I spent some time with the Blur multiplayer beta last night and figured I’d share a few thoughts. Blur is a combat racing title set in an urban environment. It feels very much like a cross between Burnout Paradise and Mario Kart. The goal is simple, finish first by any means necessary.

On your way to the front of the pack you’ll need to use your power-ups to disrupt your opponents. There are a variety of power-ups, from typical offensive weapons to defensive abilities to protect your position. In my limited play time I have not discovered the ins and outs of every power-up but the diversity felt good with a nice balance of offensive and defensive abilities.

The first thing I want to understand in any racing title is how the cars feel, how they handle, and what the physics are like. The driving in Blur feels very much like Burnout Paradise to me. There is a lack of precision in Blur, compared to what you’ll find in a game like Forza 3. I think that’s very much expected and frankly it works a lot better this way. I can’t imagine trying to keep track of the simulation in Forza 3 in addition to everything else going on in Blur. Overall, I really enjoyed how the cars felt in Blur. The handling was good and didn’t require so much attention that it takes away from the rest of the gameplay experience.

When I think of the title Blur, I think of fast-paced action. A crucial aspect to achieving that goal is how the game delivers a sense of speed. It’s no Burnout Paradise in this regard, which I felt was a little too far over the top anyway, but it really fits well in the Blur universe. Blur gives a great sense of speed which only provides a heightened level of action. The cars feel and sound fast. The end result ties in perfectly to delivering fast-paced action.

After playing the multiplayer beta of Blur, I went from slightly interested to eager anticipation of this title. Expect a full review shortly after the launch on May 25th.