It’s official, Codemasters is bringing back GRID. The sequel to the popular racing game has been in development for some time now, and will see several aspects of the first game return, and will see some new features debuting as well.
Codemasters will be using the EGO engine to render the fast cars and tracks, some of which will be in Chicago and Paris, according to the developer. The flashback feature will also return, allowing players to rewind back to that one corner where they tragically understeered and proceeded to flip their vehicle into a smash sandwich.
“GRID’s back and we’re going to make street, track and road racing exciting again,” Executive Producer Clive Moody said.
The core design philosophy for GRID 2 is that we treat the race as a character, not a consequence of simply putting cars on tracks. Everything that goes into the game impacts on that second-to-second, in the moment, blockbuster drama – the feel and personality of the race.
We’re pushing boundaries once again with what can be accomplished in the genre via new tools, technology and innovations. In single-player, split-screen and online, the next-generation of the EGO Game Technology Platform will power graphics, AI, handling and damage advancements that will immerse players in the racing experience like never before.
Like its predecessor, GRID 2 will put the sheer thrill and adrenaline rush of the race at the heart of the experience. It’s what we call Total Race Day Immersion.
I quite enjoyed the first GRID game. It was a perfect mix of arcade and realism, allowing you to race, stay true to the dangers ahead, yet never get bogged down in technicalities. In essence, it was the illegitimate love child of Forza and Gran Turismo, and I loved it because of that.
It’s a racing title with a sibling, DIRT, albeit a big brother who dresses in more neon colours and corporate advertising disguised as Generation X attitude than a skateboarding event. Let’s hope that Codemasters keeps the both the original style and substance intact for this sequel though, and truly do focus on the ride ahead and not the trappings around it.
Last Updated: August 8, 2012
