Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

[DubTrey1]

<table id="ratingsBoxTable" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="ratingsBoxScore">7.5</td> <td class="ratingsBoxText" colspan="2">Presentation
While the art design is good there's simply too much going on, and the loading times can test the patience. </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="ratingsBoxScore">9.5</td> <td class="ratingsBoxText" colspan="2">Graphics
With DiRT 2, Forza 3 and GT5 we're running out of superlatives for racing game's visuals, but this deserves some of its own. In a word, stunning.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="ratingsBoxScore">9.0</td> <td class="ratingsBoxText" colspan="2">Sound
Engine notes are wonderfully guttural, and the voiceover's nicely understated - while the music is typical Need for Speed fare.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="ratingsBoxScore">8.5</td> <td class="ratingsBoxText" colspan="2">Gameplay
On track it's superb, with handling that offers a nicely exaggerated take on a sim model - but it's sometimes lost under the myriad scoring systems.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="ratingsBoxScore">8.5</td> <td class="ratingsBoxText" colspan="2">Lasting Appeal
The single-player's meaty and the multiplayer is considered and well implemented, offering local leaderboards and eight-player races. </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="ratingsBoxScoreOv">8.7
Great</td> <td class="ratingsBoxTextOv">OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)</td> <td class="ratingsBoxEc"></td></tr></tbody></table>

Link: http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/102/1023315p1.html


Overall, IMO - Not bad, but I wished that this title had vehicle damage that would match (or even come close to) that of Grid or Dirt.... will have to give this one a rent though.

[lnin0]

Re: Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

This game has a bit of an identity crisis going on. Some of the pre-release PR and trailers positioned it as Grid meets Burnout - which I would call arcade-lite. Then other talk made it sound like Slightly Mad Studios was really trying to make a sim-casual, big budget take on Race Pro. From the review it sounds like more of the later and better choice won out.

Many other racing games treat the corners with nonchalance – in Codemasters' brilliant yet somewhat lightweight GRID, Eau Rouge and Blanchimont are reduced to mere kinks, while Pouhon asks nothing more than a downshift and a yank of the wheel.

Not so in Shift, and those fearing dumbed-down handling can take solace in the trip to the tyre wall that awaits drivers who treat Spa's trinity of corners with anything other than a fearful respect.

I have been off and on wanting this game but the most recent trailers and now this review seal the deal. In fact, for me, what makes a racing game great is the driving and while Forza 3 is still on my wish list, the more I see of it the more I can't help but feel T10 is making more bloatware than true gameplay improvements with each revision.

While it doesn't sound like NFS is immune from marketing department development (tacked on drift mode, style points, driver badges) it at least sounds that they get IT more so than some of the other console 'sims' developers. A sim needs to be more than some fancy behind the scene number crunching and a tireless list of non-gameplay features.

There's one area where Need for Speed Shift soundly trumps the competition: its driving is an exceptionally visceral experience, with a sensation of sheer velocity that's unparalleled in the genre.

[Flawless]

Re: Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

IGN U.S. Review - 9.0

Need for Speed Shift is a glorious return to greatness (and even excellence) for EA's seminal racing franchise. Slightly Mad Studios has delivered a driving experience that, while not completely accurate in terms of its simulation aspects, is practically dead-on in terms of what it's like to race around some of the world's best racing circuits. The career mode could (and should) have been a little better, but the act of driving is basically phenomenal.

<embed src='http://videomedia.ign.com/ev/ev.swf' flashvars='object_ID=14319193&downloadURL=http://ps3movies.ign.com/ps3/video/article/102/1023391/nfsshift_vdr_091009_flvlowwide.flv&allownetworking ="all%"' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' width='433' height='360'></embed><div style='width:433;'><a href='http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/143/14319193.html'>Need for Speed Shift at IGN.com</a></div>

[jtdribbles25]

Re: Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

must.get.tomorrow.

[Flawless]

Re: Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

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[cp22]

Re: Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

This game looks amazing. I cannot wait to play. it. The drivers view camera is outstanding.

[bigmoe]

Re: Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

I haven't purchased a racing game for my 360 but this may be my first!

[LingeringRegime]

Re: Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

Yeah, this one will hold me over till GT5 drops.

[Pappy Knuckles]

Re: Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

I'll be copping this.

[gopadres]

Re: Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

Damn, this one snuck up on me! I'm adding it to my list of games that are going to make me go broke.

[ODogg]

Re: Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

Anyone know of any good deals on this game?

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

This went from a maybe Xmas game to a must own in a matter of a few days. Reviews being in high 8's to low 9's, impressions off the charts, videos looking insane, and then my buddy telling me it's the most fun racer he's ever played, sold!

Canceled Forza (I have PGR4 and Burnout still, can't do too many racers as I'll get bored), so pumped for this one instead.

[BigD]

Re: Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

Is the sense of speed in this game on par with Burnout's? It almost looks like in some ways it exceeds it which is a good thing. I may have to pick this up too.

[LingeringRegime]

Re: Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

Bought this game earlier today, and it doesn't disappoint. With all the aids off, and the CPU AI set to hard it is a real challenge. Maybe too much for me. I will set the CPU AI to medium. This is a must own for racing fans. The graphics and physics are superb. Very addicting career mode I played for three hours today and didn't even realize it. I haven't even played online yet.

*As far as the sense of speed goes, I am not sure yet. I don't have any super fast cars quite yet.

[Pappy Knuckles]

Re: Need for Speed Shift (UK Review)

Good ****. Just got home, bout to install it and give it a shot in a few.