Blur vs. Split/Second

As the unofficial racing game specialist on GamesRadar US, I’m pretty sick of people confusing two of the biggest games of May just because they both happen to involve vehicles behaving dangerously. Instead, we should be applauding the developers behind Pure and Project Gotham Racing for actually thinking beyond the realism and licensed hype of recent racing titles. Both Bizarre and Black Rock are finally pissing a little adrenaline into a genre that desperatelyy needed a next-gen showcase for over-the-top vehicular mayhem.

BUT THEY ARE NOT THE SAME! Having played both significantly, I can assure you they’re both headed for greatness in May, but for completely different reasons. Luckily, we’ve received two new videos today that highlight the differences.

Blur

Blur is far more intimately combat focused,very much likeMario Kart… If you chucked it into the real world, thensomehow convincedautomotive manufactures to license actual cars for the slaughter. Seriously, you’ve never seenCorvettes BMWs and Dodge Vipers treated this maliciously.

Each track islittered with lethal projectiles, mines and boost items you can use to exploderize opponents to your heart’s content, as Blur appears tobe extremely multiplayer focused. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Xbox Live Gold subscribers can jump in on the Multiplayer Beta right goddamned now! And the video below contains all the information you need to know about it. Find out morehere.

Split/Second, on the other hand, is beast of an entirely different build. The game’s got multiplayer, yet as far as I can tell, it doesn’t come anywhere near the XP earning, aggresivemods, and rankingprogression you’ll unlock in Blur. But that doesn’t matter, because everything else about Split/Second is unlike anything you’ve ever played. Those trailers and screen shots you’ve seen aren’t fibbing: The game is absolutely gorgeous, and wonderfully distinctive next to any other racing game you played this generation.

Instead of a series of weapons, you’ll have to detonate various aspects of an enormous race environment. Good driving charges the Power Play meter, which you’ll then unleash to bring down, planes, trains, bridges and boulders on any opponent foolhardy enough to pull ahead of you. As a result, Split/Second feels much newer than Blur. The video below should give you a better idea, as it elaborates far more on the not-so-subtle brilliance of the Power Play.

Hope that clearssome stuffup. Now we’ve got just one question for you:

That poll above ain't no advert, so vote away! And feel free to elaborate in the comments below.

Apr 23, 2010