When comparing Blur vs Star Wars Episode 1: Racer, the Slant community recommends Blur for most people. In the question“What are the best PC arcade racing games?” Blur is ranked 1st while Star Wars Episode 1: Racer is ranked 16th.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Split-Screen multiplayer
Pro Power-up system allows for tactical gameplay
The game includes highly devastating power-ups that can be collected and swapped between to deploy at the most opportune moment. Choosing what power-ups to hold on to, when to use which and in what order requires quickly assessing the situations and making up plans on the fly.
Pro Multiple modes
Simple race (no power-ups), power-up racing (like mario kart), or destruction derby (more confined space, non linear, hit opponents with power-ups for score).
Pro Economy management adds another variable to the game
Choosing what parts of the pod to upgrade at what points in the game, what help to hire and what vendor to choose for parts adds a rather interesting management element in-between races that affects races themselves. And depending on how the race went some money can be saved that would otherwise be spent on repairs.
Pro Faithful to the Star Wars universe
It's faithful and atmospheric.
Pro Play requires balance
While racing ones Pod Racer can get damaged (and often will), this means that the player needs to perform repairs while racing, but of course this slows one down, which means one needs to balance slowing down in a race and risking blowing their pod up by receiving too much damage.
Cons
Con PC port could have been better
The menu's have no way to navigate via mouse, the controller support is spotty and the keybindings are fixed.
Con Aged visuals
While impressive at the time of release in 1999, the game does not look too good by today's standards.