Blur Catch-All

So apparently about 4000 people playing online at any given time across all platforms? Rough. I don't really know what Activision and Disney were thinking, putting S/S and this out when they did. Two similar games a week apart, which already splits the market, and within a week or two of Red Dead Redemption, Mario Galaxy 2, and Alan Wake. Not to mention the new Prince of Persia.

Bad plans all the way around IMO.

Wow. The game has its claws in me now. I thought I'd do a couple races and see if I could hit some daily challenges, 2 hours later I'm moving up the ranks and to end the night I won 4 races in a row and almost got that fifth. I made myself turn the game off because it's just about 9 and I never ate dinner.

When I was at 12 I thought I was losing races because everyone had better perks and cars. Well, that's a little bit true, but I started winning races because I knew the courses. That's really what it comes down to. Well, for me.

I'm wondering if the game is a bit unbalanced though. It seems to me that speed mostly trumps all the rest of the cars, especially the four wheel drive, off road vehicles. Now, it may be that the game is still new and to win with the big boys you really need to know the courses and shortcuts and obviously certain tracks are better suited for that, but I never felt with Motorstorm that I struggled anywhere near as much as I do just to stay in it as I do with Blur. And it's not just me, I rarely see Hummers on the podium.

Like I said, it could be that they're just harder to master.

I suppose I should have known this before I bought, but... no replays? No ghost cars? Even in friend challenges?

Still having fun with it, but geez.

BadKen, if you're watching the standings of a race before it finishes there also aren't any Place Times... you only get one shot at seeing them and they're laid out stupidly, IMO. (I would have liked to have seen the Place Times in the middle of the standings column, for easier comparison, instead of on the wings. And I felt the actual standings could have gone off to the side. I mean, we all know that it's 1-20 from top to bottom.)

With that said, I'm still super hooked and so are my buddies. Hot potato is still working well and exciting finishes are commonplace.

Garion, I dig some of the off-road vehicles, namely the the Land Rovers and the Nemesis, but the one time I took out the big ol' truck with a tire in the back it was JUST TOO SLOW to compete. But I agree, knowing the tracks is the key to success. And a little luck. And not getting caught in the trash.

I'm still not sure what caused PA's quick disgust. I kind of hope they clarify. And I hope the numbers for the game swell.

I ran some Pure Races last night without power ups. ... and it was intense. I was proud to finish fourth. It sounds like you've become a monster, Garion. Four straight?! wow. I'd be beaming all day if I had pulled that off.

Mister Magnus wrote:

I ran some Pure Races last night without power ups. ... and it was intense. I was proud to finish fourth. It sounds like you've become a monster, Garion. Four straight?! wow. I'd be beaming all day if I had pulled that off.

Incidentally, I spent an hour earlier in the day yesterday (yay for working at home & yay for only working a half day) racing through some no-powerup races. I really liked them (which suggests I like the driving mechanics of the game) and it's entirely possible that experience is what got me to pay more attention to the courses. When powerups are in play you barely have enough time to do anything other than fight to stay alive.

That said, I couldn't believe I started winning races. It really is about getting away from the pack more than anything, especially in 20 person races. I may have won four straight, but I finish last or nearly last plenty of the time, so it's not like I'm some god or anything. Well, unless I'm driving the Corvette C3. I can't corner well with it, but I can time slamming you into the wall and me bouncing off you into the middle of the track rather well.

I got first on my first race. What a f*cking rush. Damn.

Of course I have plenty of experience with the beta, but I never finished first in it.

I'm already pleased with my purchase.

Looks like the online mp demo might be back up on XBL for a bit if anyone's on the fence.

Did some one-on-one races with a friend of mine last night. Great stuff. Whoever said the higher class cars are much better is right... they are MUCH better. Did a Class B and Class A race, and prior to that I had only driven class D and C cars. Huge difference in control, speed, everything. Kind of wonder why you get the crap cars at the start, y'know. "Geez, this game sucks, all I get is this crappy Ford compact that can't accelerate or turn."

I mean, I realize that's how racing games do it, but after playing them back to back, there is really a huge difference. I remember one of the Burnout games had "preview" races where you were able to use a car above your pay grade for one race. That was great.

I am loving the Modern Warfare style multiplayer progression. Also, it's nice to play a Mario Kart style game that's more tightly balanced towards tactical play. And man, the visual and sound design is just the bee's pajamas.

7inchsplit wrote:

I am loving the Modern Warfare style multiplayer progression. Also, it's nice to play a Mario Kart style game that's more tightly balanced towards tactical play. And man, the visual and sound design is just the bee's pajamas.

I can't emphasize this enough. When I'm in second and see the leader taking a turn, burn my nitro and then my barge at just the right time to knock him off the track, it's glorious.

BadKen wrote:

Whoever said the higher class cars are much better is right... they are MUCH better. Did a Class B and Class A race, and prior to that I had only driven class D and C cars. Huge difference in control, speed, everything.

I have fun playing in splitscreen at work with my mates. I hate playing single-player at home, because Normal difficulty is bastard-hard and the best I've got is a single B-class race.

