Blur Multiplayer Beta Impressions

On Sunday,  I was lucky enough to score a code to get into the multiplayer beta for Blur.  The upcoming chaotic arcade racer that mixes Mario Kart and Burnout.  During a race, you get power ups along the way that range from mines, 3 missles, a homing ball of doom, lightning, shockwave, repair, shield and boosters.

At the start, it was just Warlokk, Kajota and me.  I was hosting a party.  Not aware that it wasn't a private lobby, just a party.  2 choices available were skirmish and power up.  Unbeknown to me that you cannot set up a private race.  I thought that was kind of dumb for a beta.  Not sure what the developers were thinking in not letting us have that option.  Once you choose what type of race you want, you are thrown into a lobby with the general public.  Power Up racing can hold up to 20 players.  Let me tell you, it can be quite chaotic at times.  Especially at the first turn.  Anywho, in the lobby, once you rank up to level 3 and beyond (max is 10 for the beta), you will start unlocking more cars and the mod shop.  Cars range from classic muscle cars like the camaro to modern like the Land Rover or the Focus RS.  All of them seem to the handle the same.  In the mod shop,  you can choose 4 type of mods.  There the rounded, aggressive, defensive and forgot the 4th.  Certain mods give you a random power up at the start of the race or after you crash.

Once you start racing, you will have fun.  Just don't expect a clean race.  All the races i was in were very crazy.  Your dodging power ups and other people, all while your trying to take those guys out.  One thing i didn't like was when your car spins out, the game resets your car.  Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't.  One race,  my car spun out a little but i could of easily rejoin the race but the game decided to reset my car.  Thus knocking me back a few positions.  What also weird that amongst the craziness, the same 2 people seems to win every race.  Very odd.

Controls are very easy to learn.  Once you learn them,  you are golden.  Definitely a pick up and play type racer.  Lobby looks good.  We were allowed to 2 vote between 2 cities to race in.  After each race,  trying to find out who came what position was a little difficult to read.  I do like the stats on who got the fastest lap, or least accurate, most damage etc.  Also notice that the full version will allow you to tweets your game stats or whatever it gonna tweet.  Needs more powers up and mods for sure.

Overall I like it but not sure if it worth $60 bucks.  Fun game I must say.  This will be a depends how many on my friends list will playing it situation.