The frequency with which EA pushes out Need for Speed titles nearly matches the amount of keyboard-playing cat videos appearing on the Internet. And while I enjoyed last years arcadey Need for Speed: Undercover (the 19th entry at my last count), it seems I was in the minority, as the publisher has taken the keys to their over-saturated racing series from Black Box and turned them over to Slightly Mad Studios. In changing gears, theyve fashioned a more focused title that has more in common with racing simulators such as Forza and Gran Turismo than with the cop-evading entries that put the franchise on the map.
The results might alienate fans looking for another pedal-to-the-medal weekend rental, but should please those craving a sim with some new tricks under the hood. Need for Speed SHIFT packs some significant differentiating features within its gameplay progression and visual style, both of which make it not necessarily better, but depending on your tastes, a worthy entry in this increasingly crowded genre. On the gameplay front, SHIFTs career mode plays more like an RPG; rather than requiring players to win every event, it grants Profile Points (like XP) for in-race style. So, trading paint, drifting, and drafting are just as important as being the first to the finish line. Achieving points earns you stars which, in turn, unlock new tiers of career-boosting events. Of course, youll be collecting plenty of coin as well, so a car full of sweet rides is also tied to your success on the circuit.
I rarely complete careers in racing games, but SHIFTs RPG-like progression kept me engaged much longer than most because it was able to deliver that one-more-level addictiveness experienced in other XP-earning genres. What really kept my foot to the floor, though, were the scary-real cockpit perspectives. Sure, plenty of titles offer detail-drenched interiors, but SHIFT ups the anteand the adrenalineby making the driver more than just a spectator sitting in a slick ride. If you can pry your eyes off the rapidly approaching blacktop for a few seconds, you can move your head around; look to the floor for a peek at your foot applying pressure to the gas pedal, or take a gander out the passenger side window if you want to watch the scenery fly by at 180 mph. Even cooler are the jarring crash effects from this first-person view. Slam into a guard rail, and your vision will blur, the gamepad will rumble, and youll almost expect to feel your seat belt tug across your torso. If SHIFT were any more realistic, Id have a lap full of scalding hot Dunkin Donuts coffee to contend with.
score 8.5 out of ten
verdict 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 Speeds new ride.
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