Racing takes a step backwards.
First let me say I have Forza motorsport 3 and have spent many a solid hour or ten tuning, painting and roaring around enjoying everything that Forza has to offer. I rented NFS SHIFT and for that I am gratefull.
From the opening race at Brands Hatch I was appalled by the lack of feel to the handling, simply turning slightly on a straight caused the cars tyres to squeal and a great loss of speed as the car threatened to go sideways at the slightest turn of the wheel. I thought it may be my steering wheel that was causing the problem (Logitech FFX) but tuning revealed it was all working properly and to the letter. Back to the Hatch race again and the problem persisted, the brakes seemed either on or off with little or no progression rewarding you for smooth operation, but I persisted.
After the first race I then purchased my first car and set about creating a racing career, I should have given up right then and there. NFS graphics are dull and uninspired and the view was only made worse when changing to the in car view where a reflection of your dashboard is present on the inside of your windscreen, hindering the allready washed out look of the graphics. The problems persisted with the handling of the car, twitching and squealing on every corner even at the slowest speeds. The racing AI showed no interest in where I was on the track and made no attempt to give me room on corners even when I clearly had the better corner speed. It was after the first race I was bombarded by a wealth of information that I cared little about but then realised I was rewarded for smashing other cars around the track even being rewarded for turning them around mid-race! Its hard to work out exactly where they intented this game to fit in, hard core sim, arcade racer? It doesn't seem to fit either bill.
After the glory that is Forza 3 this title feels flat and uninspired, the racing itself feels dull and unresponsive and the problems with the over sensitive controls are compounded when using a steering wheel. I must admit that I spent little time with this title (apart from the fact it was a rental) but it didn't have anything appealing enough to look past the obvious flaws and lame handling model. Rental at best and only if you cant handle another lap around the Nurburgring in your tuned Forza 3 Dodge Viper.