can choose many different licensed cars) and getting totaled is devastating. If you’re stuck in a lower position, you might actually have trouble catching up, there isn’t exactly a blue-shell or squid akin to MK, and from what I’ve seen all projectiles can be maneuvered around. For example, if there’s a shunt (akin to red shell) coming your way, you can simply dodge it, use your shield powerup (if you have it) or barge it away (once again, if you have the powerup).

There are also several dumb countdown timers…which all of us never really knew why we’d really need a countdown just to get back into the lobby. As for that XP leveling system I mentioned? From what I understand its based on fans, with the number received per race depending on what position you’re in (1/2/3 is most as bonus, obviously) and what you do during the race (ie. shunt most people, have massive drifts, clean laps etc) — you could potentially get fans for do EVERYTHING and lose the race. Ranking up unlocks items you can modify your car with, such as battering rams. I wonder if this could potentially screw up the balancing of races though?

Blur will be coming out May 25 on PS360/PC ($59.99/$49.99).

Split/Second:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0gkIASpcyY[/youtube]
Did you feel a sense of excitement while watching? That sense of excitement is in the game as you play it! Graphics wise, you may catch a few hints of Burnout Paradise…and that might not be such a bad thing, because it was beautiful. And so is this! To counter Blur’s online-only demo, S/S was a single player-only. There is also a 2-player splitscreen and online play in the full release on May 18 on PS360/PC ($49.99/$39.99).

In S/S, there are a lot of destructible environments (powerplays) which you can use to your advantage. There can be level 1/2 powerplays, which range from a well-placed explosion as your opponent passes a section of the track, or an airplane crashing down onto the tarmac. There are also route changers, which as the name suggests, changes a section of the track! I found that, unlike in Blur, the shifting of positions is highly probable in S/S. Being in first can easily result in being 5th with a well-timed powerplay, which can be dodged/survived if you’re lucky. Of course, in the demo we found the AI a little lacking as I obtained a 10.6 second lead. And yes, you can totally own yourself with your own powerplay.

Control in S/S feels a bit tighter than the more arcadey Blur, with the player actually requiring to use the brakes in order to activate the drift, or preventing them from slamming into a burning bus which just dropped into their path. The car also felt a bit heavier…but that’s subjective? If you’re a constant wall-hugger in racing games, you may want to get practicing to avoid this, as this will almost certainly lead to your explosive demise in S/S.

My interest in Blur rested in the MK-like gameplay and local multiplayer. In S/S, it was the epicness of track destruction. After playing these 2 demos, it currently seems like S/S may get my money. This is a “difficult decision” right now…

What are you views after watching the trailers? After playing the demos? Which would you buy? Which do you think will be more successful?