GRIP analysis: Combat Racing, defying gravity at over 1000 km / h

A dizzying racing arcade inspired by the classic Rolling Cage, which allows us to defy gravity on circuits where the track can be both the floor, the walls or the ceiling itself. In the analysis of GRIP: Combat Racing we tackle its dangerous circuits to see how far it manages to cross the finish line in the difficult genre of arcade driving.

The GRIP premise is very interesting. It is in fact the one that led me to be interested in analyzing it. Dizzying races at such amazing speed that the cars are able to grip not only the walls, but the roof itself . A very attractive concept due to the possibility of opening the circuit beyond its two-dimensional limits, which adds new paths, shortcuts and objects to collect if we think with this new axis.

 

GRIP: Combat Racing thus builds a system inherited from Mario Kart, WipeOut and derivatives, in which we go through futuristic circuits at high speeds while we go through speed boosters and collect objects to fight against our rivals. We have an extra turbo, a machine gun, a shield, a missile, a burst of missiles or explosive darts. The game has been in Early Access for a while and although there has been a lot of evolution in its development, I think that the Caged Element title could have waited a bit, just a little longer, because in the version of its launch it lays a very good foundation that does not finish by polishing.

 

After a somewhat slow start, there is a metropolitan circuit (almost reminiscent of a WipeOut track or the great F-Zero GX) in which you begin to understand how GRIP can exploit its circuit mechanics. A ramp in a certain position makes us change from the track to a secondary road and the jump button allows us to instantly change to the roof if we execute it correctly. There are a good handful of circuits, 22 in total , which is greatly appreciated, but perhaps the studio should have focused its efforts on polishing a smaller number to the maximum, because sometimes their design does not end up fully exploiting the capabilities of these originals. racing cars.

 

GRIP Trailer: Combat Racing. Arrives in November!

 

Terminal velocityThe problem, above all, lies in the physics. And it’s a shame because when they work they are the main engine of the fun and originality of the video game, creating very spectacular moments in which we chain walls to fly through the circuit at impossible speeds. But a slight bump in the circuit or an opponent’s shot can ruin the whole plan. It is difficult to control the vehicle in the air, although there is a possibility to correct the trajectory .

The speeds that drive the game are truly dizzying.

Many ramps are so difficult to take correctly that the risk involved in switching from the conventional track to an alternative as a shortcut or to get power- ups is simply not worth it. In general, you notice that this field needs to be polished to prevent your car from bouncing around the stage indefinitely after being hit by a missile, wasting so much time until repositioning that it is almost better to start over.

GRIP builds a legacy system from Mario Kart, WipeOut and derivativesThis aspect of little polish (or perhaps lack of time) is noticeable from the menu itself, very basic when it comes to presenting you the different modes and tournaments of the Campaign , as well as the different vehicles, improvements and customizations that we can apply them. When it works, GRIP flows like what it was meant to be, a top-speed game in which the camera makes constant ringlets as you glide across the stage. The rhythm catches and the music helps build an absorbing experience on some of his best tracks. Not everyone is so inspired, as there are a handful of tracks that do not offer all the advantages and shortcuts necessary to achieve the variety that their approach demands.

Power-ups are vital to your victory. There are two slots for strategizing.

Luckily, we find much more richness in the game modes, more than you might suspect at first. To the traditional and points races are added some arenas, as if it were a Destruction Derby, in which we go face to face with the rivals in a dome with all the weapons arranged on the stage. There is no lack of Elimination and Time Trial modesClassic in the genre, but above all, it is worth highlighting the Carkour mode, which, as its name suggests, mixes driving with Parkour. They work like small puzzles in abstract circuits where the most important thing will be to get thrown in the optimal trajectory at the right speed so as not to end up falling into the void. A great implementation that in its different difficulty modes can keep you entertained as much as the main campaign. Of course, the game has multiplayer mode both online and local mode , with the classic split screen mode implemented.

 

The truth is that GRIP: Combat Racing has been attracting a lot of attention in the last year, since the game came out in Early Access and is inspired by a game so beloved by those who played it in its time as was Rolling Cage. Not in vain some of its members participated in its creation. Although the developers have put a lot of effort in increasing the content of the game throughout its development time, other promises such as the better signaling of the tracks, which allows to better understand the limits of the circuit, have still not been implemented for the version launch. The game will continue to be constantly updated, we have no doubt, although today these small roughnesses can make a big difference. At the speeds that the video game handles,

Shortcuts are well hidden on some tracks, but taking advantage of them means getting the most out of the video game.

If GRIP: Combat Racing continues to work as it has until this stage of development, it is very possible that this analysis will become outdated very soon and I will be the first to be happy about it, because that will mean that the game has evolved to its true goal. : focus on speed and use the stage to your advantage. The studio has salvaged a formula that has not been explored enough over the course of the driving genre and only needs to get rid of these aforementioned rough edges to build a somewhat more robust experience, as it finishes polishing the interface and incidentally get more out of the Unreal Engine 4. There is a lot of potential to get out of each of its tracks and mechanics that are waiting to be discovered.

 

“Okay”

GRIP: Combat Racing

When everything works in GRIP: Combat Racing we enjoy a very original and dizzying speed arcade that adds with its gravity defying mechanics a new layer of depth to a racing arcade. However, on occasion we have come across some playable, design and technical rough edges that make us not enjoy some of its circuits so much. With a little more work and tweaking some of these elements, this game can become a lot better than it is today. At the moment, it is a very arcade to consider.

  • A concept that, even inspired by the classic Rolling Cage, continues to be innovative
  • The feeling of speed and fluidity on some circuits are very successful
  • Good variety of tracks and game modes
  • The interface is very unfriendly
  • He still has to correct rough edges caused by physics, which ruin racing
  • Some tracks are more inspired than others, which don’t make the most of their mechanics

 

by Abdullah Sam
I’m a teacher, researcher and writer. I write about study subjects to improve the learning of college and university students. I write top Quality study notes Mostly, Tech, Games, Education, And Solutions/Tips and Tricks. I am a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence or virtue.

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