Hands-On With Blur's Multiplayer Beta

We Power Up With Blur's Multiplayer Beta

by Matthew Kato on March 10, 2010 at 12:00 PM

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Activision and developer Bizarre Creations have started up a closed multiplayer beta for the power up-fueled racer Blur, and we spent some time with the game; throwing shunts, ramming fools, and getting face-fulls of mines in high-speed 20-player races. The beta definitely lived up to the game's hype, featuring action-packed racing where every moment is a tense one. The arcade racer comes out this spring. For more on Blur, check out the preview in the April issue (#204) of Game Informer.

GETTING STARTED:
Beta Keys are available through a variety of outlets, including gameinformer.com. Click here for your chance to win a key. Unfortunately, the beta is over a GB in size, so it took me an hour to download the file.
Getting into races is easy, and you can use the Xbox Live Party feature to keep your friends intact from race to race. At the end of every race, you'll be thrown back into the lobby, so rolling from race to race is easy.

RANKS:
Your progress in Blur, and how you unlock everything, is based around winning fans. Fans can be won for doing just about anything, from hitting someone with a power up to coming in last place. It's an addictive system that spurs you on. The Blur beta lets you play up to 10 of the game's 50 ranks.

PROGRESS:
After 13 minutes of gameplay – Rank 2 (3,036 fans), 3 Races, 0 Wins, 18.06 percent power up hit rate, 6 Cars unlocked.

After 32 minutes – Rank 4 (7,950 fans), 8 Races, 0 Wins, 27.22 percent power up hit rate, 8 Cars unlocked.

After 1 hr. 3 minutes – Rank 7 (17,875 fans), 17 Races, 1 Win, 29.9 percent power up hit rate, 9 Cars unlocked.

After 1 hr. 43 minutes – Rank 10 (30,100 fans), 28 Races, 3 Wins, 30.46 percent power up hit rate, 12 cars unlocked.

GAME MODES:
When you first start out, only two game modes are unlocked: Skirmish (2-10 players) and Powered-Up (4-20). The other two: Motor Mash and Supercar Racing are unlocked once you hit levels eight and ten, respectively. There appears to be no difference between Skirmish and Powered-Up except for their player numbers, while Motor Mash (4-20 players) is a destruction derby-esque free-for-all where power ups litter the arenas or tracks. Supercar Racing simply lets you race the A-class cars.

Here's a list of Blur's power ups

Comments

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by AMSacco91090 Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 12:50 PM

Still gotta put my key in my xbox live redeem code which I got from you guys. I can't wait to play it actually. It looks like it could be fun.
by SightofTwilight Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 12:53 PM

The ranking system sounds cool and I've really been missin an arcadey racer for a while now. I hope Blur plays as good as it looks.
by brozovich1980 Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 12:55 PM

sooooo.....Mario cart with real cars??
by Jeremyx5 Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 01:05 PM

I like it its very fun online seems like it might be a buy
by ImSoHood Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 01:08 PM

The game is fun I wish I had known what the power ups did before my first match. I really enjoyed it and being in first place and shooting at the guys behind you is awesome!
by John Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 01:11 PM

Man this game looks awesome.
by Jason Spencer Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 02:28 PM

I've been asking for a game like this forever...just like I've been asking for an open world western forever. Sounds like this year is gonna be pretty good!
by Muffin Masher Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 02:44 PM

I always enjoyed Bizzare Creation's other racing series, Project Gotham Racing (I own all 4 in the series), so I expected a lot out of this and I'm glad to say I came away satisfied with the beta. My only complaint was with the amount of power-ups - it could've used more. Otherwise, it was a lot of addictive fun.
by RandomHero1014 Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 02:46 PM

i was just shocked that i was one of the 1000 people to get the invite to play this great game! =)
by Vwgti303 Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 03:00 PM

Had a lot of fun with the beta last night, can't wait to give it another go!
by wynd.and.fury Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 03:14 PM

this looks pretty legit. between and blur and split second...hmmm....
by The One Who Knocks Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 03:37 PM

*** fun game. Kudos to Bizzarre.
by JT Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 03:58 PM

The multiplayer is quite fun, but im not sure if i want to pay $60, just for that. Maybe if there were some cool single player modes as well, with mini-games or something.
by leejam77 Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 04:01 PM

Been playing all day. Very fun and addictive. Thanks for the beta key GI
by MISTERMARC Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 04:07 PM

Its like split/seconed but with licensed cars
by Prototype16 Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 07:11 PM

one of the lucky ones on the beta... love it!!! pretty cool. im telling my friends that it's got NFS handling, Forza acceleration, and Arctic Thunder power ups. cool stuff Activision!!!
by Drew Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 07:57 PM

Its about time some one made a realistic Mario Kart
by Brian Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 08:57 PM

i played the beta last night and it was loads fun but I agree with JT its a really fun game but i dont know if its worth $60
by Michael D. Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 09:48 PM

I to have been playing it and its awesome! but the online sorta feels like COD with mods(perks) and with a familiar level up system
by Lyte Epps Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 10:31 PM

I can't wait, between this MOdnation and GT5, awwww man. Suddenly I'm becoming a big racing fan.

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