Take the physics engine from DiRT, combined with racing-simulation-worthy graphics, add the super-sweet Flashback feature, a highly interesting story line and what comes out: Race Driver GRID, the latest game from Codemasters.

Let’s start with the graphics: My system (3,6 Core2Duo, 4GB RAM, GeForce 880GT) has no problem running the game with all settings maxed. I think I’ll let some screenshots do the talking:

Sometimes I forget to race cuz I’m enjoying the scenery….

Until the sound of squealing tires and screeching metal jolts me awake… SHIT! crashed. At which point, all you have to do is hit RETURN, the Flashback feature is activated and you can “scroll back and forth in time” to undo your mistake.

Gameplay and the story line are also highly enjoyable. While building up your own team, you can drive for other teams, which lets you drive sweet cars from the beginning on, instead of having to “earn the horsepower” like in other racing games. The variety of tracks and events is also impressive, from drift battles to demo derbys, to american muscle….

A sweet arcade/simulation cross that gets a 8/10 rating from me.