Along with other against each other

As an old fan of the Need for Speed ​​series (with the favorites Underground 2 and Most Wanted) I've been waiting for a fun online Recer. The multiplayer options of other games are not necessarily bad, but somehow always missed you something - the last kick, so to speak.

Surely it's fun, his car "pimp" and optical "beautify" to. It is also motivating to fight through leaderboards and multiplayer (whether online or offline) to compete against other players. But basically you go but only for ages in a circle and end up gaining the with the best car and the best route knowledge.

Blur doing actually nothing else - except for the small detail of the "power-ups". And this detail ensures that you can not tune hours (you can not) must dominate or routes blind. Surely brings track knowledge and car control certain advantages, but the power-ups can also use the best riders out of the race and throw far back. Thus even beginners have a chance and do not have to worry about for hours or days the "professionals" after down until they can eventually keep up times and win.

The topics in detail:

Story:
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Story? In an arcade racer? True, this seems a bit strange to UDN basically there is no story. In single player mode you can choose between three levels of difficulty and on by his success in the individual events more races free. At the end of each packet is a racing duel against the "Boss" - that's basically the story. No tuning, no optical improvements, no frills. You can repaint his car, that's it then with the individualization. But honestly: Too much story also acts placed somehow in a game of this kind, right?

Gameplay:
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As a single player you drive the unlocked race (normal race, time attack, destruction, duels), gets on the podium so-called "lights" (similar to the stars in NFS) and may earn additional "lights" for winning fans and fans Prints. On a positive note here is that you do not have to create all at once, but lack of "lights" can be reworked without any problems. The requirements to be approved for a boss battle, bring some variety to the game, but are not really difficult to master. The AI ​​of the opponents is quite demanding, but never unfair. In addition, you can customize to your own needs the difficulty at any time. One gets fans through his driving skills and maneuvers, thus switching more vehicles freely. Moreover, one can publish his achievements by clicking on Twitter and Facebook and invite friends as "rivals" and compare the respective results. Every time photos can be shot and saved allerdigns it unfortunately there no video / replay function.

In multiplayer Blur its strengths: whether race online against up to 19 other players, destruction events ("Motor salad") and team races are just as possible as "normal" races without the use of power-ups or self-created race series, which you - can invite friends - as with the other modes as well. You play not about lights, but "only" to fans, which provide for a rise in the driver level, various "Mods" Unlock the power ups and other cars. When you reach finally the maximum level (50), you can end up as "legendary driver" his career and redeem all reached gimmicks against a Legends car. For all routes and modes, there are also global leaderboards.

Power Ups:
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In single and multiplayer equal, the power ups which are blur lend its "special status". The following power-ups are scattered on the track and can be collected by simply driving over them (some can also be ignited backward The amended action is following in parentheses.):

- Nitro: speed boost (abrupt braking followed by acceleration)
- Shock: target-seeking missile (ungelenktes basement)
- Flash: three individually dispensed straight shots (three individually dispensed straight shots to the back)
- Mine: Mine on the route set (mine forward spin)
- Shield: Protection against Power Up and collision damage
- Shock: three EMP fields that are projected in front of the guide box
- Abräumer: short-range attack against all within range vehicles
- Repair: Any damage to the vehicle to be repaired immediately

Only with time attack events:

- Stopwatch: grants 2 seconds more than time

Power Ups thus serve to damage other vehicles to impede and / or ultimately "demolish" to. Any use of power ups bring additional fans, as well as the flawless driving, drifting, long jumps or ramming of opponents. Each vehicle has an energy bar that indicates how much the vehicle is damaged. On the driving behavior but that does not affect. Through the use of mods (in single player mode by Boss Duels unlockable, in multiplayer by Level), you can change the effect of the power-ups. Thus, for the flash 4 instead of 3 shots (single player) or you can get at race start a random power-up (Multiplayer).

Vehicles and routes:
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There is a relatively generous selection of licensed vehicles, such as the Opel Astra Extreme, Audi R8 or a converted Offroad Beetle or a Hummer H2. All vehicles are divided into 4 classes (AD) and differ mainly in the driving behavior of each other. The tracks are beautifully designed and offer enough variety. There are city races and racing on the beach of San Francisco, as well as mountain stages and routes that lead to the port on ships. An individualization of vehicles is only possible in the color. Tuning Body Kits and vain. For the type of vehicle does alter depending on the route, the chances of success, each vehicle's respective weaknesses also compensates again - here the player's skill is in demand. So a Hummer H2 accelerates Although less well and is slower than a Viper GTS, but lasts from more matches and get better with sand or water passages cope.

Sound:
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The background music is harmonious and non-irritating, but also nothing special like the songs in NFS: MW & Co. Register here goes only to driving pleasure. The soundscape is fitting and the engine howls, the squeal of tires and the crash in collisions are consistently well implemented. So does an arcade racer fun! Some weaknesses gibts in higher sound frequencies, but the bottom line is hardly noticeable.

Graphics:
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Colorful, but not playful. There is no stuttering, so that the race never be unfair because of any frame slumps. The models are designed in detail and the routes invite to a sightseeing - provided because time remains for it. Damage to the car are visible, but not individualized. Say the damage are always the same and depend on the amount of damages it has sustained from and not on where they were taken or how crashed into a wall.

Conclusion:
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Blur Pure fun is - especially with multiple human players. Whether online, on the network or with up to 3 friends via split screen: Blur is fun and provides massive opportunities to expand its curse skills. Anyone who has ever wanted a Mario Kart for adults: here it is! As the successful television commercial says: "Race like a big boy!" And just as it is. The career mode is handled quickly (even for beginners) and is preparing a well on the then upcoming multiplayer races. The control is reliable and intuitive. One does not remember dozens of keyboard shortcuts or browse forums - Blur is learned very fast, but difficult to master. The power-ups can be seen after 5 races by the color, there is a button for firing, one for switching the power collected ups to create a button to power-ups as needed on the track and a button for the handbrake - that's it.

Anyone looking for a motivating and later quite challenging arcade racer "with a twist" and does not want to renounce licensed vehicles can not get in front of blur!