Lets get things straight from the start – Race Driver GRID isn’t a simulator in the same sense as Gran Turismo; a racing game recreated in it’s most scientific form. The weight shift of cars, the use of tyre grip and wear, the subtle variations that come from altering aerodynamics and gear ratios. Gran Turismo promotes the essence of driving like a gentleman in order to appreciate it fully – which is probably why creator Yamauchi managed to convince people over the years that damage is not essential to a racing franchise.

If you ever made an effort to watch any Motorsport on TV then you will know that this non-contact driving utopia doesn’t exist. What does make Motorsport exciting is that danger and fear that you might not take a corner correctly and hit into a wall of tires, misjudge a curb and spin out or that an opponent could spin out in front of you leaving you with little option but to squeeze your opponents out of the way to avoid contact. While Gran Turismo will pat you on the back for a faultless lap, there is arguably more satisfaction from surviving the rough and tumble of a close-fought race and nursing a battered car across the line against all odds.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Race Driver: GRID.