NFS Shift Gets Drift

Need For Speed Shift is drifting ever closer to launch but with the competitive rivalry of the big new racers its interesting to see just how much information is being held back. Sunday 28th June saw the culmination of the Time Attack Drift Series at the UK’s historic Brands Hatch Circuit for Modified Live; it also saw EA unveil the new Drift Mode featured within NFS Shift. As ever graphics of this build were improving though I can’t help but wish the frame rate was slightly smoother, however the on-screen action is stunning and always improving making every hands-on a pleasure.



Moving into the briefing, Shift Game Producerr Suzy Wallace demonstrated current progress within the titles development, the newly released Profile modes shown at E3 along with upgrades to the HUD and of course the days big announcement, that being the inclusion of Drift Mode.

Drifting is an interesting sport, it first came about in Japan where there are a wide range of twisty mountain roads. Car groups (or sometimes gangs) would go out at night and race down these highly challenging pieces of tarmac, eventually coining the name Midnight Mountain Racers. This then introduced the world of drifting with style being more important than speed but make no bones about it, Drifting requires every ounce of skill and complete concentration from the driver in understanding their vehicle and its relevant level of grip.



Drifting as a sport is still within a relative infancy and was first included in last years GRID title, now EA take their shot at the genre. Suzy explains the premise of the new mode then takes to a fantasy London drift circuit. Based between London's Waterloo station and the London Eye the circuit featured impressive detail, both track side and road surface, in effect demonstrating how cool it would be if a circuit like this really existed. Powersliding round turn 1 Suzy explained the range of difficulty and assists, with scoring based on the angle of slide combined with the relative speed, take it easy for a perfect run and you're not likely to make much of a dent on the scoreboards, this will be all about finding limit balanced between speed, control and angle into the corner.



Following a few runs VVV Gamer were given the chance for a quick spin, handling being exactly what I was expecting. A combination of a PGR drifting style but with a bit more realism making bumps in the track surface having a considerable effect on your race performance. I take it easy on my first run, coming off the power to prevent myself going wide and keeping a clean run of this tight circuit. As expected my score wasn't great so another go ensued, now with some speed taking turn 1, good angle but mid corner I can feel the back end stepping out too far, off the power a bit, bit of opposite lock and I give it too much, tank slapper straight into a wall of tyres, time for a restart. Now I have a good idea, taking turn one with about 50% throttle, really feathering the control and keeping the car in a balanced drift. This mode really works, its giving me something to strive for. Really trying to get some speed on the second half of the lap, I touch a barrier, disaster and my car goes into a spin. But I felt the handling, I knew where the limit was for my experience and pushing that limit back will take a lot of practice. Not the easiest mode but certainly the most realistic interpretation of drifting on a home console to date and for a real challenge the brands Hatch circuit was on play giving an idea of the potential variety this mode offers.



Following the press briefing and some lunch we were given the chance to actually have a ride in a Drift car round the Brands Hatch Indy circuit, being driven by one of Europe's top 16 Drifting racers. I have to admit to extreme excitement at this point, on a boiling hot day while standing in the pits you always get that real racing feel, the smell of burnt brakes, hot tyres and warm oil. While waiting we witnessed a range of super sports cars preparing for their version of the Gumball rally with a GT40 of particular note, also including a Bugatti Veyron. Now finally the time was here, our cars turned up and I was straight into a highly tuned Skyline R33, sorted my seat belts and away we go.



Reaching the end of the pit lane and my driver Gary immediately accelerated up to race pace, wow the feeling was immense. For a second I look at turn 1 Paddock Hill bend and wonder if we didn't need to scrub off some speed but then Gary hits the brakes late and turns in hard down the hill, amazing grip on that corner before dropping down and feeling your stomach in your mouth, the gradient really is something. Racing up Hailwood Hill into Druids and Gary slams the car into a full-on powerslide, windows open and tyre smoke coming in it was a great feeling, Gary had perfect control of the car, not a hint of it getting away from him.

Now I've got a smile from ear to ear, moving into the Graham Hill bend and another great slide early into the corner. He hits the gas along the Cooper Straight racing into the quick changeover of Surtees into McLaren, I can see the other cars ahead initiating their slides, I know whats coming. Heavy on the brakes and a big slide then the inevitable change over from one corner seamlessly into the other, wow you feel that, really some G's going through you. Taking us round the final corner and into the pits, it was the end of a short but fantastic experience and demonstrated if I didn't need it already how amazing these guys really are at what they do.



For car fans there was a wealth of automotive goodness on display, you can find a whole range of images in our Motorshow Gallery, a veritable heap of great car mods. We'll be taking a closer look at this and other motor events as VVV Gamer grows, in the meantime you can enjoy those images meanwhile Need For Speed Shift will be out in September, you can see our other articles relating to this title via the links below.

Interview with Need For Speed Producer Jesse Abney
NFS Shift first hands-on
NFS Shift Image Gallery
A look at the history of the series, Needing More Speed