Another spiritual successor to another legendary game this time though it’s Rollcage. My nostalgia goggles are getting a good work out.

Grip is a Science Fiction racing game in the distant future where cars with giant wheels race everywhere and I mean everywhere from the open sands of Mars to the dilapidated transport routes of Earth and sometimes through partially built bridges in the middle of the Alps. Their giant wheels and rocket powered engines giving them all they need to combat elements such as dirt, snow and gravity. Yes you read the last one right, they can jump to the ceiling since the tires are taller than the cars themselves and just keep going if they run out of road. Since you have to be deranged to drive a car that weighs a few tons in the tundra the drivers have no problems arming themselves to get an edge.

Do note that unlike Road Redemption Grip is still in Early access, this article will be updated on final release, if the game is significantly different at the time so let’s just go over the game for now.

Story:

There isn’t one, moving on.

Graphics:

I’m amazed when I see these little reboots bring graphic levels like these. Graphically Grip is not Battlefront but it is still better than most, the details are there in everything that this game does except the menu who looks old school but I’m not sure that is a bad thing.

The cars are well modeled, I mean really well modeled. They look like flat, aerodynamic monster trucks but that is purely inspired by Rollcage. The effects associated with the cars are also well done, from the jet flames expanding when you hit the turbo to the electric like effects that flow over the car when hit by an EMP are all great to look at. Even the Aurora Borealis effect at high speeds is soo cool.

As for the tracks, they are not slouching there either, each world looks unique and has it’s own little something. Some tracks feel like they are on the red planet and deliver from the looks of the track, the stone on the track as well as the little storms that come and go. The snow tracks too are well done with the mountains around you covered in snow to the little snow particles dancing around as you rip through them at unreasonable speeds. It feels like the worlds are alive and not just a side thought and that is what I enjoy when I’m resetting (since I don’t get a chance to admire the graphics otherwise). The electric winds cause by an EMP are a really nice touch too.

The HUD is also good, not great but good. It flickers when you get hit and completely dissappears when an EMP is activated. It shows an exclamation mark when a missile is on your tail and does a decent job of letting you know how screwed you are.

Checkout the graphics below with me playing a nice varied map:

Sound:

The sound is also another job well done, from the background music to the sounds on the jets of each car the sound while not windblown definitely does feel right. The sound of each weapon too feels right especially the minigun which though tiny compared to the cars feels just right.

Gameplay:

let’s get this out of the way: this is not your typical racing game where drifting is everything. There are no stunts to give you a tad bit of boost, this is not Need for Speed or Mario Kart though if you want a base point I guess it’s closer to Mario Kart.

This game is not easy even on easy, the cars being the massive beasts that they are handle like massive beasts. They drive straight easily and at great speeds with the turbo but turns are difficult, you can either start planning turns or learn to drift which makes you pay heavily in speed but tightens the turn. Despite their weight you will spend a lot of time in mid air, either on purpose or by accident, irrespective of how you got there you do have some control of the cars in the air and against stronger opponents it’s important to know how to handle the cars when the ground is just a memory.

The tracks go from simple straight forward circuits to acrobatic circuses where you need to plan your jump and landings in a split second (if you’re lucky it will give you that much time). To top things off most of the tracks aren’t straight forward with each having multiple paths offering their own advantages and disadvantages, as an example a path might be on the roof but will have more pickups and turbo boosters but will also be a pain to pull off perfectly especially with multiple rockets hunting you.

There are more weapons in this game than in an anarchist’s secret room. There are missiles, miniguns, mines, EMPs and even supportive stuff like shields, it’s just a bit much to chew off immediately. Each weapon has a tactic to maximise it’s potential. The missiles don’t just go and hit a target, they find the shortest path to their target so if something is in the way then that is a missile wasted which is bad since you can only carry 2 pickups at a time.

All these elements together make for an intense but rewarding game, especially the fact that health is finite. It keeps you on your toes irrespective of if your protecting yourself with a rear shield, planning your next jump or targeting the asshole who shot you for the overtake while you took a faster but more exposed route. Here is me playing really badly…. let’s say on purpose.

Conclusion:

Would I recommend Grip? Hell yes. While it won’t appeal to everyone since it is a difficult game, the feeling of fulfilment when you win is a reward of it’s own. The sense of accomplishment is highly satisfying and the rage from a loss makes you want to try again. Play Grip and get some friends to play it too or just watch you play, either way it’s fun, fast and aggressive. I will say that it is the Unreal Tournament/Quake of racers. 

Pick it up if you get it for less than ₹700 or $25.

Additional note: If your worried about un-optimized early access games that might crash at the drop of a hat? Don’t be GRIP is well built and runs like a beauty, I got it months ago and I’m still waiting for my first crash.

Final Score: 8/10