This leads to much more realistic physics compared to Mario Kart, but also a much harder to master game, and as you noticed there are plenty of ways to lose momentum. There is no hardcoded top speed and the acceleration stat is the physics one (the a of the F = ma equation). Kartrider Drift uses force-based physics outside of the scripted (automated) sections. Kartrider puts this front and center of the game and it's such a huge switch up (along with a lack of skill in drifting makes karts slide like on ice). But, this difficulty isn't immediately apparent until you do time trials. Their physics is a lot more static and speed is easier to maintain there, with the hard thing being getting consecutive mini turbos. Mario kart games in comparison have rock solid speed. I crash a lot doing time attacks and in speed mode, but then I think about all of what I'm doing and have to chill, because this game makes handling such an herculean task to master, and the fragility of speed is what keeps me coming back.
I love how easy it is to lose speed while drifting and how fickle it is to maintain optimal drifting angles + racing lines + optimal nitro angles + exiting drift at the right angle + correct steering afterwards + timing the drift button taps + etc etc. This is aimed at kartrider in general, but I'm experiencing this in Drift.
