Gran Turismo 7 isn't the only racing game releasing next week.

By Mudassir Shah

The venerable Gran Turismo 7 isn't the only racing game releasing next week or so since 1997; indeed, the first seeds of Grid Legends germinated the same year as the classic TOCA Touring Cars racing royalties on the original PC and  PlayStation. Harnessing this 25-year history for inspiration and re-hiring long-forgotten characters, Codemasters made Grid Legends the sequel to both 2019's Grid and 2002's TOCA Race Driver, a first for the studio. The film introduces a story in the series. Grid Legends' direct approach and material are very different from the original PS2 cutscenes of the pioneering TOCA Race Controller, but it's a story I've enjoyed watching - even while the action on the track has not changed significantly since Grid 2019.

The live presentation was recreated using a mixed reality process that places the real actors on an all-digital base, similar to the much-discussed technique used to film The Mandalorian, and actually works quite well. Good. It's certainly an old solution - and reminiscent of the so-called cutting-edge FMV cuts that the gaming industry enthusiastically filled CD-ROMs within the '90s - but, although it uses an Uncommon approach, Driven to Glory is a sleek, well-edited package that is executed largely without hokeyness.

It's a simple story - Seneca Racing's unique team finds a way against ruthless champions Ravenwest - but it works, although I find it a bit illogical to accept Seneca as a penniless loser. Bags while their garage is filled with barely used racing machines. Tens of millions. I would also be lying if I said that I buy all these actors as reliable racers, but the performances of the actors are good and for the most part serious. Sex Education's Ncuti Gatwa is particularly interesting as Rwandan-Scotland racer Valentin Manzi, although his appearances are limited. 

McKane's villain duo shrugs a bit as to Driven to Glory's token tool bag, though admittedly there's nothing as memorable here as a Command & Conquer Red Alert for Tim Curry declaring his intentions. Trying to escape into space. Still, McKanes' official debut is a cute draw for me as a longtime fan; it was fun to see the retired TOCA racer hero become Ryan again after two decades. It's great to finally face his nephew Nathan - a longtime enemy in the Grid AI series who's been terrorizing us on the trails since 2008. They're not the only characters. Resurrected in Grid Legends., but I certainly wouldn't spoil the ending, Cobra Kaiesque reveals here.

Speaking of competitors, Grid 2019's Nemesis system is back and perfected to make your on-track confrontations last longer than the rest of a  race. Although in Grid 2019, enemies will let go of their grudge against you after the checkered position, if you brutalize the AI ​​too much in Grid Legends, their fury will move to the next race and beyond. 

By default, the hyperbolic brand of high-exposure runs is often so aggressive that it's not always obvious to me how angrier my enemies are than usual, but I appreciate the tension. Straight through the whole time, they were clearly trying to crush me. Reducing the number of AI  Grid Legends driver fields across a grid of 22 cars also means you'll see the same names more often; yes, they're just AIs without faces, but they're quickly becoming household names to me - especially the ones I find myself messing with most often.

Nowadays, it is common to see competitors running off the track with a puncture or rushing off the track with a car exhaling white smoke.

The top of the various Class 

But beyond that, Grid Legends looks, sounds, and feels a lot like its predecessors—cars hug tight, brake hard, and eliminate devastating crashes with disdain. It could be a challenge without the optional supports, but Grid Legends isn't an emulator at all - at its core a much more accessible arcade-style racing game. That doesn't mean all cars, however, behave the same: classic British touring cars still feel like they're being pulled by the front wheels, the high-thrust open wheels feel trapped. Pressed against the asphalt and the super trucks in the stadium whirled around until they jostled each other around the corners. On three wheels.

The super truck races at this stadium and the ramps they take part in are some of the newest in Grid Legends, and the races they feature are chaotic and exciting. Grid Legends also sees the return of Grid Autosport's drift mode, but it's the intense new multi-class race that I like best. These events protest against different types of vehicles, the fastest being disabled by a slow start. The slower cars have to stick around long enough to reach the finish line, and the faster cars have to chase them before they run out of the lap. I found myself spending a lot of time creating matches in Grid Legends Race Creator, the tool is very user-friendly and allows us to save and edit our favorite custom races. Honestly, I'm glad to see all racing games have multi-class racing activities like this.

Identify 

It's not obvious at first glance, but Grid Legends is a clear step up from Grid 2019, with a larger track collection, more race types, and an insanely smart multiplayer. That's not a huge leap, though, especially as the list of cars to be replaced gets old and the customization options get watery. However, this accessible franchise of racing action is still rich in connection and excitement, and the fact that the story is in the style of a real-life documentary could last throughout the return to  TOCA Race Driver year. 2002 is a cute and efficient snap for a  series of races with such a history.