DriveClub Beginner’s Tips: Behind the Wheel

After being delayed for nearly a year, Sony’s DriveClub finally arrived for PlayStation 4, giving players the opportunity to take part in a number of racing events, both offline through a single player campaign and online with friends.

Before you step behind the virtual wheel, consider these tips. This info will help you get the most from your driving experience. Good luck, and don’t get upset when we speed past you.

Become a racing legend

The first thing you’ll want to do when beginning a race is get a feel for the controls. Evolution Studios, who previously worked on the MotorStorm titles, did a good job nailing down how each vehicle is supposed to handle. Still, when it comes to reaching a high speed, you may need to take care around turns, as the game doesn’t have Forza Horizon 2’s sophisticated driving assists.

This should go without saying, but avoid colliding into objects on the side of the road, such as rails or signs, as they can penalize how many credits you earn in the race. Try and master the turn with an ample amount of braking, but don’t slam on the brakes completely unless your current piece of road calls for it. Opponents won’t hesitate to get past you.

In addition, don’t be afraid to drive defensively. Colliding with other cars won’t damage your ride too much, and the penalty is largely irrelevant. This is good to keep in mind when trying to maintain the lead, as you can effectively block adversaries and still keep an advantage. Just don’t let them try to run into you from the side, as you can spin out and lose the lead.

Learning how to drift

Drifting works differently in DriveClub than it does in other games, since Evolution Studios went for a more realistic approach. Ideally, you need to reach a decent speed and tap the handbrake to avoid spinning out.

For heavier turns, you’ll want to rely on typical braking so you don’t careen into the wall. Simply tap the emergency brake as you’re heading into the turn, and as you go into it, stop tapping and accelerate. As you do this, you’ll feel yourself going into the drift, but try to level out after the turn finishes, or you could end up going too far. This can take some practice, but keep in mind you can always restart a race if you feel you’ve made too many errors. You won’t lose money as a result.

Drifting is vital in DriveClub for two reasons. One, it’ll enable you to keep a good amount of acceleration, and considering the AI racers (and your online opponents) may be a bit merciless, it always helps to have the speed. Two, there are certain earmarked activities in each race, drift challenges being one of them, and you’ll be clocked based on how much time you spend in the drift. We suggest practicing as much as possible.

Joining a club

Finally, let’s talk about the social aspect of the game, joining a Club. Here, you can earn points with a team and challenge rival squads while earning some extra cash to purchase other vehicles, including elite class cars that you’ll want to use later in the game.

When it comes to selecting a club, it helps to know the other players. Having friends along for the ride is your best bet, similar to the Online Road Trip in Forza Horizon 2. This way, you’ll know each of their tactics and work together as a team against opponents.

If you don’t know too many people playing DriveClub yet, feel free to join other groups based on invites you can receive within the game, or messages through PlayStation Network. They’re being passed around quite a bit, and the new teams could introduce you to potential allies who will help you score first place victories. Most of these drivers don’t fool around, so don’t be afraid to experiment – and be sure to bring your A-list driving skills.

Don’t be afraid to look for online challenges either. Clubs throw out gauntlets all the time in DriveClub, and accepting one earns you the opportunity to rake in more cash and unlock even more cars.

Good luck, and let’s hit the road!

DriveClub is available now for PlayStation 4.