'GRID' demo is mighty impressive

'GRID,' Codemasters' follow up to the fantastic rally racer 'DiRT,' appeared in demo-form on Xbox Live a few days ago (the game will be release on the 360, PS3 and Windows). I was totally caught off guard with this title... I only learned of 'GRID' back in April, so I had no idea what to expect.

From the press-release, here's the gist of the game: GRID embraces all types of racing, including traditional circuit courses in exotics in Europe, muscle car street races in the US, and drifting import tuners in Japan.

Here's the heads up: you haven't tried the demo, start your download now... this game looks like it's going to be amazing.

'GRID's' graphics are some of the best I've ever seen on any console. I guess the look reminds me, a little, of the recent 'Need for Speed' series games with muted tones and gritty track locations. Remarkably, the menus and text are like nothing you've ever seen before... the presentation is high-tech and stylish. The cars continue the visual goodness with a trio of nice test vehicles from BMW, Nissan and Ford... the rides look picture-perfect.

And, once the cars are set in motion, the whole thing takes on a hyper-realistic look with motion-blur, camera shakes and some insane damage modeling. It's almost overwhelming. 'GRID' is a nice departure from games like 'Gran Turismo' and 'Burnout.' Finally: a top-notch racer with photo-real graphics and "brand-name" cars that you can actually wreck.

The controls in the 'GRID' demo game take a little practice, especially for those of use accustomed to the slam-and-go driving in 'GTA IV.' I had to re-learn the art of easing the throttle up and down instead of mashing the controller triggers to death. After a few races I had it down. It's not hyper-realistic like Sony's 'GT' series, but it's not overly-arcade-like either. The controls feature a nice balance between simulation and fun.

The demo provides a nice mix of racing styles including track and street courses; but the drifting is divine. Not since the Japanese PS2 releases in the 'Kaido Battle' series have I been so captivated by a drifting game. It takes a ton of practice, but it's a smoking good time while perfecting your drift technique. So cool!

I could gush over this game for hours, but I will wait for the full release in early June. With more cars to unlock, more tracks to race and a very cool online multiplayer mode, there is a lot to look forward to with 'GRID.'