The focus in SHIFT appears to be on the cars. This may sound obvious, being a racing game, but Gamestyle feels previous Need for Speed games put the emphasis on the environment of the race. Underground, Most Wanted, and Undercover were all about the more illegal side of street racing, and ProStreet attempted (with little success) to mix this with the professional circuit. The franchise has certainly been deteriorating in quality over the last few years, and Gamestyle hopes that SHIFT will see an end to this.
There are over 65 cars to drive in SHIFT, and each one has apparently been perfectly modelled. Not only are they "pixel-perfect" replicas of their real-life counterparts, but they should drive like them too, with "an incredible sense of speed and realism". The cars in SHIFT will cover 35 years of speed, including a 1972 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R, a McLaren F1, and a 1995 Mazda RX-7. It will offer 18 race tracks, including faithful reproductions of famous circuits, such as the Nurburgring, and some well-designed fictitious ones. SHIFT certainly appears to be making the driving experience less arcade-like, and more realistic, but with strong competition this year from the likes of Forza 3 and Gran Turismo 5, Gamestyle isn't sure this is the best approach to adopt. With the success of Burnout Paradise, however, EA clearly doesn't need another free-roaming racing game, that puts fun ahead of physics, but SHIFT needs to avoid falling between the two.
The main feature in SHIFT is the driver profile system, which EA hope will set it apart from other racers. They claim that the way a player drives will affect how their career unfolds, using four key elements. It takes into account their personality, success, profile points, and badges earned. By mastering corners, or completing specific goals, the game changes around the driver. Rivalries will be created, vehicles unlocked, and unique challenges set. This doesn't sound particularly revolutionary, however, and Gamestyle don't believe it will "push the entire racing genre forward" as EA would have you believe.
Gamestyle hope they are mistaken, and that SHIFT will be a serious contender for your cash this Christmas.
If you enjoyed the article above, check out the following reviews.
Vanquish preview for the Microsoft Xbox 360Medal of Honor preview for the Microsoft Xbox 360
Deadly Premonition preview for the Microsoft Xbox 360
Halo: Reach preview for the Microsoft Xbox 360
The Secret World preview for the Microsoft Xbox 360
Dead Space 2 preview for the Microsoft Xbox 360
WRC FIA World Rally Championship preview for the Microsoft Xbox 360
blog comments powered by Disqus
