Shift 2 is an excellent racing game that offers excitement and lots of action for everyone who loves motor racing.

In “Shift 2: Unleashed”, your task is to build a career as a racing driver. You start with a simple, affordable car, and by achieving good results in races you earn money that enables you to upgrade your car or buy new cars. If you drive well, you progress in skill levels, new tracks open, more cars get available, and you are given the opportunity to compete in more demanding races with bigger prizes.

As well as this, you have the opportunity to try your hand at different kinds of competitions, such as drifting, where the goal is to spin and drift with style and precision.

The game has many similarities with "Gran Turismo 5 "and "Forza Motorsport 3". The graphics are excellent and the driving experience is very good. Compared to the shiny cars of “Gran Turismo”, “Shift 2: Unleashed” might have a bit more soul to it. The cars are damaged if you crash, and they get dirty in races. In addition, the game offers many different camera angles that give you the opportunity to experience driving from different points of view.

You can choose between automatic or manual transmission, and thus choose a suitable level of difficulty. Shift 2 offers many opportunities to customize your car if you want; still, if tuning and tinkering doesn’t really interest you, you can just compete in races.  

The game can only be played by one player at a time if you’re not connected to the Internet. In online mode, up to 12 players may participate.

Child suitability:
The game contains no scary elements, and is harmless in every way. There are no car chases, and no smashing of cars in the same way as in previous Need for Speed games. The control mechanics work fine; still, the game works best with a steering wheel and pedals. Children might find it difficult to navigate through the different menus, as they are a bit complicated.

Level of difficulty:

3-6 years: The menus are complicated, and the driving is challenging. For this age group, this might result in more crashing than driving.

7+: The game is well suited for children, young people and adults alike.

Suggested age: Suitable for children from 7 years.

Format: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

PEGI: 3

Our Assessment: Recommended

IGN.com

Eurogamer.net