- Exceptional NFS experience with immersive driving
- Impressive visuals and outstanding sound design
- Realistic driving physics and extensive car customization
- Aggressive and unrealistic AI challenges gameplay
- Technical issues and bugs present
- Unrealistic and frustrating handling reported
Emotions
Players found satisfaction in the game's realistic physics, immersive helmet view, and overall atmospheric quality. The game's visual and sound design, extensive customization options, and improvements over its predecessor also contributed to a positive experience, especially when enhanced by mods.
Frustration stemmed primarily from technical issues such as installation problems, server shutdowns, and frequent crashes. Players also expressed significant frustration with the AI's behavior, particularly its aggressive and unrealistic driving, and issues with input lag and wonky physics.
Disappointment was largely due to the game's perceived decline in quality compared to other titles and its predecessor, as well as its status as abandonware. Technical issues like frequent crashes, lack of features such as Steam achievements and wheel support, and a perceived lack of depth also contributed to player disappointment.
Excitement was generated by the game's immersive experience, unique atmosphere, and intense gameplay, particularly during night races and violent wrecks. The challenging corners and the balance between simulation and arcade elements also contributed to an exciting driving experience.
Players enjoyed the game's challenges, especially when driving aids were disabled, and appreciated the variety of tracks and cars. The ability to tune and test cars, along with the overall quality of the racing experience, provided significant enjoyment.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 85% · Negative 15%. Score: 15 / 100
Positives:
- The game is widely considered one of the best in the Need for Speed series, offering a unique blend of simulation and arcade elements. Its overall quality, engaging gameplay, and distinct atmosphere set it apart from other racing titles.
- Players consistently praise the game's immersive and realistic driving experience, especially with a gamepad or steering wheel. The unique helmet camera, detailed car physics, and balanced sim-cade gameplay contribute to a highly engaging and authentic feel.
- Despite its age, the game's graphics are frequently praised for holding up well, with beautiful car modeling, competent lighting, and detailed track environments. Many players find the visuals still impressive and immersive today.
- The game's sound design is highly acclaimed, featuring realistic and powerful engine sounds, satisfying collision impacts, and an excellent soundtrack. These audio elements significantly contribute to the immersive racing atmosphere.
- The career mode is well-structured and enjoyable, offering a sensible progression through various disciplines without excessive grinding. It provides a satisfying single-player experience with plenty of different races.
Negatives:
- The AI is frequently criticized for being overly aggressive and unrealistic, often ramming the player's car or causing spins with minimal contact. This behavior ruins races and makes progression difficult, especially in later stages.
- Players note various technical issues including poor graphics quality, especially on vehicle exteriors and in night races, and optimization problems leading to frame drops. There are also numerous bugs like frozen driver hands, incorrect settings display, and general instability.
- Many players report that car handling feels unrealistic, with issues like excessive skidding, floaty physics, and sensitive steering. Minor collisions often lead to complete loss of grip, making the driving experience frustrating and less like a simulator.
- Several players feel the game is a step down from its predecessor, Shift 1, citing worse graphics, reduced experience caps, and a general sense of being rushed or 'half-baked' compared to the first installment.
- The multiplayer component is largely non-functional due to empty lobbies, extreme lag, and general glitchiness. This makes online play nearly impossible and indicates a lack of ongoing support for the game's online features.
Gameplay:
- The game features a realistic driving experience with detailed handling and precision, balancing arcade and simulation elements. It emphasizes precision driving, rewarding players for clean lines and optimal routes, and includes dynamic damage that affects gameplay. The physics system is generally praised for its realism, though some found cars too 'glued' to the track before patches.
- The game offers a vast selection of vehicles, including street cars, supercars, and custom racing cars, with over 140 models from nearly 40 manufacturers. While some players found the car selection adequate, others felt it was mediocre compared to modern genre standards, and visual customization options were somewhat limited.
- The game incorporates real-world elements, including accurate models of real tracks and locations, and features real racing drivers like Vaughn Gittin as in-game instructors. It also includes official GT3 and GT1 races, enhancing the authenticity of the racing experience.
- The drift system received mixed feedback; some found it stiff and challenging, with inconsistent scoring that made it hard to judge maneuvers. However, others found drifting very satisfying once mastered, noting that it was more realistic and harder than in previous titles.
- The career mode is well-structured, guiding players from novice to professional racer through various motorsports and car classes. It offers a sensible progression system, requiring players to try different cars and complete diverse events, with a decent length of 35-40 hours for 100% completion.
Performance:
- Many players report that the game is well-optimized and runs smoothly on a variety of PC configurations, including older or mid-range systems, often allowing for high graphic settings. They also note a lack of general technical issues or input lag.
- The game features realistic and impactful damage modeling, affecting both the cars and the track environment. Players appreciate that car damage is detailed and can affect gameplay without immediately ending a race.
- The game effectively conveys a strong sense of speed without overusing visual effects like motion blur, contributing to an immersive racing experience.
- The game offers excellent and responsive maneuverability when using a controller, making it enjoyable for gamepad users.
- Players appreciate the very short loading times within the game, which contributes to a smoother overall experience.
Recommendations:
- The game is best suited for players seeking a 'simcade' experience, balancing realism with accessibility. It appeals to those who enjoy a challenge and depth in racing without the extreme complexity of hardcore simulators, but may not satisfy pure arcade fans.
- Overall sentiment for the game is positive, with many players recommending it, especially when purchased on sale. While some express reservations, the general consensus leans towards a favorable experience.
- Players suggest purchasing the game during sales or as part of a bundle, or through specific third-party sites, to get the best value.
- The game has a learning curve and requires dedication. Players should be prepared to invest time in learning driving mechanics and tuning to fully enjoy the experience.
- Fans of the Need for Speed franchise, particularly those who enjoyed the original Shift, are likely to appreciate this title.
Miscellaneous:
- Many reviews highlight the game's age, noting its dated graphics and lack of updates. Despite this, some players still find it enjoyable and a good alternative to newer, more demanding titles, suggesting its core gameplay holds up.
- The game is frequently discussed in the context of the Need for Speed franchise, often seen as a unique, more realistic spin-off. Opinions vary widely, with some considering it one of the best NFS titles, while others view it as a departure from the series' core identity.
- There are conflicting reports regarding the functionality of Autolog and multiplayer. Some players state these features are broken due to EA's actions, while others confirm they still work, albeit requiring an Origin account. This inconsistency suggests potential regional or individual issues.
- Players appreciate the game's overall atmosphere, style, and engaging gameplay. Many describe it as a fantastic, excellent, and commendable title, indicating a strong positive sentiment towards its core design and presentation.
- Players discuss their preferred input methods, with some using keyboards and others recommending Xbox 360 controllers for a better experience. There's also mention of using unofficial community patches to enhance gameplay.
