Black Magix

Ok guys for the past two days I've been playing the hell out of both Need for Speed: Shift and Race Driver: Grid. I've been comparing everything from sound, graphics, gameplay, controls and general coolness. I've decided to write a bit of a comparisson piece against both of them



Game play
Similarities: Both games are about making a career and a name for yourself in the racing community. Both games implement a tier system that you progress through in order to become a better racer. Both games have a "Final race" to beat to make your name known

Differences: Where as Race Driver: Grid grants your access to many different cars right off of the bat, Need For Speed: Shift decides to stick to the upgrade system of cars. As you progress through the game, you unlock more of the 4 tiers and better cars with each level however, unlike Grid, your car is upgradable and can last more then a couple of races.

Grid prefers the "buy a car per race" style I've noticed and doesn't like to keep the cars for to long. Car upgrades/styling is very minimal as opposed to Shift where you can upgrade rims, paint jobs, and vinyls.

In terms of racing, Shift lays the line down, literally. You follow a green, yellow or red line (depending on if you need to accelerate, slow down, or brake) and encourages you to follow the line as you drive for maximum speed and performance. Grid allows more of a free style of racing and lets you choose between your style of racing, depending on if you can adapt to the car you happen to be using at the time.

My Preference: In all honesty, I prefer the arcade and free style of Grid rather then the preset style of Shift.


Controls: Both cars allow for a difference of controls and I took several approaches here. Unfortunately, I don't have a racing wheel to try out but I can see the advantages depending on the control style.

Grid: The arcade style of grid works well with the Xbox 360 controller and it plays very easily using a keyboard. Controls feel natural and not overly response. A racing wheel would allow for much more control over the car but I prefer without in this instance.

Shift: Laying down a line is all good and everything...if you take into account the system your playing on. Controls here are overly sensitive weather using a 360 controller or the keyboard. The line your supposedly to stay on isn't designed for imprecise controllers like the 360 or the keyboard where it's almost an all or nothing situation. Controls are very hard to maintain at recommended speeds and I find myself struggling. A racing wheel would easily resolve all of these problems.

My preference: Grid by far. Cars are much easier to control.


Audio: Both games bring to fashion a LOT of good tracks as well as radio voices.

Grid: Grid brings a lot of voices to you with preset names, teams, race position, and car status all being told to you through certain parts of the race. You have the option of choosing between preset names for yourself or nicknames so you can be told, "Good job, Mark, your in first place!" Cars sound realistic for what it's worth and music is not present in the races unfortunately.

Shift: Cars sound incredibly real and powerful here, I was disseminated that 5.1 sound wasn't available. Music was somewhat available through tracks but I hardly notice I was so engrossed in passing people.

My Preference: In all honesty, Shift takes the win here, I much enjoyed hearing that engine of the Z06 corvette roar as I pressed the pedal to the metal.

Graphics
Grid: For the time the graphics were actually quite good, stunning and realistic. Cars look good and reflect the environment. Environments themselves look good and I recognize several tracks from other games (Gran Turismo 4 among others.)

Shift: Stunning when turned up however, very hard on a computer, mine has trouble maintaing the fps with everything maxed out. Reflections, Environments, Cars, everything looks amazing.

My Preference: in all honesty it's a toss up, I can't really decide which one I prefer. I can't really hold it against Grid because it's an older game but in all honesty, both games are pretty good here.


In the end they're both very good games and worth playing. If your looking for a solid racer though, I'd recommend grid over shift as it's running quite a lot easier on my system then shift.

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wierdo124

Repped

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r34p3rex

I love Shift for the awesome graphics, but it is ALOT harder to play than grid. Mind you, I'm using a keyboard

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TehStone

I use a joystick to play grid and it took a lot of getting used to but I would definitely recommend it.

On a side note, I miss gran turismo 2

deathstorm

If you're having problems with your 295, I suppose I'll have no AA just to run the thing on my 260.

Black Magix

I'll try tweaking the game a little more this afternoon

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C-bro

I thought the regular racing in Shift felt like the drift mode in GRID. I did not like it at all. I got so pissed with the game it's already uninstalled and gifted to my brother after a day and a half. I also didn't like the audio. Far too distorted and "emphasized" in Shift. Though I did like the visuals a lot better. Probably the only reason I put up with the game for as long as I did.

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LuminatX

Shift is a lot more realistic.
I find its more of a simulation, compared to GRID.

Although grid is easier to play, it just gets to a point where its to easy.

as where Shift takes time to get good at.
and drifting in grid is reallly harddd haha.

(im also using a Momo racing wheel)

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