Rating - 8/10 and 4/10 respectively
PS3 Console for both
Both Finished
1: uncertain timeframe
2: 8.5 hours ingame time

As I wind down the games that I never managed to complete before the new year, here is a set of games that I had high hopes for, but was ultimately let down.

The Gameplay - Is there car in car game?

In short; the game is a finicky mess, yet somehow it has charm.

NFS: Shift is a unique entry for the franchise, where the traditionally arcade style racing franchise attempted a more sim style format, akin to Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport. It maintains some of the arcade style driving mechanics that are present throughout NFS, making it a strange blend of the two. It feels like a clunky mess, with some of the cars being borderline unusable. All of the cars feel very slippery, and this only gets accentuated the faster the cars you get your hands on. There are points while racing where I am actively scared to turn or adjust, because it feels like crashing out is inevitable. A few of the cars in the highest class are literally unusable, since they clip the ground at high speed forcing a crash. despite this, there's a certain charm to this game that you cannot find in other NFS titles. this game adds a reputation system, rewarding either precise or aggressive gameplay. I found this an amazing addition, as it made me think about how I wanted to win a race. there is also a corner mastery system for all tracks in the game, and I thought this system was fantastic. It gave me something to work for once I had overtaken the competition.

Why is my car made of paper?

Seriously. My favourite real world car is a Lotus Elise, but unfortunately in NFS: Shift this car is a punching bag for all the other drivers. If you so much as breathe the same air as a CPU, you will spin out. The CPU crashes into you however? Don't be silly you still crash out. In this game the CPU is a shed and you are a daisy. This furthers the constant fear while driving which I did not really enjoy.

Further to this, when you crash in both games you get this hideous grey screen that obscures your vision almost entirely, almost certainly causing you to crash again. it made me almost nauseous and am so glad I don't have to deal with it anymore.

Quick final mention to the selling mechanic in this game because it is incredible. Every penny you put into a car you can get back via a 100% return rate on selling. I love this and wish more games took this approach, since it meant I could experiment with other vehicles without being penalised.

Now, the carbon-copy sequel

Shift 2: Unleashed is far and away the biggest let down for me of 2023. This released under. the radar for me back in 2011, and only became aware of its existence more recently once I've started to rebuild my physical collection. my disappointment cannot be understated when I found out it was an uninspired, poorly made copy.

It keeps the same car mechanics of the first title, with no improvements to any of the issues raised above. The reputation system I liked so much is entirely gone, replaced with a generic and uninspired levelling system. the corner mastery mechanic felt far too lenient (unlike the first game), where sometimes I would go off track and still "master a corner". Everything about this game just feels rushed.

The car selection feels awful. I googled the number of cars available and was astonished that there was 145 total. for the GT1 championship at the eclipse of the game there are only 5 available cars to choose from, none of which can be upgraded. The faster cars still drive terribly, and every CPU remains built like Alexander Volkanovski. I'm partially convinced the developers copy pasted the vast majority of this games code and called it a day.

The sequel to a charming attempt at something new is an uninspired, frustrating pile of garbage that was a slog to get through. It is rare that I cannot recommend a game to anyone, but Shift 2: Unleashed is a game I would only recommend to the completionists of the world who simultaneously are die hard NFS fans.

What's Next?

Next up, I am trying my hand(held) at the PS Vita, which I never owned as a child so am exciting to get stuck into. I am starting with borderlands 2, a game that hasn't been ported to the Vita particularly well, and Sonic All Stars Racing Transformed, a classic from my childhood which holds the title for the most frustrating moment in any game I have ever played. I doubt either of these will get a full review, but will be part of a monthly breakdown if I get the go ahead.

Meow :3

- Effie