“Shift 2: Unleashed” feels less like a game than a mission statement. This is nothing new for the “Need for Speed” series. Still searching for a distinctive identity nearly 20 years after its debut, the franchise plants its flag in different subgenres of racing, and you can identify each entry’s target audience by its subtitle.
“Hot Pursuit” is for people who like running from the cops, “Underground” is for people who are impressed by decals, and “Shift” is for people who like driving simulators but find the “Gran Turismo” franchise a bit clinical. In mission statement terms, “Shift 2: Unleashed” is a racing simulator, not a driving simulator. Racing, not driving. Got it?
As you play it, the game seems to be whispering in your ear, “I’m not for those gearheads who care more about back-of-the-box stats than how the game actually plays. ‘Gran Turismo’ lets you know what it’s like to drive a Daihatsu Midget II, but I let you know what it’s like to actually race cars.”
| ‘Shift 2: Unleashed’ |
| » Systems: PS3, Xbox 360, PC |
| » Price: $59.95, $49.95 (PC) |
| » Rating: 2 out of 5 stars |
This whisper campaign manifests itself in new features like a helmet view, whose shakiness makes it a far cry from the standard cockpit camera. But attempts at authenticity, like the helmet view automatically looking into corners, just like a real racer would, can be confusing to gamers used to cameras only turning when the vehicle is.
The realism extends to the controls, which is either a benefit or a drawback, depending on what you want from the game. The sensitivity is such that the inputs seem designed for use with a steering wheel only. Which, if you have one, is a good thing. If not, You can dumb down the difficulty of the game by adding assists for braking and steering; but at that point, you’re almost not driving the car. With the assists on, the controls feel unresponsive. With them off, you’re all over the place.
More successful is an updated Autolog, which keeps track of all your times and shows new records to any friends you have who own the game, fostering a constant competition. Also, the graphics are fantastic. The crash modeling is good enough to be scary when you manage to flip your car over on its roof.
The game features appearances from standouts like 2010 Formula Drift Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. and American LeMans Series star Tommy Milner. If you know who those guys are, and you have a driving rig in your living room, “Shift 2” might be the game for you. Otherwise, you’d probably be more comfortable in a lower gear.
