Virtual Racing... Grid vs. NFS:Shift

Ok, I am hurting for some virtual racing. GT5 will not come out fast enough (pre-order is already done for the collector's edition).

In the meantime, I am looking for some practice laps and am thinking about picking up either Grid or NFS to help kill the time until GT5 is released (PS3 only). I tend to enjoy single player over multi-player mostly due to the constant race experience.

I've heard that Grid has excellent presentation and career mode, offering a wide variety of cars including open wheel formula cars. The downside is the physics are terrible.

NFS is, well, a NFS game. Despite being developed by the same folks as GTR, I've heard it is a bit flaky, the career mode isn't great and it has love/hate driving effects.

I'm leaning towards NFS, but the cars/career in Grid are holding me back. I've beat and replayed: GT5:P, F1 Championship and Dirt2 multiple times... what should be next challenge?

Grid? NFS:Shift? Other?

(My PC needs a substantial upgrade before I would be able to enjoy any new sims on it, so let's keep the discussion limited to the PS3 please)

I've heard good things about Grid and bad things about NFS:Shift. The PC version of NFS:Shift will datamine your browser history BTW.

InsideSimRacing.tv gave Grid a 50 for physics... out of 100!!!! I think Mario Kart was rated higher. I have to admit that is the one thing holding me back on Grid.

Video Review

You want a challenge? Go for Enthusia. It is a PS2 game, so you will have to put up with less then perfect graphics, but a more challenging (realistically) driving game you will not find!

It's main downside is that is may be too realistic. Since you have no "feel" for the car, most (especially higher powered rear drive) cars seem to drive like they are on ice. It also seems like you are driving in slow motion a bit, but it does teach entirely proper racing techniques. Probably more useful for track than AutoX driving. You could say it is a game (simulation) based on the traction circle.

Oh, and BTW, it actually has a much better "career" mode then GT (which is really weak of course), and MUCH harder. It will punish the crap out of you for driving like an asshat.

Give it a shot, it should be cheap, and it does support wheels (it would be a nightmare without one). You of course will need a PS3 that supports PS2 games, I believe they removed that capability in the newer ones.

aircooled wrote: You of course will need a PS3 that supports PS2 games, I believe they removed that capability in the newer ones.

Yep... they removed it... I have a newer one.

Shift is garbage. I'm unbelievably angry that the NFS series went back to this route.

I'm a pretty big fan of Grid, especially considering i picked it up for $15, which should be a pretty standard price these days. The physics could be worse. I've always thought of it as a cross between NFS and Gran Turismo depending on how you have the assists adjusted.

My point is, Grid is the best non Forza/Gran Turismo racing game i've played in a while.

My $$$ went to NFS Shift but I also like Pro Street which nobody else liked. Both of your options have free demos available try em both. For me the NFS games make me feel like I am an incredible driver, Grid just feels disconnected and wrong. The whole rewinding after a crash which Forza also adopted just annoys me.

I haven't had any problems with Shift. I actually enjoy it sometimes. The additional challenge of scoring so many points, or a perfectly on line lap is sometimes fun.

I have Shift for the PS3 and Forza, over all Forza is a better game but I do enjoy Shift for what it is. One of the things that bugs me about Shift is you can not do much to the top level cars beyond color changes.

Wes I liked ProStreet, alot actually. Shift was terrible IMHO.

Grid is good, but I'll admit it, I like ricing out my cars on video games for the hell of it.

I went with Shift. I'm not sure that it was the best choice, but it is something different from Prologue, F1 and Dirt2.

I find that the physics seem a bit vague. On turn in the car seems a bit light, almost like the front end of the car is floating. Then the force feedback kicks in and I feel like I am trying to fight to drive the right line. My other thought is that (having only played through the first couple races) that the game rewards bad (aggressive) driving more than it rewards good driving.

It's a bit of a bubblegum sim, but it will distract me for a little bit.

I played the hell out of pro street... actually liked it a ton as well. The two abominations after that nearly put me off the series entirely, if it weren't for the fact that they're working on a redux of NFS Hot Pursuit- Arguably the best one in the franchise.