Players:1-4
Price: 800 MS Points (~ $10.00)
Platform(s):XBLA
Developer:Sidhe Interactive
Publisher:Microsoft Games
ESRB:E 10+
Website:GripShift
Rating:



Sidhe Interactive unveiled GripShift to PSP players, and took innovative kart racing to a whole new level. Mainly that level entailed jumping off tracks to complete a task, and that same gameplay fun has been translated faithfully to the Xbox LIVE Arcade with the recent release of GripShift for XBLA. The game seems to get very little notice, and that’s a shame because it’s one of the few mini-racers that are worth your time.

The game is akin to the Mario Kart series, without much of Nintendo’s flair and design expertise. You’ll use a multitude of weapons to take out enemies on 25 race tracks. Upon starting the game there are a ton of tracks to choose from, which looks great on a menu screen. The reality is most tracks are fairly short, but what they lack in length is more than made up for in design. Unlike the straightforward nature of Mario Kart there are some intense platforming elements in GripShift.

One race will have you scratching your head as you fruitlessly fall to your death, just out of reach of the “GS Marker” (a token in each stage you are challenged to find). Platforming epiphany moments are one of the great experiences a gamer can have, and figuring out just the right way to get your vehicle across the chasm to a silly token is all the reward you’ll need. There are roughly 100 Challenge Levels to complete, and you’ll spend a good deal of your time examining a track rather than racing on it.

Rather than making you slower or faster, choosing the right vehicle actually takes a bit of thought in GripShift. You’ll have to “waste” much of your first few races learning to control your new vehicle. Soon though you’ll be hitting corners at a perfect angle and learning how to land when you jump off the track while upside down in a loop. And you had better learn that, unless you don’t want that impossibly high “GS Marker.” You know you want it…

After you’ve learned control and completed the Challenges, Sidhe Interactive was kind enough to throw some LIVE multiplayer in the mix. Players will be able to battle in a four-way war for victory, or blast opponents one on one in any of the tracks. With so many tracks available at the outset, there’s plenty to do. Sidhe has said they plan to support GripShift with DLC, so if you do get tired of the same 25 levels you’ll have more to look forward to in 2008. Players will also be able to enter into Last Man Standing battles in some Deathmatch arenas. The platforming of the Challenge levels is a great distraction, but playing online is where GripShift shines.

GripShift is a damn fine kart racer, but unless you’ve been jonesing for this type of experience it may not be worth your time. If you’re a huge fan of Mario Kart and just need something fresh to ease the wait until the next iteration of the classic Nintendo series, then give GripShift a shot. It’s one of the best entrants in racing on Xbox LIVE Arcade.