These days with the economy the way it is gamers are looking for the best bang for their buck. In these times it seems like it is getting more and more difficult to find a quality game that lasts longer than the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I myself have caught myself asking the same questions at the counter. Will this game be something I beat right away? Or will it take me a while? Is it worth 60 bucks?

For a quality racer look no further. Need For Speed Shift enters the holiday gaming season with an extra shot of nitrous oxide. I was skeptical about this game when I heard about it. Sure the graphics looked great but what does the NFS crew know about track racing? With games like Forza 2 and Grid to name a couple, did a new track racer really stand a chance? As soon as I saw the preview a ton of questions bounced through my head. No street racing? No story mode? No cops? What kind of Need For Speed game is this? The answer is, the perfect kind.

The crew at Slightly mad Studios built this track racer from the ground up and spared no expense. About 5 minutes into playing you will be adjusting your driving style as well as your expectations. 3 hours in you will be tweaking your ride for ultimate performance, gritting your teeth while you hang on in the turns, and making quick desicions on how to pass your next opponent.

The game screams along at 60 frames per second and does not dip once. The presentation is slim but easy to navigate. The meat and potatoes of the came is customization. From the visual to mechanical the game lets you tweak everything. Upping the horsepower by buying aftermarket parts is always fun but the inner mechanic in all of us will love tweaking the tire pressure, ride height, weight distribution, transmission and then ripping through a track to shave tenths of a second off your lap time. This will come in handy during online play.

The gameplay is definately more on the simulation side. Depending on your setup and if you use the manufacteurers assists the cars will react differently. Rear wheel drive cars are great for ripping the e - brake and drfting through turns while the all wheel drive cars need just a tap of the brake to get their caboose loose. You will feel the difference with every car as you attack the turns. The steering is spot on and the cars feel heavy. This is not a racer that makes you feel like your driving on ice. The cars grip the way they should at all times.

NFS rewards precision and aggressive drivers so no matter your style you won't be left behind trying to squeeze exp out of every track. Pass another driver cleanly and get precision points. Trade paint before you pass or spin him out and get aggressive driving points. No matter how you drive, each will reward the driver with exp for their style. This new feature lets every driver have a unique style.

The graphics are solid. The car models are gorgeous and the sense of speed is amazing. The tracks look awesome but could have used a little more detail. Overall a solid effort but what stands out is the new cockpit view. This is by far the best in car view in any racing game period. It is easy to see out of the front window. You don't feel like your peripherals are cut off at all. The sounds of the cars speeding around the track engulfs you in this view and puts you right in the action. Brake hard and your view creeps forward towards the dash. Jam on the gas and your view whips back. All in all a great addition. Someone took their time and delivered a great first person view.

The sound is spot on. From revving engines and nitrous shots to the tires hopping on the asphalt through a rough turn. There are times with the higher end cars where I swear I climbed into a jet. The screams of the engine, the squeel of the nitrous and the screech of the tires all immerse you in this awesome audio experience.

The online play is just as smooth as the single player. Complete with leader boards and custom vinyls. The best new feature for online racing is players who drive in reverse or backwards are now penalized. Racing goes smoothly because of this. There isn't a much better feeling in a racing game then when you can get a pack of serious drivers. The competition is heavy but the rewards are sweet.

NFS won't be a game you tear through in a day. You will have plenty of single player races and tuning in front of you. At anytime you can jump online and challenge other players which definitely increase the replay value. There are plenty of cars. ranging from tuners to exotics to try and they all have their own personalities.

In closing NFS Shift is a great racing game that trends more on the sim side of things which is not a bad situation at all. Even more I feel it revitalizes the series and breathes new life into a fading series. With all the customization this game will keep you busy for a while. At least until Forza 3 comes out. But then again, NFS is a serious contender for best racing game on the XBOX 360 in 2009. Check it out.

Overall 8.5

In Game Navigation and Presentation: 7.5

A little too slim but it works.

Graphics: 8.5

Impressive car models and cockpit view. Track could use a little more detail.

Gameplay: 8.5

Cars feel weighty and responsive. More simulation with a touch of arcade.

Sound:9.0

NFS Shift excels at bringing the sounds of of the racetrack to your living room.

Replay Value: 8.0

Plenty to do and plenty to see. You could get lost in the tweaking for hours. Customizing vinyls is pretty fun too. The single player is lengthy enough but the online will keep you tuned in for a while.

Worth 60 bucks? Hmmmm

All in all yes, but if you are not a race fan or you are looking for the fast and the furious part 10 then stay away!

Hello,

My name is Joseph Leming and I have extensive knowledge in the gaming industry. Trust my reviews and I will never lead you astray. If there is a game you are curious about just write me and I will review it. My opinions are non biased and honest as I care about the gamers and not about the sales. Visit me soon for more reviews. Wishing everyone a happy gaming experience! P.S. Support your reviewer! If you like my point of view become a fan.

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