GRID Legends | PS5 Review
Published by Electronic Arts, GRID Legends is the latest instalment in developer Codemasters simcade racing franchise. It is available now on Windows PC, PlayStation, and XBox, and for the purpose of my review, I was playing the PlayStation 5 version.
Straight off the bat, GRID Legends throws you into a live action documentary style story mode entitled ‘Driven To Glory’ which, as well as being a wonderful story with some great performances by the actors, also acts as sort of a stepping stone into the more in-depth Career Mode. I really enjoyed watching these cutscenes unfold and thought it really worked well to have the story told in this fashion. Every race will see you take on a new challenge with a different vehicle and race type which really keeps things interesting throughout the season. You are given a target of a minimum position you need to finish in each race which you must achieve before progressing with the story. This may be in the form of “finish in 4th position or higher” or you may just be given a certain driver to beat, but either way, it all adds to the excitement and enjoyment of the story mode. Driven To Glory also features many familiar names from past instalments so we finally get to put a face to some of our past rivals' names which I thought was a wonderful touch. As you take part in more races, you will gain XP. This goes towards increasing your driver level which, in turn, unlocks different team customisation options for career mode.
With 130 tracks, over 100 different vehicles, a variety of race modes, a hefty career mode, online multiplayer and even the ability to create your own races, there is certainly plenty of octane fuelled goodness to sink your teeth into. Every vehicle handles and performs in its own unique way with some being much more difficult to control than others with the stadium super trucks proving to be the biggest challenge for me personally. I will say that a lot of the street circuits felt very similar in style and design to me and nothing really made individual tracks stand out from each other. The amount in which the AI drivers will make performance errors or suffer from mechanical breakdowns has also been increased from previous games. This is a feature that really keeps you on your toes and keeps you focused as at any point in a race you could be forced to avoid a driver who has spun off the track or a car that has broken down. The Nemesis system has also made a return from GRID 2019. If you find yourself making too much contact with other cars while racing, the ‘Nemesis’ icon will appear on screen and that driver will now be gunning for revenge. When you get close to them, they will try to ram you and even at times, side swipe you out of the race. Unlike GRID 2019, the on track rivalries can now be carried over to future races which again, is a great addition and helps somewhat with the immersion.
All of the additions made from GRID 2019 may not be immediately apparent as most of the same cars and tracks make a reappearance in GRID Legends but they have added just enough to make the upgrade a worthwhile one in my opinion. To experience GRID Legends in all its glory, I highly recommend turning off all the driver aids, turning car damage on and turning off the racing line indicators in the game settings. The game really came to life and it made the whole thing much more exhilarating and immersive once I changed these settings.
Seeing as GRID Legends is an arcade racer, it does come equipped with some old school Ridge Racer-esque arcade style music which really goes so well with the gameplay. Engine noise, tire squeal and collision sounds are great, as you would expect from a title like this. GRID Legends also boasts some stunning visuals with the stand out for me being racing in the rain. Water on the track and the spray from the back of leading cars looks incredible.
Having been a big fan of Toca Touring Car Championship back when it was first released in 1997, I have only missed one game in the series so I was pretty excited to try GRID Legends and it certainly did not disappoint. This would be an amazing addition to any racing fans collection.
PaultheBrave09’s Rating: 5 podium finishes out of 5.
For more information on GRID Legends please use the following links...
Codemasters - Developer | Facebook | Twitter | Website
Electronic Arts - Publisher | Facebook | Twitter | Website
Many thanks to Codemasters for the Review Key.
GRID Legends | Windows PC | PlayStation | XBox
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