Blur beta: X360 performance analysis

By Richard Leadbetter Published 10 March, 2010

Car Parklife.

We've not heard much from Bizarre Creations since the release of The Club and the subsequent Activision buy-out, so the chance to check out the Xbox 360 multiplayer beta of the forthcoming Blur proved to be irresistible.

The firm's last 360 title - Project Gotham Racing 4 - was a handsome-looking game with native 720p, a rock-solid 30FPS and 2x multisampling anti-aliasing, boosted by excellent post-processing effects that helped to significantly enhance the sense of speed and the realism of the simulation.

With Blur, the approach shifts to a more arcade-like experience, with shades of Mario Kart and WipEout in its use of power-up weaponry and intense vehicle-to-vehicle combat. However, Bizarre's focus on solid-looking visuals and impressive effects work hasn't changed.

So how does the performance look based on the beta code?

Bizarre Creations has handed in a game boasting absolutely rock-solid performance.

The answer is "remarkably well". From start to finish, no matter how much is happening on-screen, Blur maintains its 30 frames per second output without a single dropped frame, and thus not a single fluctuation in the graph, which is as even and consistent as previous record-holder Dante's Inferno.

Tech-wise we see a slight upgrade in the framebuffer format compared with PGR4. The game retains the native 720p resolution, but anti-aliasing is upped to the Xbox 360's maximum 4x MSAA. While background geometry levels are a little on the low side in the beta, the eye is kept occupied owing to the sheer amount of vehicles on-screen at any given moment.

In short, Blur is looking as solid as we would expect from a Bizarre Creations title and we're looking forward to checking out final code on all formats. Blur is due out for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on 28th May.

Picture of Richard.

About Richard Leadbetter

Rich has been a games journalist since the days of 16-bit and specialises in technical analysis. Commonly known around Eurogamer as the Blacksmith of the Future.

Read more articles from Richard by visiting the Richard Leadbetter archive page.

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Comments (28) Latest comment 2 years ago

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  • karooo #1 2 years ago

    be nice guys.

  • CaptainQuint #2 2 years ago

    Liking the beta, but is it just me or is this more Mario Kart Wii than Mario Kart Snes?

  • super_monty #3 2 years ago

    I got on the beta the game is techically good, but the gameplay was all very standard, just going through the motions.
    All it did was to give me the urge to play Wipeout HD.

  • CaptainQuint #4 2 years ago

    From my short time on the game, it seems like coming third or higher in a race is completely pot luck, with the powerups heavily dictating the outcome. The cars bounce around the track with very little skill required to negotiate the bends and corners - even my gf managed a race with no problems, so unless the finished game makes some major adjustments to the handling (make it less easy), I'll probably pass and get Split Second, instead.

  • leafmulch #5 2 years ago

    Thorough... :/ This looks better than the initial e3 reports at least. I promise to buy it if there's a geometry wars arcade cabinet somewhere! I think Ryan from GB said that the colour scheme and icons on the back of the cars were reminiscent of geometry wars also. Car battle twin stick shooter hybrid...

  • wizlon #6 2 years ago

    What can I say, I loved it! For me it reminds me of simpler times of just bombing round without having to worry about wheel diffs and anti lock suspension or any of that jazz. The handbrake is a little off as it tends to pull you round too far but maybe that's just my lack of skill. The weapons are perfect, devastating without being unfair. Split/second has a contender.

  • GaidenZero #7 2 years ago

    I can't help but feel, that smooth as the game runs, and pretty as the effects are, the car models and environments look a little bland.

  • vocalgirth #8 2 years ago

    I think we have to remember here that this is still a beta product so there's likely to be a little bit more spit and polish to be added before the release at the end of May.

    I've been having a blast across the four different race types and have only noticed a few buggy moments when cars appear in mid air and jump around (although that may be to do with the broadband connection).

    All in all I've loved the simplicity of it as Wizlon stated above. I prefer arcade racers like this and burnout instead of the simulation type experience of your Forzas and GTs. The weapons balance feels pretty damn solid as well and I've found in the playing that unless you have a small field then top positions are never guaranteed and there's always personal battles going all around. The 20 player is just absolutely frenetic...

    It bodes well for the release and given I've not been able to play Split Second yet it'll have to impress to tempt me to it rather than blur

  • CaptainQuint #9 2 years ago

    @farticusmaximus
    The reason for my MK comparison is due to the dumbing down of the skill requirement in the Wii version - a far cry from the rather hardcore (and superior) Snes original. Blur's skill requirement reminds me of MK Wii, which isn't a good thing, imo.

  • gav_and_the_gavster #10 2 years ago

    Not on the beta, but if they get it right, this could be the game that gets me playing long LIVE-based mp sessions again. Recently I just haven't felt the urge with FPS's to go online, I feel like I roughly know what's going to happen before I even join a game. I just want to play something which is fun, challenging and a bit unpredictable.

  • MinerWilly #11 2 years ago

    Played this on a friends 360 and I was very impressed . He is deffo going to buy it .

  • Sniper_007 #12 2 years ago

    I actually really enjoyed the demo last night.... completely frantic action, and finally a racing game where the first place positions aren't decided from the word go!! The weapons help but none appear too over powered, and each have their advantages/disadvantages.

    Also have to agree with @farticusmaximus, the three weapon switching really adds to the strategy of a race and finding out you could dodge the homing missiles yesterday with both a dropped mine or a last second emergency swerve really mae me smile :)

    I only hope no-one makes a decision on the depth of the game before they try the B and especially A class cars... those A class cars really shift!!

