A Large Improvement on Its Predecessor, but Not Without Its Flaws...

User Rating: 8.5 | Shift 2: Unleashed PS3
By ki11ma11 | Review Date:
I loved NFS SHIFT and couldn't wait for NFS SHIFT 2. I was out on a limb about whether or not to buy SHIFT 2 but with Socom 4 and Mortal Kombat on the horizon I chose to rent it instead. Now I am a huge race car nut and love watching racing. Driving in the FIA GT3 and GT1 Championships makes for some very impressive driving. Especially from the new helmet cam which makes driving more visceral and intense. Getting wedged between opposing racers and having your car bounce around like a pin ball never felt more engrossing or intense. The Formula D championship is VERY VERY challenging even on medium which is what I had it set. After taking 2 days to complete the Formula D series and beat Vaughn to get his Monster Energy Drink Mustang I had finally grasped the concept of drifting in Shift 2. HOWEVER the games bright spots are dimmed a bit by its dimmer spots. This game has froze on me several times after a bit. One other time it glitched with no sound but I was able to drive around the track, and the other made the car look like a kaleidoscope of colors. I had to restart my PS3 and that solved the problem. Also the car's physics at time can seem floaty and a bit unresponsive. Despite those few things I have no real gripes about this racer. Now onto the bright spots lets just say career mode is very fun and satisfying with Autolog. It may also be one of the longest and difficult career's I ever played yet one of the easiest to earn money in *they practically throw it at you* besides Gran Turismo 5. Needless to say there is no short comings when it comes to things to do in career. Also if you beat specific championships you get those championship's best driver's car. Such as Formula D with Vaughn Gittin Jr. Works you will receive Mike Whiddet's works Rx7. Same goes for GT1 and GT3. Another huge improvement I noticed over Shift 1 is the crashes. Spin off the track and catch the grass just right you will flip through the air tearing your car to shreds. Your vision blurs, and driver grunts from the impact. Drift a car and clip a wall either from the front or rear and lose a tire down the track. Granted this doesnt always happen if you hit the wall it just depends on how hard you hit it. 8 times out of 10 you will hit a wall and see debris fly off your car like a radiator hose or side mirror. Hit it a little harder but not hard enough to knock yourself out and you can lose a bumper but still limp to the finish line. Racing at night adds a sense of tension and fear as the next turn ahead of you can be your last. AI opponents can flip and careen out of control taking you and others out with them. Helmet cam adds to all this to make one very delightful and filling racing experience. However racing in helmet cam does take some getting used to with the driver's head turning into turns before the car does. It can add a sense of the car losing control when it really isn't and may cause you to over correct when you don't need to. The GT1 and GT3 championships are challenging and intense. The perfect combination for any racing fan looking for a superb fix until FORZA 4 or whatever racer you may have your eyes set on. Car vinyl customization is easy and while not as in depth as some would like it does let your creative juices flow to an extent. After playing SHIFT 2 UNLEASHED the last 3 days straight I have come to the conclusion that although I believe it would be a good buy for any racer fan I would hold off a bit until they iron out all the kinks. Which I would believe to be half a month or so from now. All in all do what I am and pick this game up used for under 50 bucks. It'd be well worth it not only in experience but money well spent as well.

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