Video Game Review: Get Behind the Wheel With ‘Need For Speed: Shift’

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CHICAGO – Not being a huge fan of car racing games, I was stunned at how addictive and engrossing I found EA’s excellent “Need For Speed: Shift”. A complete left turn from last year’s failure “Undercover,” “Shift” represents the beginning of a new line of games for the “NFS” franchise, one that focuses on authentic racing over its ancestors more arcade style. The only problem for driving fans may be that it’s unclear where the “Shift” line can go from here.

Video Game Rating: 4.0/5.0

Earlier this year, EA announced that they would divide their racing games into three sub-genres: arcade, action, and authentic racing. The “Nitro” line for Wii and DS handles arcade racing, “World Online” for the PC will provide the action, and “Shift” delivers authenticity for multiple platforms.

Need For Speed: Shift
Photo credit: EA

What do you look for in a racing game? If you like to get out there on the track and mix it up with crazy jumps and crashes, “Shift” is not for you. This is one of those titles where crashing is not a good thing and won’t produce the “oohs” and “aahs” of some previous racing games. Don’t go looking for slo-mo explosions.

Need For Speed: Shift Photo credit: EA

If you’re looking for a massive variety of cars, realistic racing style, real world physics, and one of the most interesting cockpit dynamics in the history of gaming, “Need For Speed: Shift” delivers.

“NFS: Shift” is essentially a simulation game, coming closer than any title yet at getting the player behind the wheel of a car as it fishtails around a corner at ridiculous speeds. One of the interesting things about “Shift” is, unlike a lot of simulation games, which can come off as overly precise and dull, the attention to detail accomplishes the main goal of the game - to recreate at least a portion of the adrenalin a driver feels at 120MPH while you’re sitting going 0MPH on your couch.

The developers of “Shift” have placed an emphasis on the reality of being in the cockpit. The controller vibrates as the conditions of the pavement change; the road starts to blur as you pick up speed; you trade paint with a racer next to you and your windshield shatters; you spin off the track and are momentarily disoriented with blurred vision - “Need For Speed: Shift” works mostly because of its amazingly detailed driver’s perspective and anyone who switches it to a more traditional “above the car” perspective is missing out on what can truly be an edge-of-the-seat experience.

Need For Speed: Shift Photo credit: EA

But how is that experience put to use? With one of the deepest racing games in years. “Shift” is remarkably customizable with the player ability to buy cars, upgrade them as they choose, and even change the paint color from race to race. While most car customization options left me bored in the past, I was surprised at how often I upgraded my vehicle in “Shift,” both under the hood and just with the occasional new coat of paint. Nearly 70 licensed cars including the BMW M3 GT2, Pagani Zonda F, and Porsche 911 GT3 are available and they’ll go to work on over 18 real-world locations like Willow Springs and Laguna Seca.

From a design level, the cars look incredible, but the sound is what truly distinguishes “Shift”. Turn this one up loud and marvel at the squealing brakes, rumbling tires, and revving engines. Even the music seems more well-chosen than previous racing games.

In “Career” mode, players travel through a variety of races from time trials to manufacturer’s competitions to basic races. They are rewarded with cash for vehicle upgrades and an amazing number of points and badges based on their performance. Points are awarded for nearly everything, from following the race line to blocking an opponent who is trying to pass you.

Ultimately, as with any game this deep, the title does drift into repetition every now and then. Tracks start to feel very similar and the purity of design, keeping the game focused solely on racing, can make for a Career experience that feels a little dull. They try to amp it up by making you feel like you’re progressing in the circuit, but there’s really no storytelling going on here, although diehard race aficionados may actually feel relieved at the lack of a tacked-on story. It doesn’t change the fact that “Career” feels more like a list of things to accomplish than any sort of real world-traveling racing and that feels like something that could be improved in the next “Shift” title.

Need For Speed: Shift Photo credit: EA

Another flaw in “Shift” becomes apparent if you take a chance to look outside the brilliant cockpit design. By focusing so much on the individual driver experience, it feels like the opponent AI has been a bit overlooked. Other drivers basically just ride the line and it becomes very easy to predict how they’re going to move around the corners and easily overtake them as they do.

So, find a real opponent, right? With “Need For Speed: Shift,” players can compete against up to 8 other opponents online, bringing their own fine-tuned, customized vehicle to the track. The system includes an advanced matchmaking system that allows the player to compete against drivers of similar style. Races, Drift events, Time attacks, and Manufacturer Battles are available. The online portion of the game is limited but well-designed and straight-up fun.

If this is a new direction for “Need For Speed,” where do the “Shift” games go from here? Don’t tinker with the cockpit experience. It’s perfect. Enhance the online experience and improve the career storytelling and overall AI.

Ultimately, these are minor changes. The most important thing about a racing game is how it feels to get behind the wheel and “Need For Speed: Shift” feels like one of the best racing games to date.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com