Shift 2: Unleashed

[DarkMellie]

As a HUGE fan of the first game, everything I see about Shift 2 has me drooling or batting-off. While not the greatest experience with a wheel, with a controller plugged in I find that Shift gave me more of a visceral thrill than Forza 3, GT5 or any other racing game... and I'm pretty sure this isn't just me when I say it's the best looking racer to ever grace our screens on Xbox or PC. Shift 2 will also include Autolog, the 'offline is the new online' stat-tracking system first seen in NFS Hot Pursuit and confirmed by the publisher as being 'part of the NFS-DNA'.

Shift 2 (thank you Wikipedia)
Developer: Slightly Mad Studios
Executive Producer: Marcus Nilsson (you know, that guy from DICE)
Release Date: 29/3/11
Platform: PC, 360, PS3





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Cool drift-challenge vid on the NFS site is here.








Discuss!

[v4moose]

Cool - maybe I'll leave my hardcore simmin on the PC and pick this up on the xbox. Will be interesting to see a comparison of it running on different hardware. Does indeed sounds like a game more suited to a controller.

[Zisheng Chen]

I think the new helmet-cam would make it something worth playing with a wheel to really immerse yourself in the racing.

[DarkMellie]

One of the vids does have a dev stating they have extensively reworked the handling on the higher-speed vehicles. My main issue with Shift on the G25 was that playing against mates with a controller was a losing proposition because the steering was so ridiculously twitchy.

Went back and played some Shift today, so damn fun.

[brat81]

**** me this is the FIRST time i've ever been excited about a NFS game that gameplay video alone send shivers down my spine, i just hope it's not a major let down like the first shift (considering the engine the game uses is created by simbin) it so much potential but it went no where.

I hope they have full support for ALL wheels

also
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[DarkMellie]

Seems that a leaked xbox copy has hit torrent sites. SIGH.

Anyway, looking forward to picking up my copy on Thursday!

In the meantime, here's some lambo hotlaps to keep you interested...

[Mythor]

... Mount Panorama? Now I'm interested.

[brat81]

... Mount Panorama? Now I'm interested.

I know right ABOUT FRIGGIN TIME!


If this game plays aswell as it looks this might be the first NFS game i've bought since Underground 2

[brat81]

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All i can say is SO GOOD
Head movement is a tad annoying but you get used to it

[DarkMellie]

The helmet cam looks really natural.

Gods I hate Suzuka.

[brat81]

The helmet cam looks really natural.

Gods I hate Suzuka.

As do i, it's a hell lot of fun this i'm actually surprised

[I.esus]

Game feels like a steaming pile of **** to me.

Using no assists, manual + clutch on a G25.
- The FFB is almost non-existant even on 100%.
- The car feels like it has basically no contact with the ground.
- The car handling overall is quite 'floaty'.
- Helmet cam sucks, it's too hard to judge corners properly, and makes the car handling feel even more floaty than normal.
- The menus are retarded.
- The fat dude in the videos is annoying. Reminds me of how much I hated DiRT 2's constant talking from 'professional' (read; annoying) race-car drivers.
- The game auto sets it to automatic transmission for the first race with AI cars if you don't set the top time on the initial 2 laps, and there's no way to change it until you complete the race and listen to that annoying fatty some more.
- AI cars are still too aggressive, like the first SHIFT.

That's all I can think of so far, and I've only done is the first 4 races of the career.

Bought a Focus ST, did some minor upgrades... raced a bit, got annoyed with the car handling and AI.

Most realistic racer ever, my ****.
What a horrible marketing strategy.
Also they misspelled the game title... need to remove the F.

[DarkMellie]

It's not meant to be a sim though!

They mean realistic in appearance and visual feel. The first game was sexy as hell but the physics were all messed up. I just hope it's fun to play, if I want sim-time I'll hop on iRacing.

[I.esus]

From the SHIFT 2 Wiki;

Shift 2: Unleashed redefines the racing simulator genre by delivering authentic and true-to-life, dynamic crash physics, plus insanely detailed real-world cars, drivers and tracks.

"Sim" is also mentioned numerous times further through the article.

[DarkMellie]

Well that's flat-out full of **** then!

They've said so often it's about simulating the experience so for them now to attempt to have it looked at as a sim is a bit disappointing.

IDGAF in the end, I know I'm going to enjoy it because I loved the original. Was comparable to GRiD imo but eminently more enjoyable. Now I need Forza 4 (slated for April wtf), F1 2011 and DiRT 3 and my racing needs are satisfied for the year.