  • TJP75 #13 2 years ago

    The demo is fantastic fun. There is a tonne of track and powerup location knowledge needed to place in the top 3 on a consistent basis.

    I thought the demo was going to be a bit meh, as I'd never been interested in powerup racing. I am a huge fan of Bizarre Creations and have been since playing F1 on the PlayStation way back when, so I went into the demo with an open mind.

    Glad I did, the game is fantastic. Bizarre need to sort out a few things like wall riding and the Blur will be near perfect.

  • aidey6 #14 2 years ago

    It looks very smooth, but I can understand the Wipeout with cars that other people have mentioned about this title. I presume that it will have a bit more about this as I loved MSR and the PGR series!!

  • Floppy #15 2 years ago

    Definitely PGR with WipEout weapons, and Geometry Wars styled neon interface.

    I think it's more like Hi-Octane (without floaty cars) than Mario Kart. It if had a f*ckin blue shell equivalent... then it would get my MK dander up.

  • fknetwork #16 2 years ago

    I have only played about 20 races so still need to play more but so far i'm not that impressed to be honest, it's fun but the graphics and tracks are rather bland, the cars look too shiny just like the old need for speed games were,

    I thought it would be at least on par with PGR4 graphics, sound and tracks as its the same developer but its no where near, looks like a very good looking PS2 or xbox game at the moment, it certainly isn't as good as PGR4, Grid, Burnout 3/Paradise online but maybe the final game will be better, I also think split/second will be x100 better than this game too.

    And also, I know the game is called blur but this doesn't mean you need to put the blur effect into the game at every possible chance, looks horrible, then there is the gameplay, its just a luck based game, pot luck, you don't need to brake at all in the game, if you don't get hit by weapons you win, simple as that, going from 1st to 19th by a shunt power up isn't my idea of fun.

    The only thing I think they got right is the ranking system, no issues there.


    I wanted to love it I really did but I can't, a 6/10 from me so far, maybe a 7/10 if they improve some bits, I won't be buying it putting it nicely! and this is coming from someone who has played all the bizarre games (and pgr4 for months at a time), I think they are a great developer but this game really isn't going to do well.
    Edited by 7 at 10/03/10 @ 11:13

  • NorUraeus #17 2 years ago

    I thought Burnout Paradise was 60fps and that was a big part of why it managed to be responsive enough to play at the crazy speeds of that game. If this game is only 30fps I have to assume its less frantic to compensate.

  • wizlon #18 2 years ago

    What is it with all the graphics whores around here, it's a fun game with cars that shoot lazers! Who cares if the background geometry isn't up to much. Are you really looking at passing cranes and houses and thinking, there should be more detail in that? If so, you've got a bit of a problem.

  • TruWari3r #19 2 years ago

    + Looks great
    + Ranking system, a sort of rpg take on racing lol. Seriously, you unlock better cars and car mods as you rank up
    + Sounds and SFX are pretty good
    + Racing is fun in a "party" kind of way, hence the many mario kart references

    - Car handling is oversimplified, tight corners and such cannot be taken pgr style which is a pretty massive shame really
    - Beta only problem but sometimes you get stuck in a loop, whereas you skip the voting for the next track and play again on the same track, and again, and again
    - There is some lag, but then it's not something you really notice, you just see the passing cars "stuttering" sotospeak


    Overall an impressive demo, still a toss up whether I'll get this one or split/second. I'm not getting both.

  • Darren #20 2 years ago

    Sounds quite impressive technically then but that's always a given with a Bizarre Creation game anyway. My only concern is whether the gameplay is up to scratch but unfortunately I'll have to wait for the official demo, assuming there is one.

  • uglygamer #21 2 years ago

    From my short time on the game, it seems like coming third or higher in a race is completely pot luck, with the powerups heavily dictating the outcome.

    i disagree with this, if you are a skilled driver then coming top 3 shouldn't be too difficult.

  • dudefella #22 2 years ago

    A game like this should be 60fps. Should drop AA in favour of a higher fps or something.

  • zztopp #23 2 years ago

    Am I missing something? PGR4 was jaggy as hell and quite a few of the textures were far from remarkable. I liked the weather effects and car models, and some of the citiscapes were nice but the low-30fps framerate hurt. It looks quite dated when compared to the current crop of racers.

  • IneptPercy #24 2 years ago

    I don't think 30fps is a problem as long as its 100% solid, I would rather a solid 30fps than any kind of variation.

  • Nebula #25 2 years ago

    Would have been great if they made it more like Interestate 76. A post race selection screen for weapon layout. I would pay gold for a new Interstate game.

  • brod #26 2 years ago

    "A game like this should be 60fps. Should drop AA in favour of a higher fps or something."

    After playing Midnight Club LA I have to disagree. When done well, 30fps feels great and having impressive visuals in a racing game is always nice IMO.

  • Quixz #27 2 years ago

    Blur is a lot better then i thought it was going to be. I was expecting it to be/feel like one of those cheap arcadey racers.
    Just like PGR4 the game doesn't feel like it's running at 30FPS.

  • womble #28 2 years ago

    Not sure what game some of you people are playing, but this game looks fantastic. I'm playing it on a HD projector and it looks and feels amazing.

    The whole neon glow approach looks great, and the sense of speed is great.