Need for Speed Payback: The Ultimate Drift Car Showdown
The burning question for any aspiring drift king (or queen) in Need for Speed Payback is: what’s the absolute best drift car? While personal preference and driving style certainly play a role, the BMW M5 generally takes the crown. It offers a fantastic balance of power, handling, and customization options, making it a top contender for dominating drift zones and racking up those sweet, sweet points. But the M5 isn’t the only option.
Beyond the BMW: Exploring Drift Car Excellence
Choosing the right drift car isn’t just about picking the highest-rated vehicle. It’s about finding a car that suits your driving style and that you can tune effectively to achieve the desired handling characteristics. Here’s a deeper dive into some other exceptional drift cars in NFS Payback, each with its own unique strengths:
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Lamborghini Huracan: The Huracan offers incredible raw power and a surprisingly agile chassis for a supercar. It’s a challenging drift car to master, requiring precise throttle control, but the rewards are significant. If you’re looking for a stylish drift machine with aggressive performance, this is an excellent choice.
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Ford Mustang Daraltic: While not a universally acclaimed pick, the Mustang offers a classic drifting experience with plenty of room for customization. The powerful engine makes it easy to break traction, but you’ll need to get the suspension dialed in for optimal drift control.
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Nissan Silvia: A legendary drift car in real life, the Silvia is also a strong contender in NFS Payback. Its relatively light weight and responsive handling make it easier to control than some of the more powerful options on this list. The Silvia is also an excellent canvas for visual customization, letting you create a truly unique drift machine.
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Nissan 350Z: The 350Z offers a good starting point for new drifters, with a balance of power and control that makes it more forgiving than some of the more temperamental options. It’s also readily available and relatively inexpensive, freeing up your cash for upgrades and tuning.
Tuning for Drift Domination: Unlocking Your Car’s Potential
Simply owning a good drift car isn’t enough. Effective tuning is essential to unlock its true potential. Need for Speed Payback offers a surprisingly deep tuning system that allows you to adjust various aspects of your car’s handling, including:
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Suspension: Adjusting the suspension is critical for controlling body roll and weight transfer, which are essential for initiating and maintaining drifts. Stiffer suspension can improve responsiveness, while softer suspension can make the car more forgiving.
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Differential: The differential controls how power is distributed between the rear wheels. A limited-slip differential (LSD) is essential for drifting, as it helps to keep both wheels spinning under power, making it easier to break traction and maintain a drift.
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Brakes: Adjusting the brake bias can help you fine-tune your car’s handling. More front brake bias can help you initiate drifts, while more rear brake bias can help you maintain them.
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Downforce: While downforce is generally beneficial for grip racing, it can actually hinder drifting. Lowering the downforce can reduce grip and make it easier to break traction.
Experiment with different tuning setups to find what works best for your driving style and the specific drift events you’re competing in.
Mastering the Art of Drifting in NFS Payback
Even with the best car and a perfectly tuned setup, you’ll still need to hone your drifting skills to truly dominate the leaderboards. Here are a few tips to help you improve your drifting technique:
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Use the handbrake judiciously: The handbrake is your best friend when initiating drifts, but overuse can lead to spins and loss of control. Use it sparingly to break traction and initiate the drift, then feather the throttle and steering to maintain it.
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Master throttle control: Precise throttle control is essential for maintaining a consistent drift angle and speed. Too much throttle will cause the car to spin out, while too little will cause it to straighten out.
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Counter-steer effectively: Counter-steering is the art of steering into the direction of the slide to maintain control. Practice counter-steering smoothly and precisely to keep your car pointed in the right direction.
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Learn the tracks: Knowing the layout of the drift zones is essential for maximizing your score. Pay attention to the corners, the entry angles, and the exit points, and plan your drifts accordingly.
By mastering these techniques and finding the right car and setup, you can become a true drift champion in Need for Speed Payback. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep drifting and keep experimenting until you find what works best for you.
FAQs: Your Burning Questions About Drifting in NFS Payback Answered
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of drifting in Need for Speed Payback:
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What’s the best way to initiate a drift? The handbrake is the most common method, but tapping the throttle while turning can also induce a drift. Experiment to see what works best for each car and corner.
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What does drift angle mean in NFS Payback? Drift angle refers to the angle between your car’s heading and its direction of travel. A higher angle means more sideways action and, generally, more points.
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How do I increase my drift score? Maintain a high drift angle, sustain the drift for a long period, and link drifts together smoothly. Proximity to walls and obstacles can also increase your score, but at the risk of crashing!
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Is AWD or RWD better for drifting in NFS Payback? RWD (Rear-Wheel Drive) is generally preferred for drifting. AWD (All-Wheel Drive) cars tend to grip too much, making it harder to break traction and initiate drifts. However, some AWD cars can be tuned effectively for drifting.
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Can you drift at high speeds in NFS Payback? Yes, but it requires exceptional skill and car control. High-speed drifts can be incredibly rewarding, but also incredibly risky.
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How do I tune my car for drifting? Experiment with suspension stiffness, differential settings, brake bias, and downforce. Lowering the downforce and stiffening the rear suspension are often good starting points.
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What are the best upgrades for a drift car? Focus on performance upgrades that improve power and handling, such as engine upgrades, suspension upgrades, and differential upgrades.
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Can you use nitrous while drifting? Yes, nitrous can provide a temporary boost of power to help maintain a drift or recover from a near spin-out.
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Are some drift zones easier than others? Yes, some drift zones have wider corners and more forgiving layouts, while others are tighter and more technical. Start with the easier zones to build your skills and confidence.
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What’s the best camera angle for drifting? This is largely a matter of personal preference. Some players prefer the chase camera, while others prefer the cockpit camera. Experiment to see what gives you the best sense of control and visibility.
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What cars from the article are best for beginners? Cars like the Nissan 350Z and Nissan Silvia are generally more forgiving and easier to handle for new drifters.
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Is NFS Payback worth playing just for the drifting? If you enjoy arcade-style drifting mechanics and a decent level of customization, then yes, NFS Payback can be a fun game for drifting enthusiasts.
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Are there any real-world drifting techniques I can apply to the game? Understanding real-world drifting concepts like weight transfer, throttle control, and counter-steering can definitely help you improve your skills in the game.
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Where can I learn more about game-based learning? The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) website provides valuable resources and insights into the intersection of games and education.
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How does downforce affect drifting? Less downforce typically makes it easier to break traction and initiate a drift, while more downforce can provide better stability and control at higher speeds, although at the expense of drift initiation.