Shift 2 Unleashed

Shift 2: Unleashed may not be the Forza or Gran Turismo competitor everybody was hoping it to be, but it is a damn good game, with a lot of really enjoyable moments.

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"Shift 2 Unleashed" is a racing simulator that emphasizes realism and immersion. Experience an authentic racing experience with advanced car physics, night racing, and real-world tracks. The game also includes a unique view system that shifts between interior and exterior perspectives, providing a distinct sense of speed and intensity.

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Play Modes

Reviews

60%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,095 reviews

graphics73 positive mentions

optimization9 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and a great sense of speed, making it visually appealing.
Shift 2 Unleashed offers a good variety of cars and tracks, along with extensive customization options.
The helmet cam adds a unique immersive experience, allowing players to feel like they are truly in the driver's seat.

The game suffers from significant input lag and unresponsive controls, making it difficult to handle cars effectively.
Frequent crashes and stability issues, especially during races, hinder the overall gameplay experience.
Unskippable cutscenes and annoying voiceovers detract from the racing experience, making it feel tedious.

graphics
164 mentions
45 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many players noting that they hold up surprisingly well for a title released in 2011, showcasing beautiful car models and detailed environments. However, some users have pointed out that the graphics can be inconsistent, with issues like low frame rates on high settings and certain graphical glitches. Overall, while the visuals are praised for their quality and realism, there are calls for improvements and optimizations to enhance the experience further.
- “The graphics are impressive, not just the cars but also the track surroundings, including helicopters and planes flying over whilst racing.”
- “Stunning graphics and a visceral physics engine make it much more of a circuit race sim rather than a police chase sim.”
- “Beautiful graphics and real-world race tracks make this a game worth getting.”
- “I played the tutorial, the graphics are worse than Shift 1, the narrator isn't as good, the driving physics are worse, everything is worse.”
- “Despite the decent graphics and vehicle design, as well as the variety of different tracks available to race on, all the issues with the game pull it down.”
- “This game freezes on me if I play for too long on regular graphics, but when I set everything to what it should be set to, all ultra, it crashes upon entering a race.”
gameplay
79 mentions
19 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its blend of sim and arcade elements, while others criticize the driving mechanics and frequent cutscenes that disrupt the experience. Many users noted issues with car handling, particularly during drift events, and highlighted poor optimization and crashes as significant drawbacks. Overall, while the game offers a decent amount of content and immersive racing experiences, it struggles with execution and technical stability.
- “Unleashed offers more of 'authentic and dynamic' racing simulator gameplay known from the first title, this time with improvements and a few additions.”
- “The gameplay is a mix of sim and arcade, leaning more towards sim than arcade.”
- “The gameplay is exciting and there's a unique thrill of speed in the cockpit mode.”
- “The announcer's irritable voice was off-putting and out of place in this title, which affected gameplay in an obviously bad way.”
- “Worst driving mechanics in any racing game.”
- “The keyboard keys are bound to impossible keys, in-game mechanics aren't optimized for PC, and the AI is poorly done, not to mention the fact that the game crashes often on high graphics.”
optimization
48 mentions
10 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance, frame drops, and stuttering, particularly in the Steam version compared to Origin. While there are positive aspects such as detailed car customization and a variety of performance options, the frequent crashes and unoptimized controls hinder the overall experience, making it one of the least optimized entries in the series.
- “Right from the start, the difference in performance was huge - I got 88 fps without any drops, where I had 35-40 fps in the Steam version.”
- “One of the biggest improvements individuals will notice after playing the first one is the way you upgrade the performance of the vehicles.”
- “With the addition of a horde of new cars, quantity of cars and classes, and the performance index system, there is now a whole new level of strategy in picking and choosing the best cars and parts to suit your gameplay, while still staying in the performance index rating.”
- “Probably the buggiest, least optimized game in the entire series since Undercover.”
- “The first is performance issues: this game struggles to run at decent frame rates, and busy parts of tracks have noticeable dips in frame rate.”
- “The only downside I have with this game is the bad optimization for PC; sometimes it randomly crashes, but is not often. On my 8 hours of gameplay, it crashed 2 times.”
music
37 mentions
41 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as a masterpiece featuring a great selection of tracks, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety during races. Many players appreciate the atmospheric menu music and the involvement of award-winning composers, but some express frustration over the limited in-game music experience, noting that only one song may play on repeat. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's ambiance, but its execution in gameplay leaves room for improvement.
- “The music is gorgeous.”
- “The music is beautiful, the cars incredible and the experience is surreal.”
- “This is really a great racing game overall; it’s fun, very challenging, and has one of the best soundtrack lists to listen to while playing the game.”
- “The resulting menu music is pompous and overdramatic, but fitting.”
- “One song plays on repeat in the menu.”
- “My reasons for not giving it a higher score is that it has a very lacking soundtrack (only one menu track on infinite loop), the career mode is really bad in terms of layout for example seasons/circuits don't have a points/position system, as long as you place 3rd you're good, so there is no overall winner in a class/series, and certain handling elements that bog you down when it shouldn't.”
