Tom revs up...

I must admit, driving games have never really been my thing. I've played most of Codemasters previous efforts, and found it difficult at times even making it around the first bend! This is pretty much the same for most driving games that I attempt to play. I'm just a bit rubbish at racers.

Despite this, I've still got a decent feel for Codemasters' racers. Race Driver: GRID may not be TOCA by name but this is TOCA in spirit. Its clear RACE Driver: GRID is a game put together by a team who have been here before.

Visually, it's up there with the best on next-gen systems. Race Driver: GRID looks exceptionally crisp and clear, with cars reflecting their surroundings and smoke from spinning tyres. It is, at times, breathtaking – and matched by the aural side. Sat at the start line, the engine roars hungrily with every rev, and no two motors really sound alike. Petrol heads will instantly love this.

Gameplay in Race Driver: GRID is very solid. The first car I used, an American Muscle car (maybe not the best choice for a first timer) was a powerful beast, screaming away from the start line and swinging the back out wildly on corners. Sufficed to say, it wasn't long before I eventually/inevitably crashed and totalled my car.

But when I did, two surprises presented themselves:

The first was the crash and damage physics. Not over the top and not restricted; if you're going at 130 mph and you hit a protruding wall in Race Driver: GRID, it'll total the car. If you're going 30 mph it'll merely make a ‘nice' dent. Race Driver: GRID has damage modelling to make GT fans jealous.

Erase and Rewind

The second feature, which is especially nice for us beginners, is Race Driver: GRID's Flashbacks. Basically if you crash and right the car off, you can rewind back by ten seconds or so before you crashed and try to 're-do' that section to try to correct your error.

Another handy feature is pit updates, letting you know lap times, rival positions, the car condition and giving general encouragement when you're not doing so well. Driver AI also seems to be on the ball too. The majority of racers out there have opponent AI that seems to run like a train on the tracks, religiously follow the racing line. In Race Driver: GRID, however, they'll smartly follow the racing line, but in a more individual way – reacting to the presence of rival racers around them.

Variety in Race Driver: GRID is impressive, with a host of city tracks, racing circuits and large number of motors, from muscle cars to tourers, tuned cars, Formula 100 motors, demolition derby bangers and more, there's plenty on offer here. And you'll enjoy most of this via Race Driver: GRID's comprehensive career mode, in which you'll buy and sell cars, develop a reputation, get sponsorship, build up a team to race with. It's compelling stuff.

Race modes don't disappoint, either. A gruelling Le-mans race will sate hardcore driving fans, while single event Race Day lets you spec up a race to your taste. Test Drive lets you set a fast lap time to upload to the leader boards online, while Demolition Derby is perhaps the most likely to throw up some jaw-dropping slow-mo crashes.

As well as online leaderboards, Race Driver: GRID boasts online multiplayer for up to 12 players, with a voting system determining what region the race will take part in, and the race type selected. It's a welcome feature ensuring races aren't entirely at the host's mercy.

Race Driver: GRID is an extremely impressive game loaded with lush visuals, features galore and plenty of gameplay possibilities. With a wide variety of tracks, modes and vehicle types there's some severe experimentation to be enjoyed, and with online play added to the mix it's bound to last a long time, whether you're a hardcore driving nut, or a casual, slightly-rubbish racer like myself.

GAME's Verdict

• Solid controls, great handling and intense racing
• Looks great, sounds great, and the Flashbacks feature works brilliantly
• DEMOLITION DERBY!!!

• No online replay sharing
• Could maybe have done with a few more cars, but that's really nitpicking
• Ummmm... ?

Review by: Tom 'Learner Driver' Daly
Version Tested: PS3
Review Published: 29.05.08