What, no “Need for Speed”? Nope: Need for Speed: Shift diverged so significantly (and successfully) from series conventions that the sequel’s revised moniker doesn’t even acknowledge the franchise. It’s a fair rebranding, though, since Shift 2 Unleashed inches ever closer to the simulation end of the racing spectrum. Thankfully, like its predecessor, it does so in a way that never compromises the frenetic fun and exhilaration that should come with driving high-performance beasts around the world’s most punishing tracks.
Whipping around the tight curves and navigating the speedy straightaways is as it was the first time around the track: incredibly fast and precise, and often fraught with tension. But it scales well across multiple difficulty and handling settings, with braking-assist options for less-skilled drivers. Traditional racing sims sometimes get a deserved knock for being too clinical or by-the-numbers, but Shift 2 manages to stay accessible and entertaining thanks in part to the revised points system, which now ties into your player progression throughout the game. You earn points not only for placement and completing objectives, but also for on-track actions like following the best line, drafting, or notching high speeds. (Trading paint won’t net you any points this time around, though.)
While its impressive in-car view defined the Shift racing experience for many players, the sequel steps it up a notch by adding another powerful perspective: the in-helmet camera. Essentially a set-back and significantly more animated version of the first game’s cockpit setting, the in-helmet view shows your driver anticipating turns, entering a tunnel vision–like focus at high speeds, and flopping about violently during collisions. Whether you’re driving an absurdly extravagant Pagani Zonda R or Koenigsegg CCX — or even a common Chevy Cobalt or Ford Focus ST — it’s a commanding new perspective that’ll up your immersion bigtime. In fact, we’d wager that some racing fans who’ve staunchly avoided in-car views in the past will change their tune upon playing Shift 2.
Nighttime racing is another enticing addition, as your headlights may offer the only significant illumination you’ll have on some of the darker tracks. And your lights can be damaged, too, potentially leaving you helpless as you coast through the darkness — unless you can hang close to the competition.
But the upgrade Shift 2 players are likely to appreciate the most over time is Autolog, the persistent-leaderboard feature introduced in 2010’s Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. As in that arcadey affair, Autolog tracks your times and scores on each track — and in this case, in each of the four main vehicle classes — and pokes you when a friend tops your effort or posts a photo or comment. The feature arguably makes more sense in an exacting, clock-focused racer like Shift 2, but it can also be extremely frustrating when your time is disqualified from posting because you logged a couple seconds in the grass.
Ultimately, though, Autolog is likely to pull you deeper into the Shift 2 experience, and you’ll find lots of stuff once you dig in. Experience earned in the career and online play modes all goes toward the same profile, and with new events opening up as you progress in rank, there’s no straight path toward unlocking races, cash, and cars in the sprawling campaign. Some 140 events are available — standard races, drift contests, time trials, and more — with 77 track layouts spanning 35 locales, including Tokyo, Dubai, London, and Miami. And even if you struggle with a certain racing discipline, you can bounce around and focus on your strengths as you speed toward the FIA GT1 championship.
Though we wish the career had a little more overall pizzazz — especially with the strong focus on some of the racing disciplines — the ambition to rank up and unlock everything can easily keep speed junkies occupied for dozens of hours. Shift 2’s online modes are pretty much the same as the first game’s — albeit with support for 12 players now, instead of eight — so those expecting something new beyond the various race types and driver duels may end up feeling a bit shortchanged.
But it’s tough to knock Shift 2 for much: this excellent sequel capitalizes on its precursor’s strengths while breaking some fresh ground for the simulation genre. With its snazzy additions, sharper visuals, and gearhead-focused customization options, Shift 2 Unleashed strikes a fine balance between appealing to sim newbies and grizzled vets. But wherever you fall on that spectrum, it’ll be tough to emerge from this game as anything less than an auto aficionado.
+ Great simulation-style racing with an accessible edge.
+ Strong additions such as the in-helmet view and Autolog make for an immersive experience.
+ Lengthy career mode with universal leveling system.
? Can you dominate all of the 20-lap endurance races?
