Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Frantic racer with plenty of cartoon violence and open chat.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Blur
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 12 kid reviews
Kids say this game is a thrilling mix of Mario Kart's fun and accessibility with a Need for Speed style of gameplay. Although the single-player might get repetitive, the multiplayer experience is described as chaotic and enjoyable, with players praising the inclusion of licensed cars and engaging power-ups, despite challenges in accessing the game due to its discontinued sales.
- fun multiplayer
- licensed cars
- chaotic gameplay
- engaging power-ups
- repetitive single-player
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
What if you took real-world cars found in a racing sim like Forza Motorsport 3 and added over-the-top weapons found in a game like Mario Kart? The result would look something like BLUR, developed by UK's Bizarre Creations (of Project Gotham Racing fame.) It's a fast and frantic driving game that looks great, plays fast, and enjoys a clever perk system borrowed from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare that rewards players with prizes for pulling off specific maneuvers behind the wheel. You must take sharp corners while avoiding mines, shoot missiles at competitors, and sprint to the finish line before your A.I. or human competitors. The single-player mode offers more than 60 events to compete in spread out between three event types: racing (driving and weapons with 19 others), checkpoint (no weapons or competitors; just achieve the fastest time) and destruction (races peppered with mini-challenges, such as "hit an enemy with a backward stunt shot").
Is It Any Good?
Gamers who prefer arcade-style driving games over simulations will enjoy Blur's speed, graphics, and car handling (though drifting around corners feels a little too tight). You have access to more than 55 licensed cars and many real-world locations (from L.A. to London, Tokyo to San Francisco), but the real fun is in your arsenal of power-ups, like nitro speed boosts, defensive shields, shock attacks, and mines. Online multiplayer is also a blast, featuring solo and team racing, and the ability to increase rank by earning "fans," which can be used as currency to unlock new cars, modifications, and online modes.
Despite the stiff competition from many other racing games released this month, Blur stands out for its clever blend of real-world vehicles and locations with fast action and weapons.
Online interaction: Blur can be played online against friends or strangers. The lobby system lets players host or join a game and open voice support is included for those who want to chat. There is a high probability that players who venture online will talk with strangers and hear profanity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the kinds of driving games they prefer. Cartoon kart racers? Futuristic racers? Deep simulations? Do any of these genres lend themselves to particular age groups?
Families can also discuss the depiction of crashes in racing games. Do games that show realistic car damage and drivers getting hurt act as a warning for kids about the dangers of reckless driving, or are they simply sensational and gratuitous? How about more cartoonish racing games that show no consequences?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Activision
- Release date : May 25, 2010
- Genre : Racing
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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