Can NFS shift get the series back on track?
Single player
NFS shift has a large career mode, which gives you the usual basic races, Where you race in basic cars, such as the Golf gti, or Renault megane. In you're career you're awarded stars for doing certain objectives such as staying on the driving line or hitting your rivals off the track. These objectives make races a bit more interesting, and more challenging.
Shift has 60+ cars to choose from in career, with exotic cars such as the Bugatti veyron or Mclaren F1. The choice of cars is pretty small compared with Forza, but the cars in the game are all fun to drive, and the basic cars can be upgraded, so Shift does well with what it has.
Car handling
Shift promises to be a sim, and sadly it just isn't, Cars slide all around the place, and in 3rd person cam the physics look ridiculous, but Shift redeems itself when you race in cockpit. For some reason the game feels so much better in cockpit, The tyres screeching as you tug the wheel or you doing 220mph in a veyron with everything blurred. So handling wise Shift is no Sim, but as a driving experience it's incredible.
Graphics
Shift has fantastic car models and enviorments. The cockpits have been recreated to near perfection and the games runs smooth.
Multiplayer
Shift offers a very exciting MP, but too many races turn into derbys, so like most racers out there shift has the usual a holes, but get some clean racers, and prepare for an exciting race.
Pro's
Beautiful Graphics
Big career
Fantastic racing experience
Great MP
Con's
AI is incredibly aggressive
Not a proper sim (Great experience though)
Frame rate can drop
Verdict
Shift is no sim, but what EA have done is make a racer that is rewarding and excting to play, and if you love racing then Shift is worth you're time.