A couple of questions from someone out of touch with modern racers

[TrevHead]

Back in the day I played old arcade racers like outrun plus Gran Turismo 1&2 and CM rally on PS1 its been a while since ive properly played games of this genre. I picked up Shift and found out I couldnt keep on the road due to playing with a PS2 style pad with no trigger button for the throttle.

While Ive no real first hand experience but it seems that many modern racers tend to lie on ultra sim side Shift with its driver AI aides for steering / braking seemed to be just like F1 for the PS1 a game I could never get into.

And to my main question, what type of racer is Grid, is it like NFS Shift or is it more arcady, controlling like the ps1 GTs and CM Rallies? Also like shift do I need to use a 360 pad throttle or can I get away mapping accell to a normal button on my PS2 styled PC pad and control the car just as good as the ps1 racers which were designed for buttons?

Thanks for taking the time to read my questions

[rgrayhek]

Grid is more like the dirt series for me i use the pc 360 controller using that you should be fine racing but for hard core racers they use a race wheel. I hope that helps you out. But the game has a arcade feel but can be more advanced if you set the options in game for more realistic appeal. :)

[bboy500]

*Hi 5* PS1 era ftw :D

I always re-map my accell, brake, etc.. to the old PS1 style ways. As far as this game, It's more arcade then simulation. Think of GT2 (which is in my view the best GT to date) but easier.

GT2 might have been a "sim" but it was really arcadey just as much as it was sim.

[MADDOGGE]

It's definitely not arcadey to me more sim like. I can't even keep the car on the road it's so touchy. Handling is terrible imo.

[BigBadWolf]

hmm in that case its not worth playing oh well back to the good old gran turismo 2 on my ps1 then (still works to this day) :)

[DarkSyde]

Try LFS, Race07, rFactor etc. and you'll realize just how not realistic GRID actually is.

That said, GRID is still a great game. Just don't expect a hardcore simulator even with all driving assists disabled. For $5 with today's sale you can't go wrong.

[PsYcHo126]

Oh yea.. racing games on PS1... GT2... loved it!
Im also not sure if I should buy it... there are so many people who are saying it is amazing.

[Hi2u! Tw1TcH]

It's definitely not arcadey to me more sim like. I can't even keep the car on the road it's so touchy. Handling is terrible imo.

You kind of have to reprogram how you approach racing games when you play Grid. Most games let you turn wildly without it affecting your car physics. Grid on other hand handles more real like (I did not say realistic though! :D). At first there is a huge learning curve where you can't just wildly skid your way through turns (maybe later you will often). You have to slow down before you begin to turn, then accelerate out, otherwise you lose control (atleast until you get used to how all the cars handle).

It's alot like the Dirt series in that sense until you become more accustomed to how they handle, although Dirt was more forgiving. If you give it some time you will find a rewarding experience. Be prepared to rage a few times if you have a short temper, but know that if you play through it then you will be rewarded with a deeper experience. The other trick is track and car knowledge, knowing how fast to go in each car at each spot on the track. Experience plays a key role.

One thing I personally found annoying was the other cars clipping you, forcing you into a crash. Its like they are programmed for this as opposed to simply out racing you, forcing you to use the rewind function so you can see how cool the crash was. Not a particular fan of this aspect.

All in all, its a good racer, not the best, but competent if you give it some solid play time.

[KeredCWR]

Grid is one of my favorite racing games of all time. It's in that nice middle ground between arcade and sim, and I find it a ton of fun. Like mentioned above, the driving assists and difficulty levels allow you to tip the balance to whichever type of racer you like more.

[TrevHead]

Thx for the replies chaps, does anyone play the game with accel mapped to a button and not a trigger (/ pedal) button. Is it playable? if not what other PC racers are out there which are designed with non 360 pads in mind. Im guessing all these games will be older then 3 years considering all new pc games expect players tto have a 360 pad. (which ill be buying soon but for now I want a playable racer for my ps2 clone pad)

[Esparko]

Some people on youtube claim they race with keyboards, they seemed to post some pretty good lap times. I think it's just a matter of getting used to playing with keys. It's still playable with keyboard.

[chalkman]

It's pretty arcadey to me but I love Rfactor and RBR so i mostly enjoy the sims. The cars are really floaty and the brakes work way too good. The cars feel really light in most cases. However, the content is great in this game and there is a lot of fun to be had. I loved the sponsorship and customizing your car along with your teammates (although never did find a teammate that was any good). I finished the game and did enjoy it.