Need for Speed: Shift

What EA has done here is reinvent a bloated franchise, and turned it into a product that the hardcore and the more casual among us can enjoy equally.

Overall, Need For Speed: Shift is a welcome change of pace in the long-running series, and a welcome addition to the sim racing genre as well.

Need for Speed reinvents itself with a game very different to the series tradition but that results in an excellent racing game, with the right dose of simulation.

SHIFT will disappoint those looking for Maggie Q and cop chases, but racing sim fans, looking for a solid alternative to Forza and the like, should buckle-up for Need for Speed’s new ride.

For what it is, however, Shift is a fun game and is probably the most accessible sim racer for casual fans or newcomers to the genre.

Not the best on 360, but certainly not the worst. [Dec 2009, p.80]

The game feels like it's stuck between two worlds, and it doesn't execute well enough on either side to fully satisfy any type of racing fan.

I'm glad I waited so long to write a review for this game because I wanted a lot of other racing games to come out and I wanted to ****'s 2-11 now and I'll tell you what,this game has screams of greatness and pure quality racing no matter what reason you play racing games.I personally think that Forza 3 is the best console racing game ever created but this game is a very close second along with Dirt 2.This game really has it all,the **** pit view,graphics,game play ,replay value,depth,character,ect..Everyone has there own opinion but I would pick this game in a heart beat if the choice was this or gran turismo 5,that game is ridiculous and sloppy but anyway,I love the sense of REALLY driving in this game and the damage model is great.Grid tried to do what this game really pulled off.I'm waiting very anxiously for Shift 2 unleashed.This year has a lot of amazing racing games coming out but Need for speed shift unleashed gets to be first ,so that's good!Great games EA!

NFS Shift was an fun experience. Comparing to Shift 2, Project Cars 3 then to Shift 1 especially. I really enjoyed Shift 1.Driving model is fair not Forza heavy, not sim deep. Arcade/sim aspect is fair on settings/feel. Drifting is more playable then Shift 2 so that helped or I just got used to it quicker/more in Shift 1.Whiplash effect when hitting walls/opponents is still a nice detail. The graphics are good for the time. The menu looks fair and aren't hard to navigate.Driving settings tutorial drive, then shows the career menu/other options appear (not visible when starting the game only after tutorial). Some event/tier cutscenes at **** varied game modes of career, quick race, online multiplayer (not tested servers likely down by now).Events vary from races (regular, cars limited to country), time trials (4 min), drifting, car battles (5 second split, 3 attempts, 1 on 1 1 lap/sector), 10 or 30 lap endurance (10 circuits, 30 oval/figure 8), one car events (manufacturer events).They do the job for event types. Other games do the job for hillclimb/touge & more.Controls/sounds/deadzones/sensitivity/Y axis/inverse shifting,ABS, TCS, visual/full damage model, auto/manual, presets, AI difficulty.L2/R2 not ideal (good enough) to X/Square/O or L1/R1, Shift 2 limited configs too. There is a Right Stick Up & Down (config 3) & a few changes to camera, gear up/down (config 2).Career mode was good. No Shift 2/Project Cars 3 awkwardness of design. Update 1.2 I can't play on Autopolis in Shift 2, it loops & doesn't progress but otherwise it was a good career mode structure of events. Playing 1.0 of Shift 1 on PS3 disk for review so can't say for updates. Everything works..Credits & event access are really easy. Had Level 14/50, 280 stars, played half the game and tier 5? **** variety of event types is good for what races, drifting, endurance, one on one and more. I used few cars due to limited car slots, however many cars you do or don't need to use but I got to every tier 1 & 2 event & had enough to skip tiers 3 & 4 to access the NFS Championship at the end of the **** a bad thing just odd I can skip half the game that's how fair it is to the player to progress. Like Gran Turismo 6 of get needed stars, move on. If struggle with events sure but half the game? Level system unlocks invite events, garage slots, customisation, sponsor credits. Level gap **** customisation is fine of a reward but not something I'm interested in but various options exist/I can't compare to past NFS **** if you do all the events in each tier and the next invites I think the player may get to a certain level and not care to grind to level 50. The level up rewards are fine but not **** limited slots for car purchases I wasn't sure on but if your careful you can get by. Which as car slots open up by player level it can be a factor. You have credits or PS/Xbox store but just go credits, the stores likely don't offer any benefit these days and progression is really easy you get credits without having to put that much effort **** variety of brands/cars are fair. Major US/EU/JP brands are included. A few sports, muscle, supercars, nothing too out there and wacky like a GT/Forza game would have of the time. NFS games usually have small rosters of cars and it's about fit to those. Probably around 50-70 cars (not counted) but fair variety of **** stats/differences do help with events. You have works cars that can be upgraded and used in works events. drift cars for drift events (can be used in races just specialises in drift for those events), and Nitrous for cars that have the option to use it.Prices vary with cars so stats/how you drive is important but I'd say just how you drive is and you can get by with a slightly heavier/slower/faster car depending. If they fit the tier your good to go.Opponent AI are fine, not outstanding. Tracks on offer/track design is fair of real locations, cut off for drift events or varied types from circuits to GP/smaller layouts to a few ovals/speedways. NPCs in the stands look & act fine as well as those standing around before you start the events.Clean/aggressive driving scale can be hit & miss of player driving. The amount of drafting, clean sector, overtaking, trading paint, power sliding & more it varies. Have a fair amount of points & x2 period happen in points bar.Livery options: paint (colour wheel, finishes, different areas), rim (15''-20'') & vinyl (5 livery presets and custom) with no copying sides from what heard. Can't compare to other NFS games. Best check other YT/Meta reviews instead.Performance upgrades vary from 1-3 stages for drivetrain, engine, turbo, brake, suspension, tires.Body **** reduction for aerodynamics & race parts from exhaust, shorter final drive, increase boost, seam-welded chassis, brake master cylinder & wider tires/wheels.Quick tuning/advanced slider views.Works cars have more upgrades.

Poor vehicle handling and annoying audio bugs keet this game from being great. Missing the real fun of an arcade racer, but lacks the refinement of a sim. Stuck between the two and held back from being a great racing game becauseof it.

The races are really fun, however that's only a third of the game, with the rest being drifting and time trials which ****.

This game set the benchmark for the WORST GAME EVER MADE. It was shipped incomplete, the controller deadzone was 20% making you feel like you're trying to keep an out-of-control schoolbus on the road, the game was frustrating and broken at best, nothing made any sense. JUST THINKING ABOUT THIS GAME MAKES ME MAD I WASTED MY LIFE PLAYING IT. never again EA ever.