stability
24 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various graphical glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players have experienced ongoing issues across multiple platforms, leading to frustration and a lack of recommendation despite the game's potential. Overall, the game's stability issues overshadow its positive aspects, making it difficult for players to enjoy a seamless experience.
- “Constantly freezes, horrible performance overall.”
- “In the end, I think this is a really good racing game, but it is so buggy for something from a major publisher and major franchise that I can't recommend it.”
- “Crashes, low FPS issues, and freezes are common.”
story
17 mentions
18 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the variety and find the story engaging, others criticize it for being minimal or repetitive, with a lack of meaningful narrative progression. Many users express disappointment in the storytelling quality, citing poor cutscenes and a lack of a satisfying conclusion. Overall, the game's narrative seems to be overshadowed by gameplay issues and a preference for simpler racing experiences.
- “There is a good variety in cars, the story is great and it's simply amazing.”
- “The story is okay, but the sense of speed and achievement when racing in different cars is second to none.”
- “This game almost has Forza 5 graphics, but it has night racing customization options and somewhat of a storyline.”
- “First of all, Shift 1 barely had a story, but this game has even less. You just climb up the ranks playing meaningless repetitive races, and believe me, these races are much more repetitive than the first game was.”
- “The races and god-awful cutscenes that replace the story are a step back. The UI and the way you choose tracks and cars is also a step back, and that's saying something because while effective, Shift 1's UI was terribly unattractive.”
- “Also, this game just doesn't even have an ending. You unlock the last of the races, the drivers say something in their terrible cutscenes that I couldn't hear, not even about the story, but about the races we unlocked, which by the way, the final races are just drag races...”
grinding
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of hours to progress. While some enjoy the challenge and tuning involved, many feel that the repetitive nature of grinding, coupled with frustrating menu navigation and tedious tutorials, detracts from the overall experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “4 hours later: very grindy; those who have a ton of free time will love it.”
- “There's an extremely tedious and obnoxious guy who tells you how awesome he is and then explains to you what a muscle car is, as if you've never seen one before.”
replayability
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers significant replayability, especially for achievement hunters, and is enhanced by mods that improve playability. However, the presence of unskippable tutorials can detract from the experience for some players. Many users find the game even more replayable than its predecessor, thanks to additional modes and challenges.
- “If, like me, you're obsessed with getting all achievements, this game retains a lot of replayability after the years.”
- “Even better than the first, with tons of replayability.”
- “Score and time attack modes add significant replay value.”
- “Unskippable tutorials, millions of them (no replay value). Reinstall = tutorials again.”
- “Don't play without the PTMU mod; it makes the game 100% more playable.”
- “✔️ Score / time attack for replay value.”
humor
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by unexpected moments, such as a message prompting players to plug in a controller while using a steering wheel, which many found amusing despite the game's realistic label. Players also noted that the quirky controls and physics, reminiscent of previous titles like NFS Shift, added to the comedic experience, making the game both funny and challenging. Overall, the humor seems to stem from the game's inconsistencies and the absurdity of certain gameplay mechanics.
- “For a game that is labeled as a realistic game, I was both shocked and dead laughing when a message asking me to plug a controller popped up while I was trying to play the drift mode with my steering wheel.”
- “Controls and physics are just as funny as in NFS Shift - a lot of skidding and steering delays.”
- “I hope the $3.99 I paid during the sale was worth laughing to the bank over.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its uniqueness in the racing genre, highlighted by an amazing soundtrack and enjoyable career mode. Reviewers note that while the driving physics in the Project Cars series are solid, they lack the fun and excitement that the atmosphere of this game provides, enhanced by engaging soundtracks and dynamic AI.
- “Legendary, the atmosphere is unique for a racing game.”
- “Great atmosphere, amazing soundtrack, enjoyable career mode, nice physics model.”
- “The next Project Cars series is good at driving physics, but it doesn't match the fun and excitement of driving in Shift, all thanks to the atmosphere, soundtrack, and engaging AI.”
- “The next Project Cars series excels in driving physics, but it lacks the fun and excitement of driving that Shift offers, primarily due to its atmosphere, soundtrack, and the presence of unengaging AI.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, making it hard to get immersed in the game world.”
- “Despite the impressive graphics, the overall atmosphere fails to create a compelling experience, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the game's mechanics, noting that even minor contact with opponents leads to significant setbacks, which can evoke feelings of helplessness and inadequacy. This emotional response is heightened by the AI's seemingly unaffected behavior, amplifying the player's sense of struggle and defeat.
- “And now he is extra emotional.”
- “I'm not a newbie to racing games, but this game made me feel like a novice!”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is perceived as hasty and poorly executed, leading players to feel that the sequel is primarily a cash grab rather than a thoughtfully developed game.
- “Just seems a bit sloppy and half-baked... like let's knock out a quick sequel for a cash grab.”
- “The monetization feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “It’s frustrating that so many features are locked behind paywalls, which ruins the overall experience.”