Race Driver: GRID (PC)

Conclusion

Codemasters' GRID is easily a front-runner in the racing genre, providing one of the most entertaining driving pseudo-simulations that we can recall. Fans of the recent Need for Speed titles might miss the lack of a free roam mode, and those looking for the next Pimp My Ride experience will be left in despair; however, players who desire an exceptional racing experience will be pleased to no end. With beautifully rendered graphics and cars that actually feel like heavy machinery, GRID offers a blend of realistic and arcade racing with beautiful real-world locations and a chance to get behind the wheel of some of the world's most respected racing vehicles.

The game runs like a dream and is a lot of fun to play regardless of whether your preference is playing online or off. With varying types of racing all crammed into a single package, the game's replay value is off the charts. Racing fans will keep GRID in their collection of games for a long time to come, and even with a massive 12GB hard drive footprint we don't expect many users to be in a rush to uninstall this gem. Simply put, GRID is a welcome offering in the racing genre and comes easily recommended. Cheers to the good folks at Codemasters for another successful racing sim.

You can pick the game up for PC, PS3, Xbox 360, and even the Nintendo DS - although the experience is quite different for the DS. Depending on your hardware, the consoles may or may not provide a better gaming experience. If you have at least a GeForce 8800/HD 3850, we'd recommend the PC version, but you'll probably want to make sure you have a gamepad or a steering wheel before you try this on a PC. For those that are interested but aren't quite ready to bite the bullet, you can also download the demo, which clocks in at a whopping 864MB. The demo is also available on Xbox Live Marketplace and the Playstation Network. Having played the 360 version of the game, I have to say that GRID on PC wins hands down.  But I'm sure you expected that.