Grid vs Shift 2: Which do you prefer?

So which do you prefer for track racing game? Don't bother discussing GT5 and Forza 3 since they are on the consoles. And this isn't about Formula 1 either, just GT style racing. Discussion of other GT racing games that may be better in your gaming experience is welcomed though.

I'd like to keep this discussion about what you enjoy most, about fun since these are games. Discussing sim is fine, just don't start having flame fest over it. A lot of these GT games are considered sim to a degree, their authenticity really can't be verified unless you're a GT racer yourself. A consumer car no matter how much it's been upgraded isn't the same as a GT racing car.

Also discuss your experience with all setups. Controllers, wheel and keyboard. Please remember this should be a discussion for all gamers, and don't insult those who may just like to pop into a game, and race for 15-30 minutes on their keyboard. Respect everyone's enjoyment of the games. Physics and response is fine. Let's stay away from realistic physics. But if it's something like a bug that was found in Shift 2 where you car goes flying from a slight nudge, this is fine. Response such as input lag and response is also good, since this has a deep impact on your gaming experience.

Shift 2 creators claim to have the best physics, but I've been reading from a lot of gamers on GT forums that the physics is troublesome. Reacts too sharply from nudges, bumps and almost seems magnetic for crashes. Other times there are some serious bugs. And while Shift 2 has improvements over Shift 1, I've gotten the impression GRID may just be a more enjoyable game to play considering the frustrations with Shift 2.

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For me it's shift 2 > grid. I would also say that if you are playing with a properly setup wheel it feels a lot like gt5. Only big problem is the crash physics. It does feel like you stick to other cars and the slightest bump will send cars spinning while they are stuck together. Shift 2 wins for me over grid because I can tune my car(camber, toe etc) only thing I really wish shift 2 had from grid is the touge battles. Also the drifting in shift 2 is a joke.

I would also have to disagree with the last part of that quote. Are hondas not real cars? I have a few friends who compete in time attack events and hondas are very popular. Here is my friends "modified Honda" that can't be compared to real cars...

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I have only played shift 1, was going to get shift 2 but seeing on the forum about how the controls are not great. I play racing games with a xbox360 pad and shift 1 for some reason controls horrible, where my car cannot stay on a straight line (which I believe is bug). The one thing I enjoyed about it is the tuning options, where you can have full customization of changing the levels of your car and of course adding upgrades to make it faster.

Now Grid is a game I have been playing since it came out in 07 and has now become on of my favorite racing games. The GT races are fun and have the ability to use flashback is a plus in racing games. Something Shift 1 lacks and if do not like that there is an option to play in realistic mode which turns it off. Controlling in GRID is just simple and the cars controls really well. The physics are great too, like having a front wheel damage on your left wheel will make it harder for you to turn. As well as brakes, tires, transmission, suspension, and engine reductions occur as you drive or damage your car.

 

NFS Shift 2's wheel support is worse than Shift's. I wasted my money on 2. Microsoft's Xbox 360 Wheel behaves like a gamepad with Shift 2 (works perfectly with F1 2010, GRID and the first Shift)...

 

I like Shift more than GRID. Shift seems more realistic than GRID, which is very arcady. The sense of speed is not there in GRID at all, cars accelerate way too fast compared to Shift which has a realistic acceleration and speed.

 

Good feedback. Yeah that's the complaint I've been reading, the magnetic tendency of cars to stick to walls etc. And the physics being too unpredictable, a slight nudge some say felt they could have gotten away with ends up flipping the car or making a 360 spin.

As for the Honda comment, my point is. I do not believe anyone with their modified Honda can be able to judge authenticity of racing unless they have actually been in a race car in a GT race. You can't compare the experience of a street Honda car vs a Corvette GT1 car. So while criticizing a game for realism and sim is fine, I just caution people from going too far as they likely don't know what they are talking about.

NFS Shift 2 caught my interest as the executive developer for this game has done the above. He has experienced racing in real race cars. That does provide some creditability to this game. But from what I can tell, he says he wants to bring authenticity of the race experience, not necessarily the perfect sim for driving, his emphasis on the thrill and excitement of racing.

Since these are games, that's the type of feedback I was looking for. Which is more fun to play, more exciting etc, not necessarily which is more authentic since I will never be racing at Le Mans in a R35 v8 ridiculous car. So that has little meaning to me, as I wouldn't be able to verify the claim anyway.

 

I would blame it more on the microsoft wheel than the game. Shift 2 has many options to fine tune the wheel.

 

Shift 2 has improved a lot after the 1.01 patch, handling is a A LOT better and all input lag is gone, sadly there aren't many people playing online.

 

GRID is better IMO.

 

I think I may give GRID a try since I Dirt 2 is my current favorite racing game, sticking to CodeMasters.

 

Shift 2 is great in terms of vehicle customization, tuning, graphics and handling. What is currently a little lacking is the force feedback on certain wheels, wonky crash physics, and random crashes. Otherwise it's a REALLY good game. But of course, the shortcomings that it does have are quite big and can definitely sway someone away purchasing the game. Still really fun though, I am enjoying Shift 2 immensely.

I just wish AWD cars didn't have such a massive advantage in Shift 2.

 

I've both these games and I'd say Shift2 has a upperhand on GRID because it is a latest version of the NFS series while GRID is almost 2 years old now. It is a very sweet game though.

With the shift patched installed, I've started to love the game. The later stages with faster cars are worth something to die for and not to mention, it has some very well captured real life tracks in feature. If you are a race and car fan like I'm, I'd say it's definitely worth the money.

Just my two cents.

 

have you tried it's patch? it would be much better

 

We should set up an NBR Shift 2 racers night or something!

 

Shift 2 is far better than GRID. Drifting isn't that good but overall its a much better game.

 

Agreed, as long as you can get past all the bugs/issues the game is still facing even after the 1.01 patch.

 

Didn't encounter that many bugs, at least its playable, unlike Black Ops which was an extreme disappointment when it came out and a waste of my time and money.

 

On a side note, did any of guys try WRC FIA World Rally Championship 2010? I've been playing this game for two months now and I still love every minute of it. It's very realistic and gameplay is just immersing. The cars and tracks are all real world sim and handling is just too good.

It's like Colin McRae Dirt for PS2 era but with far better graphics and awesome handling. I highly recommend this to any car game fan.

 

I do enjoy Rally racing games a lot more than track games. Dirt 2 is still awesome, just wish they didn't reuse tracks so often.

 

GRID is MUCH MUCH MUCH more difficult than Shift 1 was. In Shift 1 I was able to place 1st for almost all the races. I haven't placed first in GRID yet. I'm placing anywhere between 6th and 12th place. Mostly because in Shift 1 the AI has to follow the same rules of physics as I do. AI in Shift can't take a turn at 200 mph, but in GRID they can. This is awful.

The AI in GRID IS TERRIBLE. They completely cheat. Wherever I have to slow down for a turn, I notice the AI just whips right through it. It's retarded.

Edit: Just took first place with a Zonda R. But that's only because all the AI kept wiping out because they were taking 90 degree turns at 300kmph. I think I'll stick to Dirt 2 where the AI isn't so dumb and cheat so much.

 

Are we playing the same game here? I never had such a problem, what difficulty are you playing on? I normally play on normal, but also played on savage and extreme as well. On higher difficulty the AI are less likely to loss control in a race compare to normal, but when the AI losses controls it rarely occurs.

Have you tried braking and hitting the gas at the same time when you turn? Or downshift every time you make a sharp turn?