First Look - Blur

The Blur beta answers the age-old question, "What would happen if Project Gotham Racing and Mario Kart had a baby?"

Offering a public beta for any game can be risky business. While developers legitimately need to see if their servers can handle the punishment handed down by the online gaming masses, it also opens companies up to having still-in-development games discussed in blogs. Like this one.

In this case, Blur developer Activision need not worry... about me, anyway. I love this game, and have forsaken my second pass through BioShock 2 in favor of logging some serious thumb-numbing hours online.

The game is basically Project Gotham Racing with a Mario Kart twist: weapons and power ups. You won't see any flying turtle shells hurtling toward you, however. Instead, lighting storms rain down, mines are planted, and when all else fails, you can just ram your opponent's car hard. This being a beta, what's online now may not be the same when the game comes out.

That said, here's how you can shake, rattle and roll your fellow drivers... at least today (we still have three bonus beta codes, by the way - let us know if you want one!):

• Shock: Drops EMP fields in front of the race leader. Keep in mind that you're not just setting up the leader - anyone close behind the leader will also be endangered. If you're in second or third place, that might include you. Best to use these when you're so far behind you just need to slow down the leaders of the pack.
• Mine: Drops a mine in front or behind you. I've found behind to be safer, having driven straight into my own mine several times. A well-timed, well-aimed mine can hit a competitor.
• Barge: Issues a sort of super-air blast that damages anyone close by. Best when passing someone, or to combat aggressive drivers trying to run you into the wall or off the course.
• Bolt: The closest thing to a batmobile gun in the game; you get three shots, which can be used in rapid succession or over a period of time. Can also be used to shoot competitors behind you, a nifty trick when someone is preparing their own assault!
• Shunt: A homing missile that can do major, major damage when it connects (think red shell, Mario Kart fans!). The targeted car gets a heads up in the form of a blinking red bumper-light. Astute drivers have plenty of time to activate a shield or just get out of the way.
• Nitro: A brief but super-powered burst of nitro that can send you flying past competitors... or into them. Or, if you're not careful, careening off the course. This is a good one to hang on to until the finish line is in sight. I've won close races by simply hoarding Nitro and then cutting loose to pass the leaders in the last few seconds of the event.
• Shield: Creates a freaky, vibrating egg around your car, complete with vaguely sci-fi sound effects.
• Repair: Even the best driver will eventually get hit by a competitor or the highly-destructible environment. Activating repair immediately fixes everything wrong with your car.

Beta testers have (to date) been able to play four types of games online:

• Skirmish Racing: 2-10 players participate in "intense racing."
• Powered Up Racing: 4-20 players participate in "extreme racing." (I haven't noticed any difference between this and skirmish, except there tends to be more players in this one.)
• Motor Mash: Drive around and destroy your fellow drivers for points. A personal favorite!
• Super Car Racing: Racing with "High-speed, Class A cars," which are about as obedient as my cats. I did this once. Once.

I had to unlock most of these by leveling up. The beta capped my level at 10, meaning the level 10 competitors in your race may be just christened newbs or a 12-year-old who has raced every free moment of the day since the beta was released. It's made for some lopsided races that will presumably be fixed with a much-higher level cap once the game is released. In addition, there are four events/game options that can be seen but not played in the beta. These events do NOT have descriptions, just names. That will not stop me from speculating, however:

• World Tour: Presumably, this is a single-player campaign.
• One-on-One: Please, please, please let this be local multiplayer!
• Hardcore Racing: I got nothing... but I suspect I won't be playing this one.
• Community Events: The Blur Web site has a Community section marked “Coming Soon.” Presumably, these two are connected.

The answer to these and other questions will be answered when Blur is released for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 later this year...