I have been thrown a huge swerve-ball in this latest edition of the Need for Speed series. I praised the previous instalment for returning to the open world driving I enjoy and I expected that to be true of Shift. I didn’t think I would ever say this but EA have blind-sided me by doing something unpredictable with a franchise. The open world has been replaced by a more generic, dare I say old fashioned, style of driving.

The previous titles were heavily influenced by The Fast and the Furious and that Hollywood sheen has been replaced with something altogether more professional. I must admit that a part of me has warmed to the silly over-the-top amateur dramatics found in previous NFS titles and I certainly miss the gorgeous Christina Milian but I am pleased with the change in direction. The homies and bitches are out along with the gangsta talk which is a good thing too as that shit was wack, dawg!

This game feels a lot like Gran Turismo and that is a very good thing. You earn some cash from the initial race, depending on your final position, and this is used to purchase your first vehicle. I enjoy the feeling of buying a cheap car, spending lots of time and money on upgrades, and transforming it into something I can be proud of.

Experience points are earned during races for both precision and aggression. I am very happy with this as my driving style is probably 70% aggression and 30% precision so I manage to pick up points by driving my way rather than forcing myself into whatever approach the game expects of me. It feels great to be awarded points by blocking opponents or trading paint with their vehicles as that aggressive style comes more natural to me than sticking to the preferred driving line. Gaining experience will unlock higher tiers and this comes with a new set of races and more powerful vehicles. The repetitive nature of driving games can often affect my level of interest but the tier system in Shift feels perfectly staggered and this ensures that the races feel fresh.

The graphics are absolutely stunning. You would expect nothing less from a Need for Speed title, given that EA tend to pay a great deal of attention to visual details, but despite the fact I am far from a petrol-head the advanced car visuals always blow me away. The sound effects are really great, especially when tearing through a tunnel at 170 mph and hearing the growling engine echo around you, and this adds a great deal to the sense of speed and the all-round experience.

I wasn’t sure how to feel about Shift as it stepped out of its comfort zone. I feel that EA deserve a great deal of credit for taking the decision to change things when they could so easily have continued milking a highly successful formula. Need for Speed Shift will be a blessing to fans of racing titles who were tired of the highly polished Hollywood sheen which had become synonymous with the series in recent years. This is the most fun I have had with a Need for Speed title in a very long time.

9/10

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