Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions

[SECElit3]

Re: Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions

I bought the game after the patch was released and I have to say, it is an absolutely amazing racing game.

The AI can be frustrating at times, true. You really have to watch yourself when driving in traffic because the AI does not like being bumped and will come back at you with a vengeance. Overall, the AI is pretty good however, and does not run on a rail. They do a much better job at avoiding you during a spin than Forza did. Surprisingly, the AI is much better on the hard difficulty level.

The wow factor is the attention to detail within this game, such as leaves in the road blowing into the air as the cars pass by. I love how the other cars kick gravel into your windshield and how it hits the underneath of the car as you pass over it.

Just an amazing game! Totally underated!

[Nokstar]

Re: Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions

This game is damn near perfect, imo. Just has a seriously frustrating learning curve. After I put in a good 4 hours of learning these damn controls ("floaty" is the right word, but with needless stigma), cars handle like a dream. Clean runs, and even just clean sections, are just so incredibly satisfying:

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZTpWoiGkdbs" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe>

Maybe I'm just high off this "cool, a new game that I love" feeling, but this game has catapulted right into my top five games this gen.

Pro-tip: If the volume isn't turned up to the point where your ears almost - almost - hurt, you're doing it wrong.

Is that the pc version u r playing? How does the xbox 360 and ps3 version looks guys?

[NEOPARADIGM]

Re: Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions

Is that the pc version u r playing? How does the xbox 360 and ps3 version looks guys?

That, my friend, is PS3.

Graphically I think the game takes some getting used to, actually. I was coming over from GT5, so ... these graphics are .... marginal? Is that fair?

But what I've also found is that there's this Borderlands or Loony Toons charm about the graphics when you look at them just right. It's hard to explain so I won't even bother, lol ...

The point is that the controls take some getting used to, and the visuals take some getting used to, but once you get used to both, the game really takes form and displays a completely unique personality: one part visceral intensity, one part nerdy gearhead customizations & "sim" racer, one part wild arcade racer.

For me I look at it like an arcade racer, not a sim game like GT5 or Froza, and it manages to meet me right in the middle: it's a fun arcade racer wrapped up in EA's hype machine of "visceral immersion," plus quite a few "sim" elements that put even GT5 to shame, and I gotta say, for the $40 I got it for, it's money, baby.

[lnin0]

Re: Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions

I keep coming back to this game and still have a lot of fun driving it. Handling isn't perfect but it is very manageable and the game packs so much good stuff is easy enough to forgive. I wouldn't put it up there with the best 'sim' racers but I would put it up there with the best of the sim pretenders like the TOCA Race Driver series and Test Drive LeMans on the Dreamcast. Tweak the controls, tune the steering and under-steer, dump the HUD and use the in-car view and this game is one hellava good time.

Here are some of the best little bits;
-The tracks are magnificent. Great variety with some of the best 'fantasy' tracks around.
-Time of day really changes the tracks and how you drive on them. Not just night time racing but late afternoon with the sun in your eyes can be daunting.
-Damage and glass and metal flying and cars rolling.
-AI is not stuck to a path - nice to see them mixing it up going side by side
-AI mixes it up with each other and makes mistakes
-AI car selection does great job of matching up competitive rides no matter how you have yours tuned. Its also Nice to see them roll out in various liveries and not just stick to the solid colors.
-Marbles on the racing line. Marbles flying up in my face. Marbles making me slide.
-Career freedom to choose what you enjoy and not be cornered into events you don't like. You can even bail on an individual race in a point series and take last place points just to move on.
-Great selection of cars and lots of tuning options.

Did I mention the Legends Pack DLC is among the best racing dlc content ever put out. A dozen cars, a half dozen new tracks and 40+ new career races spanning ten or so new events. It sure makes those other guy's 400pt+ car packs seem like a joke.

[sars973]

Re: Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions

A small part of my final thoughts on GT5, which I bought three days ago: (copied from my post in the gt5 impressions thread)

I've only had the game for 3 days, and I've spent considerably more time in the menus and loading screens than actually racing. It feels like 70% loading/menus, 10% figuring out if I have a car for said race, and then 20% driving, which is boring 95% of the time if my car is slightly more powerful.

