Here's my take in GRID:
Although this game isn't on top anyone's list especially when it comes to physics and handling but GRID has one of the best graphics in a racing game and despite the arcade handling, the cars in the game has better suspension modeling than even Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. It has quite a deep and satisfying gameplay with career mode that provides enough multi-disciplined racing events that spanned over three continents. Then there's the groundbreaking Flashback that allows you to replay the last 10 seconds of your race (leading to a crash or something you would like to rectify).
The car list in GRID:
- DALLARA FORMULA 3*
- FJ 1000*
- BMW 320si
- CHEVROLET CORVETTE C5-R*
- CHEVROLET CORVETTE C6-R
- CHEVROLET CAMARO CONCEPT
- CHEVROLET LACETTI
- MAZDA 787B
- MAZDA RX-7 FD3S
- TOYOTA SUPRA
- TOYOTA COROLLA GT-S (AE86)
- TOYOTA SOARER (JZZ30)
- SUBARU IMPREZA
- PONTIAC GTO
- NISSAN 350Z
- NISSAN SILVIA
- NISSAN SKYLINE GT-R Z-TUNE
- NISSAN R390 GT-1
- TVR TUSCAN CHALLENGE*
- PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR*
- PANOZ ESPERANTE
- SPYKER C8 SPYDER
- LAMBORGHINI MURCIELAGO RGT*
- ASTON MARTIN DBR9
- SALEEN S7R
- COURAGE C65*
- COURAGE LC70*
- LOLA B05/40*
- LOLA B06/10*
- FORD MUSTANG GT-R CONCEPT
- FORD MUSTANG BOSS 302
- DORAN RACING JE4*
- DODGE VIPER SRT10
- MOPAR DODGE CHARGER SRT8 DRIFT
- DODGE CHALLENGER CONCEPT
- KOENIGSEGG CCXR
- KOENIGSEGG CCGT
- PAGANI ZONDA R
- AUDI R10 TDI*
- CREATION CA06/H-JUDD*
- JUPITER EAGLERAY MK5*
- HONDA NSX-R
- PLYMOUTH AAR 'CUDA
And the recent 8 Ball DLC cars:
McLaren F1 GTR – The McLaren F1 GTR wrote itself into the history books as the only GT car to ever win Le Mans outright in the modern era and is considered one of the finest examples of automotive engineering in history.
TVR Cerbera Speed 12 – The TVR 12 smashes past 60 MPH in just under 3 seconds. Production models were planned, but they were considered too powerful to sell to the general public.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X – For over a decade the Evo has been billed as a supercar slayer – now the Evo-X in GRID lets you unleash its sledgehammer aggression in the Pro-Tuned class.
Honda S2000 – This roadster is heavily modified for drifting and has become a cult-favourite thanks to its award winning engine.
Nissan GT-R (S-G2008) – One of the world’s hottest cars makes its debut in Race Driver: GRID in its fully tuned racing spec.
VW Nardo – This powerful concept car made real from VW uses its 600BHP engine to rocket to 60MPH in 3.1 seconds.
Pontiac Firebird Trans AM – The 1971 racing edition of this true American legend is a worthy addition to GRID’s exclusive group of muscle cars.
Volvo C30 – Adding to Race Driver: GRID’s touring car roster comes the C30, Volvo’s agile, cutting edge hot-hatch straight from the STCC grid.
The Tracks:
- Circuito del Jarama
- NĂĽrburgring GP circuit
- Donington Park
- Istanbul Park
- Milan
- Le Mans*
- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
- Okutama Grand Circuit*
- Yokohama Docks
- Shibuya
- Mount Haruna
- San Francisco
- Washington DC
- Detroit
- Long Beach
The game supports the Logitech G25 wheel for both the PC and the PS3. I find that on the PS3, it would not work right out of the box, so after a few trial and error this is my setup:
I think I've come up with a pretty good setup for GRID for those using the G25. I'm able to win "Savage" Mode races without problem and it handles the DBR9 pretty successfully. You don't get the kind of FF games/simulator like GT5P provides and I wasn't expecting it.
FF Setting (In order)
- 50
- 60
- 60
- Deadzone- 0
- Steering Saturation- 25%
- Linearity- 1
- Accelerator Pedal Deadzone- 10%
- Accelerator Pedal Saturation- 85%
- Brake Pedall Deadzone- 15%
- Brake Pedal Saturation- 85%
- 900%- ON
Turning off the Assistance: TCS and ASM ( I usuall keep the ABS ON), makes the driving more enjoyable. As long as you accept that this is not a sim, you might enjoy the racing experience in GRID.
Lastly and perhaps the best feature of GRID is the crash modeling. I have never seen a crash made so realistically and while you have the option to turn off damage, it's the only way to enjoy this game. While there is no weather effect, there is night/day cycle which works great especially at Le Mans 24 hour Race.
GRID is perhaps the most misunderstood racer in recent years. But if you happened to have the PS3 or the PC version and also a good steering wheel (G25, recommended) and once you dialed in the most comfortable setting (as I did with mine), it's a truly enjoyable racer. Even I am guilty of not giving this game what it deserves: a bit more time, patience and the right wheel FFB setting.
I've been a few online races and unlike most other racers (GT5P, FCTP), there seems to be no lag at all.
And I've been doing a few test to see how good the physics is despite other people's reaction towards the game. The cars in GRID does not center pivot, in fact, it behaves better than the cars in Gran Turismo 4. For example in GT4, with N3 tires, go onto the flat straight of Fuji or HSR with all aids of. Stop the car. Turn the wheel all the way to one side. Mash the gas. The car SHOULD light the tires and spin on a dime. Instead it spin lazily 180 degrees and then dirves into a wall. I'm happy to say that with GRID, the car behaves accordingly:
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With the steering wheel, the FFB lacks dampeneing which means that it feels somewhat raw unlike for example GTR2 oe even GT5P. The steering with the FFB set to just above average (at 70),feels spot on. Driving the Koenigsegg CCX with the traction off (the car doesn't come with traction control). it feels exactly as what the reviews about the car say: powerful yet untamed, rough around the edges but a blast to drive. With the CCXR, you get the benefit of the big rear spoiler and in GRID the car becomes more driveable.
I rememeber when I used to have this love/hate sentiments towards this game. With the steering wheel in place the hate has withered to be replaced by complete awe at how well the game translate the whole concept of racing. I've never had so much fun driving in a game before even if in the back of my mind I know that the physics isn't all right and the sense of speed is closer to and arcade NFS game than it is to true simulator like GTR2. If anything it's taken me back to when I first started playing video game: it isn't so much about reality that it s about immersing yourself into a completely different experience while having so much fun doing it.
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