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[Review] Need For Speed: Shift

Posted by

Mihir Patkar

372

Posted on: Oct 03, 2009 17:03:30 IST

All put together, Need For Speed: Shift isn’t the wild ride that we have come to expect from the franchise. It’s an emperor trying out new clothes, while still trying to make the followers accept the change in garments. Taken in the context of a game that is meant to build a franchise of simulation-based racing games, NFS: Shift is the perfect introductory point for arcade racing fans to get into this new groove. Race Driver: Grid was the only other game that made the transition as simple as this. In a way, this is EA’s attempt to make another slow transition, buoyed by the success of changing the super-fun FIFA 2006 into the now super-serious FIFA 2009 and FIFA 2010, which has seen Pro Evolution Soccer quaking in its boots. All indications point to this new game doing the same for the Need For Speed franchise, as it courts arcade racers to simulation gaming, and serious sim racers to the world of NFS. The title almost sums up the message of this review: Shift!

Pros

pros

Cons

cons

The good part about this system is that the game also slowly asks you to remove some of the aids as you progress. Slowly, but surely, you can kick off the training wheels to handle a car by yourself – and it’s a road worth travelling.

AGGRESSION OR PRECISION?

The switch from arcade to simulation racing has also been boosted by introducing two driving profiles: aggression and precision. When most arcade racers are first shown a simulation game, the biggest shock and subsequent turn-off for them is the inability to play ‘bumper cars’.

NFS: Shift does away with this, allowing drivers to adopt an aggressive style which has them sending other cars flying off the circuit. In fact, you can even earn points for the same as you progress!

This is all thanks to a new medal and experience system introduced into the game, which seems like it’s put in to make up for the lack of a storyline. After all, there has to be something to the game more than ‘Finish the race on top, rinse and repeat till bored’.

The profile points and medals raise your ‘driver level’, unlocking various challenges, cars and other goodies along the way; but you will have to stick to either aggression or precision in your style of racing. Each podium finish earns you a certain amount of stars, so get as many as you can of those!

The precision profile is very easy to achieve when you start off with all your driver aids switched on, but as you shed them one by one, it gets more and more difficult. The style requires you to stick to the best racing line possible, indicated on the track in front of you at all times.The speed required on the line also plays a part in determining your points, and is depicted by the line switching between three colours in real-time: green (accelerate), yellow (coast) and red (brake). The real-time switch is absolutely brilliant, helping you learn how to tackle corners and hairpin bends as you make your way across the various circuits.

OPPONENT FURY

The artificial intelligence you are pitted against plays a huge role in bringing these races to life, as Need For Speed’s two distinctive racing profiles for you also apply to your opponents. So you will come across drivers who have an aggressive racing style and given an opportunity, they will try to take you out rather than overtake you! Meanwhile, others will stick to the racing line like maniacs, shifting between gears with a precision that you can only marvel at as you come in second.

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