Shift 2 is extremely hard and will always keep you on your toes. The
suspense is unbearable, in a good way. It's much better than it's
predecessor. The helmet cam and night time driving are great new
features that totally immerse you into the game. The graphics are
jaw-dropping and it'll make driving cars more fun.
The main problem is the handling. I always ended up crashing because the
car just wouldn't freaking turn. The lack of a rewind feature meant
that I had to start from the beginning of the race.
The physics system is odd too. The cars, somehow, get magnetically
attracted to each other when they drive too close. Cars also tend to
stick to the walls. The damage physics are great though. It's scary when
there's a crash and you flip over and lose a few tires, but it's
extremely satisfying when you make your opponents crash.
The career mode starts off with slow cars and gradually gives you access
to the top dogs such as the beautiful Lamborghini Reventon and the
Bugatti Veyron. Alongside normal races, there are drift races, Hot Laps,
Eliminators, Driver Duels and more. You can also customize your cars'
performance and visuals.
The graphics have improved significantly. The cars and tracks are
extremely detailed. The interiors are a joy to behold. When the cars
crash, parts fly everywhere. The tracks include cracks, tire marks, and
dirt which make them look more realistic.
The cars sound great! The voice-overs from the real life drivers are
good, but get kind of annoying. The music is really boring and sounds
cliched. It includes orchestra remixes of bands like Rise Against,
Switchfoot, and the Stone Temple Pilots. The music sounds like something
you would find in an extremely serious thriller film, which is out of
place.
Shift 2 is kind of like a survival horror game. You never know what
never happens next. Will somebody hit you and make you swerve off the
road? The suspense adds a lot to the atmosphere and totally immerses you
into the game. The game looks great and sounds great, but the handling
is downright frustrating and unpredictable. Simulator fans will find a lot to love in Shift 2: Unleashed.