I don't know what's more frustrating: spending 5 or 10 minutes to find a race I can compete in, or winning a race I could enter by 13 seconds.

I'm gonna play a little more today, but then I'm going back to gamestop to swap it for shift 2.

I guess playing shift 1 made me realize that the gt5 prologue and gt5 are driving simulators/games, while shift 1/2 are racing simulators/games.

I clearly enjoy the racing more than the driving.

I did exchange GT5 for Shift 2, cost me about $10 after my trade-in credit and $5 off coupon were applied at gamestop. (GT5 cost me $20 out of pocket initially)

I was worried that since I bought Shift 2 used, the online pass/limited edition code would not be valid still. However, in a pleasant surprise the code had not been activated, so I saved money buying used and still got online functionality.

I played around with some of the settings and found the sweet spot. Steering sensitivity at 24%, dead zone at 4%. Lowered my cars from 4.0 front/back to 1.0 front, 2.0 back to cut down on floating.

I love this game compared to gt5, it's a more improved version of shift 1, which I also loved. I just like feeling like I'm actually racing, not just driving.

Plus, gt5 can't do this:
<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/I8ShZtEaURM" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe>


<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/e3FB6IVRrSg" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe>


PS3 racers add me for autolog purposes: b1rdman973

[sars973]

Re: Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions









Game is good so far, way better for my tastes than gt5.

[BIG CAROLINA]

Re: Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions

I don't know what they did under the hood after the patch but man they have improved this game beyond anything that I thought they could do.

I have finally dialed in my 360 wheel and I have gone from not liking this game pre-patch to being in love post patch.

I for one like to race and not just drive and this game satisfies my auto racing console itch (along with F1 2010).

Now the only thing that I can't get with is drifting, it just seems to go against all that I have learned about racing.

How long does it take to get to the FIA GT 3 & 1 series?

[EdgeCrusher]

Re: Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions

Just picked this up for PS3, looking for some friends for Autolog, since none of my current friends play this or any racing games for that matter. So if anyone still plays this please feel free to add Proto-Type00 (those are zeros).

[SECElit3]

I finally finished Shift 2 and I have to say, this game was truly enjoyable. The GT1 series featured some of the best racing I have ever witnessed in gaming. This an excellent choice for those looking for their racing fix until Forza 4.... just amazing! 9.6

[the300zx]

Re: Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions

definitely picking this up soon, played at my buds house and its real good

[mercalnd]

Re: Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions

I finally finished Shift 2 and I have to say, this game was truly enjoyable. The GT1 series featured some of the best racing I have ever witnessed in gaming. This an excellent choice for those looking for their racing fix until Forza 4.... just amazing! 9.6

I was really looking forward to racing the GT1 championship in the game, so much so that I actually bought the "Unlock everything" DLC. But when I saw the the GT1 championship, the ultimate goal of the game, featured all 3-lap races it was a deal-breaker for me.

I knew I wasn't going to get realistic race weekends with practice and qualifying and I was OK with that though I do wish more of these racing games at least gave you the option for this structure. But I at least expected races to be longer (at least 10 laps would have been decent).

[RAZRr1275]

Re: Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions

If anyone stopped playing this due to the annoying floaty handling like I did check this guy's work out http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=221984 - It makes for a great experience.

[daflyboys]

Re: Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions

Reviving this a bit since I got no response in another thread. Pretty much deciding on this if I can get a nice price, but question is, there's a separate fee for going online for the PS3 (online pass) ?

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions

Reviving this a bit since I got no response in another thread. Pretty much deciding on this if I can get a nice price, but question is, there's a separate fee for going online for the PS3 (online pass) ?

Yes, if you buy it used you will need to buy the online pass to play online.

[daflyboys]

Re: Shift 2 Unleashed Impressions

Thx CZ.... that's just ridiculous. I miss TOCA.