At this point, I have to choose between enjoying myself and my pride. I don't really want to drop to Easy, but at the same time, Normal is so hard it's just not fun.

Yeah i re-downloaded the demo today because I was craving some Blur but can't afford the purchase right now. It's nice to know it remembered all of my ingame achievements and my level is still maxed at 15. As of 2 hours ago there were about 2100 people online. For the game's sake I hope we all make the switch to the full version sometime as I see this game deserving of some more love.

Speedhuntr wrote:

Yeah i re-downloaded the demo today because I was craving some Blur but can't afford the purchase right now. It's nice to know it remembered all of my ingame achievements and my level is still maxed at 15. As of 2 hours ago there were about 2100 people online. For the game's sake I hope we all make the switch to the full version sometime as I see this game deserving of some more love.

That's awesome it remembered you. Very cool demo.

Mister Magnus wrote:
Speedhuntr wrote:

Yeah i re-downloaded the demo today because I was craving some Blur but can't afford the purchase right now. It's nice to know it remembered all of my ingame achievements and my level is still maxed at 15. As of 2 hours ago there were about 2100 people online. For the game's sake I hope we all make the switch to the full version sometime as I see this game deserving of some more love.

That's awesome it remembered you. Very cool demo.

Yeah, as arbitrary as it is, that was the last straw to guarantee a buy from me. Just waiting on the paycheck.

<-- handle.

Is anyone else loving the single player on PC? I need some friend challenges!

As the GWJ t-shirt says...

Finished the single player tonight. Still collecting lights.

I'm still looking for friends to exchange single player challenges with!

I just realized that gdawg27 from the previous page friended me up, and I haven't sent him a thing. I shall remedy that.

I think that hot potato has been what's so great about racing online in blur. That might sound silly, but the tension that so many blur races often bring is best enjoyed by everyone shouting and getting excited.

I played for a bit last Thursday by myself, and while fun, it was just too quiet. We got the crew back together for the weekend and once again had a great time.

Just picked this up. Digging it so far. Anyone else still playing?

BadKen wrote:

Finished the single player tonight. Still collecting lights.

I'm still looking for friends to exchange single player challenges with!

I just realized that gdawg27 from the previous page friended me up, and I haven't sent him a thing. I shall remedy that.

I would, but I haven't touched the single player yet.

firesloth wrote:

Just picked this up. Digging it so far. Anyone else still playing?

I do, though I haven't been playing anything besides a few games of MLB 2k10 for the past week or so.

I was very disappointed there was no achievement for winning your first online race. It felt like an achievement to me!!

firesloth wrote:

I was very disappointed there was no achievement for winning your first online race. It felt like an achievement to me!!

You're damn straight it is.

I (we) still play often.

I just picked this up on the $10 combo deal from Best Buy, so I'll be able to jump into the online fray. Just friend me up - Gamertag is the same as my GWJ nickname.

I have to say, after putting a good bit of time into the multiplayer, the long-ass unskippable track intros (in SP) can eff right off. I don't need any pointers, pleasant English woman.

I'll be up for playing a bit of this on weekends. (I just got it.)
Friend me up! Gamertag is Uberstein UST

I should be getting my copy next week.

I'm really digging the chaos of 20 person on-line racing. It's amazing how quickly you can go from 1st to 20th in such a race!!!

firesloth wrote:

I'm really digging the chaos of 20 person on-line racing. It's amazing how quickly you can go from 1st to 20th in such a race!!!

And then the excitement begins to see how far you can climb back into it. I find it exhilarating.

Mister Magnus wrote:
firesloth wrote:

I'm really digging the chaos of 20 person on-line racing. It's amazing how quickly you can go from 1st to 20th in such a race!!!

And then the excitement begins to see how far you can climb back into it. I find it exhilarating.

And the answer is: usually not that far. That's not 100% fair. I've had some nice races where I've gotten back to 4th place from the back of the pack. Usually I feel pretty good if I can get to 10th. Had a fun race yesterday where I was in 16th with about two short turns to go, and I managed to get all the way up to 10th by staying clean and watching the rest of the pack demolish one another. Fun!

firesloth wrote:
Mister Magnus wrote:
firesloth wrote:

I'm really digging the chaos of 20 person on-line racing. It's amazing how quickly you can go from 1st to 20th in such a race!!!

And then the excitement begins to see how far you can climb back into it. I find it exhilarating.

And the answer is: usually not that far. That's not 100% fair. I've had some nice races where I've gotten back to 4th place from the back of the pack. Usually I feel pretty good if I can get to 10th. Had a fun race yesterday where I was in 16th with about two short turns to go, and I managed to get all the way up to 10th by staying clean and watching the rest of the pack demolish one another. Fun!

Yeah, that's totally what I meant. With a lap and a half lap I like to see if I can move up seven spaces from near the back of the pack. It can be a fun and exciting challenge.

Blur is Amazon's deal of the day for $30. Credit to IUMogg for posting it in the Deals thread.

I picked up a copy for 360, so I'll be looking for races this week.