GRID Legends just lately made the shock leap to Meta Quest 2, marking Codemasters’ first recreation for Meta’s standalone platform. Considered one of Quest’s first sim racers, this VR port stays pleasurable however comes with important compromises. Learn on for our full GRID Legends Quest 2 assessment.
GRID Legends on Quest looks like a wasted alternative. Initially launched as a flatscreen title on PC and consoles final yr, this Quest port is structurally the identical recreation in VR, however with some critical points and closely downgraded visuals. On the one hand, we lastly have a console-style sim racer for cell VR, nearly a yr after the flatscreen model launched. Porting the entire recreation over to Quest isn’t any small feat, but it surely’s additionally instantly obvious that Legends required heavy compromises to run on Quest 2, in addition to a whopping 31GB of cupboard space to put in.
Let’s begin with the apparent. Visually, GRID Legends appears unhealthy and runs at a decision of 1,080 by 1,188 pixels – near half of Quest 2’s per eye decision. I consider that graphics aren’t every thing; not every thing on cell {hardware} can appear like Crimson Matter 2. We’ve seen video games take huge visible hits earlier than to run on Quest, like Medal of Honor: Above and Past, and Legends is a testomony to Codemasters’ versatility. That stated, it’s onerous to really feel immersed when the graphics look this tough. As you may see within the screenshot under, textures are tremendous low decision and jaggy edges are in all places.
I don’t consider these trade-offs to get the sport operating on Quest had been price it, and that’s as a result of Legends barely makes use of VR’s distinctive capabilities. Vehicles don’t have useful mirrors, requiring you to bodily flip round to see who’s behind you, which is impractical throughout races. Plus, the sport forgoes movement controls – as a substitute of gripping the steering wheel, you’ll flip the automobile with the Contact Controller’s analog stick.
In equity, VR racing sims usually use conventional gamepads. Instantly grabbing a digital steering wheel with movement controls like in L.A. Noire: The VR Case Information gained’t go well with everybody. It’s extra comprehensible with PC VR video games like F1 22 and Grime Rally 2.0, the place you may plug in a racing wheel accent to compensate. Nonetheless, VR help is extra of a pleasant bonus for these video games, and in contrast to GRID Legends, they aren’t restricted to a VR-specific platform. Even when it’s not what you need from a Quest recreation, the management scheme works and drifting round corners feels tight. Mapping acceleration and brakes to the triggers feels pure, and pulling off tough overtakes remains to be satisfying.
I spent most of my time taking part in the Method 1: Drive to Survive-inspired story mode, Pushed to Glory. Enjoying the unnamed Driver 22, you’ll be a part of Seneca Racing because the Grid World Collection’ hottest new rookie, breaking apart the motion with live-action cutscenes. You don’t have to win each race. As a substitute, you’re tasked with setting objectives like beating a selected opponent. An underdog sporting story isn’t wildly unique, however the motor racing fan inside me loved this, even when the appearing’s a combined bag.
There are some minor adjustments to the broader recreation in comparison with the unique flatscreen launch. On-line multiplayer races are restricted to 16 gamers as a substitute of twenty-two, there’s no DLC packs, and, unsurprisingly, no crossplay help. In any other case, this is identical recreation that launched final yr. That comes with all of the acquainted occasions, like time trials, customary racing throughout three laps, and an elimination mode that removes the slowest drivers. You continue to have over 100 customizable autos and 130+ race tracks, alongside the usual profession mode.
GRID Legends Quest 2 Evaluate – Closing Verdict
GRID Legends is an effective racing recreation however a nasty VR recreation, and finally, it’ll come right down to what you’re in search of. Would you like a racing sim that correctly makes use of VR’s distinctive capabilities? Or would you like a conveyable VR racing recreation, whatever the compromises concerned? If you happen to fall into the latter group, you could get pleasure from this adaptation even with the watered-down visuals. You’re nonetheless getting the entire expertise full of entertaining and thrilling racing.
If you happen to’re like me and need one thing extra, Legends is disappointing. Whereas it’s commendable that Codemasters managed to get the sport operating on cell {hardware}, making this a Quest unique as a substitute of an elective VR mode on different platforms provides an expectation that merely hasn’t been met. Although the racing stays pleasurable, you could possibly play this wherever else and have a greater time. The broader compromises on Quest aren’t price it.
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