Need for Speed Shift

Need for Speed: Shift Falken Demo is Slightly Mad Studio's latest car racing simulator game. Moving away from the street/ drag racing background of previous Need for Speed offerings, Shift is set at a racecourse and, also unlike previous games in the series, there is no backstory for the player to work through. As might be surmised from the game title, the player is given the opportunity to drive the Falken Porsche GT3 RSR, a superb supercar created by Porsche in association with Falken tyres and driving up a storm on race circuits all over the world.

When the player enters 'career' mode, he or she must drive two circuits of the course. After this, the player is ranked and can then enter races and begin earning achievements and stars. New levels and features are unlocked as the player progresses.

Players can choose from over sixty cars, grouped into five categories: Tier 1 – entry level sports and luxury cars, tier 2 – mid-level performance vehicles, tier 3 – supercars like the Lamborghini Gallardo, tier 4 – hypercars such as the Bugati Veyron and, finally, the tier 5 cars which are earned and only available in certain levels and games. Each vehicle can be customised and decorated, being made more aerodynamic and painted according to the player's tastes. In this Need for Speed there is the ability to earn and use performance modifications too, including nitrous which was included previously, but which behaved differently to the way it does in Shift.

There is a great choice in race-courses and players can test their mettle (and their metal!) at Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Willow Springs and many more name instantly familiar to motor-heads.

The visual effects in the game have been improved since the last Need for Speed offering, with the player now able to 'see' the driver changing gear and moving his or her head to check the rear view mirrors. When crashes happen, the visuals blur realistically and the driver can be heard to gasp audibly before the painfully accurate and lengthy collision sounds. Critics universally praised the game citing the exciting and authentic driving experience and the superb sound effects.

If there are any grumbles about Need for Speed Shift, it is that the music soundtrack leaves something to be desired by purists. For those who do not really pay attentions to the peripheral sounds, it is all but perfect!

Pros

• Fantastic, racing game, with a simple premise but plenty of challenge for the players
• Great graphics and excellent sound effects
• Plenty of cars, courses and customisation for the player to choose from to ward off tedium setting in
• One of a great series of driving games, opening up plenty of play ideas for fans of this game

Cons

Perhaps a more carefully planned out soundtrack, to please those to whom these things are important