I’m taking a break from the sunny weather, well it’s coming to an end now anyhow, to tell you about my experience with Shift 2 Unleashed. Last year, EA moved the Need for Speed series into a more realistic genre, aiming at being a real competition for the Forza and Gran Turismo series.
While the game was good, it left a little bland feeling and seemed to lack the charm of the two latter series. However, there was a lot of potential in what we saw and in under a year we got the sequel!
Released: 2011
Shift 2 seems to be moving away from the Need for Speed franchise title, an uninteresting detail you may say, but thinking of the arcade nature of other NFS instalments, this may be a quite clever move. EA wants Shift to be mentioned and recognised in the same sentence as Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo, and actually, they've done so with Shift 2!
The game starts off with an action packed, night racing scene. Where you quickly learn that the races in Shift 2 are aggressive and full of breath taking moments. You're then presented with an American Formula D driver, who presents the game and explains all the things you need to know and how to get into your first race.
The menus are easy to navigate and there are shortcuts for jumping straight to the car shop, to get a car suited for the type of race you're about to take part in. The tuning screens should also be easy to use, even for people who've never done this in racing sims previously.
There are two things I really appreciate about this game. First off, it’s the sheer variation in race types, cars and locations. There are circuit races, drag races, drifting, city racing, even some Grand Canyon style races and really tight races on the docks of Tokyo. There are a bunch of race types and championships to join and the game quickly opens them up to the player.
This means that you can play the stuff you want to play early on, you don’t have to press yourself through endless circuit racing, if you prefer drifting for instance! Yet, it also makes you try the most of them out, for the feel of them. There really is a huge difference in driving an American muscle car around a countryside track, compared to drifting a high-tuned Japanese car around tight bends on an arena!
Combine this, with the sheer variation and detail in circuits, with everything from real life circuits to famous city locations. Then add this again with the large amount of cars and car types. You simply will not get bored. Some of the tracks are even the same classics from the good old NFS ProStreet, a huge plus in my book!
The second thing I love about this game, is the intense driving sensation. You feel connected to the road and you sense that the car is heavy and needs constantly to be manoeuvred and kept safe on the track. I absolutely love the cockpit view, in fact, it’s the best one in the racing genre in my opinion. It moves a lot around and feels very dynamic.
Review
Played on: Xbox 360Released: 2011
Shift 2 seems to be moving away from the Need for Speed franchise title, an uninteresting detail you may say, but thinking of the arcade nature of other NFS instalments, this may be a quite clever move. EA wants Shift to be mentioned and recognised in the same sentence as Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo, and actually, they've done so with Shift 2!
The game starts off with an action packed, night racing scene. Where you quickly learn that the races in Shift 2 are aggressive and full of breath taking moments. You're then presented with an American Formula D driver, who presents the game and explains all the things you need to know and how to get into your first race.
The menus are easy to navigate and there are shortcuts for jumping straight to the car shop, to get a car suited for the type of race you're about to take part in. The tuning screens should also be easy to use, even for people who've never done this in racing sims previously.
There are two things I really appreciate about this game. First off, it’s the sheer variation in race types, cars and locations. There are circuit races, drag races, drifting, city racing, even some Grand Canyon style races and really tight races on the docks of Tokyo. There are a bunch of race types and championships to join and the game quickly opens them up to the player.
This means that you can play the stuff you want to play early on, you don’t have to press yourself through endless circuit racing, if you prefer drifting for instance! Yet, it also makes you try the most of them out, for the feel of them. There really is a huge difference in driving an American muscle car around a countryside track, compared to drifting a high-tuned Japanese car around tight bends on an arena!
Combine this, with the sheer variation and detail in circuits, with everything from real life circuits to famous city locations. Then add this again with the large amount of cars and car types. You simply will not get bored. Some of the tracks are even the same classics from the good old NFS ProStreet, a huge plus in my book!
The second thing I love about this game, is the intense driving sensation. You feel connected to the road and you sense that the car is heavy and needs constantly to be manoeuvred and kept safe on the track. I absolutely love the cockpit view, in fact, it’s the best one in the racing genre in my opinion. It moves a lot around and feels very dynamic.
The effect I love the most with the cockpit view though, is the way it blurs the dashboard and surrounding edges of the screen when you reach very high speeds. Giving tunnel visioned intensity and impression of speed. I love it!
I really enjoyed Shift 2. It allows you to try different racing genres, car types and gives you a really on-the-edge-of-your-seat intensity while driving. You quickly get going, there are many championships to complete and the quality of the gameplay and graphics are outstanding. It’s right up there with the GT and Forza series!
I really enjoyed Shift 2. It allows you to try different racing genres, car types and gives you a really on-the-edge-of-your-seat intensity while driving. You quickly get going, there are many championships to complete and the quality of the gameplay and graphics are outstanding. It’s right up there with the GT and Forza series!
