Does anyone else here think that Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit is a hard feckin' game?  I mean, with all the rubberbanding and those unforgiving time trials, I wanted to yank my hair out after a 45 minute session this afternoon.  I'm no pro behind the wheel, but I think I have pretty solid driving skills.  Yet I find it nearly impossible to make it through those time trials maps and secure gold without bumping into anything.  And forget about slowing down for turns and corners; you'll never make it.  Anyway, if you have any experience with this game and are sharing similar frustrations holler back and let me know what parts are killing you. 
 
-Mike 
 
PS.  Silly question but: is swearing permitted?  You never know...

Best advice for racing games, never brake. You have to be the fastest, breaking slows you down, so logically you should never brake if you want to win. Just hold down that gas button until your finger explodes.
 
Swearing is encouraged. 

Drift more, I guess.

I take it you've never played a Criterion game before? 
 
@TheSilentTruth said:

" Drift more, I guess. "

" I take it you've never played a Criterion game before? 
 
@TheSilentTruth said:

" Drift more, I guess. "

Never not drifting. "

Try and get as much boost as possible too. Slip stream (Except when they have spike strips!) and drive in the opposite lane whenever you can, using that boost out of corners will help you get your speed back up quickly.

" I take it you've never played a Criterion game before? 
 
@TheSilentTruth said:

" Drift more, I guess. "

Never not drifting. "

Game is great. I am so happy with the difficulty and needing to replay levels. Nostalgia in HD ftw!

" @ShaggyChu: Ah, that explains it - never got into Paradise as heavily as Burnout 3. Awful memory. Couldn't learn the map so working out routes for the higher level cars at ridiculous speeds was just too much of a hassle. It's why I prefer NFS:HP's take on the open world to an extent.   That's sort of annoying though - means you can never perfect a lap. Adds variety but also makes those Gold medals harder to get in theory if a perfect run can be screwed up by unforeseen traffic. "

" @Vitor said:

" @ShaggyChu: Ah, that explains it - never got into Paradise as heavily as Burnout 3. Awful memory. Couldn't learn the map so working out routes for the higher level cars at ridiculous speeds was just too much of a hassle. It's why I prefer NFS:HP's take on the open world to an extent.   That's sort of annoying though - means you can never perfect a lap. Adds variety but also makes those Gold medals harder to get in theory if a perfect run can be screwed up by unforeseen traffic. "

Weird. I literally just got to the part in this week's Bombcast where they talk about this very thing.  "

The rubberbanding is some massive bullshit, especially because I can dominate a match all the way until the last mile of many Hot Pursuit matches.  In that last mile, everyone ALWAYS shows the fuck back up and slams into everyone, causing me to lose out. 
 
Beyond that, I think it's still a pretty excellent game.

" @ShaggyChu: Ah, that explains it - never got into Paradise as heavily as Burnout 3. Awful memory. Couldn't learn the map so working out routes for the higher level cars at ridiculous speeds was just too much of a hassle. It's why I prefer NFS:HP's take on the open world to an extent.   That's sort of annoying though - means you can never perfect a lap. Adds variety but also makes those Gold medals harder to get in theory if a perfect run can be screwed up by unforeseen traffic. "

" @Vitor said:

" @ShaggyChu: Ah, that explains it - never got into Paradise as heavily as Burnout 3. Awful memory. Couldn't learn the map so working out routes for the higher level cars at ridiculous speeds was just too much of a hassle. It's why I prefer NFS:HP's take on the open world to an extent.   That's sort of annoying though - means you can never perfect a lap. Adds variety but also makes those Gold medals harder to get in theory if a perfect run can be screwed up by unforeseen traffic. "

I didn't have TOO hard of a time getting all Golds myself. I was always more worried about hitting a wall during the Cop Fast Responses than hitting cars. I also never had a hard time finding my around Paradise. In fact, I would get mad at myself when I would miss a turn after realizing it was a faster route.  Although, I've put in over 500 hours collectively into Criterion racing games, sooooo I'm kinda OP at playing them at this point. :P "

Thanks for all the tips fellas.  One more question: 
 
What perspective do you prefer?  I stay almost exclusively in the "behind-the-car' perspective.  With the intense speed, oncoming traffic and shortcuts I can't imagine not having as wide a view of the road as possible.  What do you all think though?

I had some serious problems completing all of the 'interceptor' events. There were a few towards the end that I thought I'd never beat. 
 
Just the sheer craziness of the AI driver -- the U-turns, the sudden shortcuts, the downright magical acceleration...good lord.

Use the handbrake for drifting sharp turns. Works for me atleast. Never had a problem with the time trials.

The game is enjoyable enough that although the time trials are a bitch, and some of the events towards the end are ridiculous, I've enjoyed this game imensely.
 
I hate how they added the +2/3 for the Rapid Response events, would make those just that much easier if they hadn't done that one.

I gotta say that the cop events seem to be a lot easier to finish than the racer events. I just got a gold medal in all of the cop events but I have 31/60 gold medals for the racer events. The Hot pursuits and the racing events aren't impossible but the time trials and gauntlets seem to require being able to drive in a zen like trance that I haven't quite accomplished.

The rubberband AI really is frustrating. Initially I put it down to the AI just using nitro like I was to get past them, but there's more to it than that for sure.

rubberbanding is a bit frustrating sometimes.  I have found myself waiting behind first place until there is a mile left and then letting loose with nitrous or turbo.  

For some reason, I have the hardest time getting gold on Rapid Response events. Those damn 2-second penalties kick my ass!

 Swearing is encouraged.  "  

Just getting into the game. It really seems like the Rapid Response trials are going to be the death of me. There's one early on--one with a blue Corvette--that I drove flawlessly. No collisions or penalties or anything. Still missed Distinction by a solid five seconds. 

Nah. It's a pretty hard fucking game though.
 
But in all seriousness; Good Luck Have Drifting.

I was hoping that I wasn't the only person with this issue.  I'm surprised no one (at least, no one I heard) wrote or said anything about this game's difficulty.  I'm the kind of guy who has been playing racing games for years and it's one of my favorite genres.  Maybe it's just one of those things that I have to refine and just get used to.  I have no doubt that once I get the game's controls and physics down that I'll really love it.

Feckin'. 
 
Tekken? 
 
I reckon.

" I was hoping that I wasn't the only person with this issue.  I'm surprised no one (at least, no one I heard) wrote or said anything about this game's difficulty.  I'm the kind of guy who has been playing racing games for years and it's one of my favorite genres.  Maybe it's just one of those things that I have to refine and just get used to.  I have no doubt that once I get the game's controls and physics down that I'll really love it. "

three easy steps :
1. before turn brake a little bit .
2. drift a bit during turn .
3. nitros out to straighten up and gain speed.
use the above steps and you  cant go wrong :)
(assuming u remember to use the accelerator in the straight bits)
p.s. hitting the traffic is a BAD thing ! ... who knew right ? :D

I really need to play this some more! Not finding it very easy, but having loads of fun.
 
Play more on the later events for a while then go back and try the earlier events you might have struggled with before and it they seem to get easier.