Topic: NFS: Shift

[MysterD]

Here's a preview on NFS: Shift (coming to the PC, PS3, and X360), which is going to be a racer that is trying to aim somewhere b/t being a simulation racer (think GTR series) and an arcade racer (such as most of the other recent NFS games).

The development team at Slightly Mad has a solid pedigree, boasting around 20 members with credits on the award-winning GTR series.

However, in this early build of the game, one element stood out above all others: the AI.

My experience with racing AI has generally run the gamut from rubber-banding unfairness to computerized racing machines. One way or another, I've never been able to really connect to AI racing opponents in the same way that I might with an online player.

The AI in Shift improves upon this in a very simple way: making the racers potentially as stupid as I am. During my hands-on time, opponents would sometimes cut corners too tightly. I watched a few spin off into the dirt at random. One even caused a multi-car pile-up. Finally, a computer that can screw up as badly as I do.

Of course, reps were quick to note that the difficulty of these racers will be scalable, and the random nature of their AI algorithm is still being tweaked. On higher difficulty modes, the AI will of course be ferocious in its perfection. But at the very least, I was told, there will never be a rubber-banding effect--no racers artificially coming from far behind to spoil your final victory lap.

[MysterD]

7.0 from GameSpot for PS3 and X360
Written review.
Video review.

Need for Speed: Shift is a racing game that tries to do a lot of things, and the good news is that it does most of them well. The bad news is that Shift does very little that other racers haven't done before it, and it excels at nothing. The racing, the car and track selections, the vehicle customization and damage modeling, the career mode, the online play, the opponent AI--all of these things are good, but none of them are great.

Depending on what kind of racing game you usually play, being thrust into the driver's seat for a flying lap at the start of Shift's Career mode might go well, or very badly. Your performance on this lap determines your default difficulty level and handling model, and it's appropriately named the "Trial of Fire." There are no opponents to worry about, but getting a handle on Shift's controls can be a challenge on their own. Like a simulation game, Shift encourages you to brake early for corners, punishes you for straying too far from the racing line, and, at least by default, presents you with a steering setup that's extremely sensitive. But, like an arcade racer, Shift rewards you for sliding around corners, for "trading paint" with opponents, and even for forcing those same opponents into a spin or off the track. It's an awkward middle ground that you might never feel comfortable with.

[MysterD]

NFS: Shift - Patch released for PC version.

Need for Speed™ SHIFT PC patch

This patch adds two new features: LAN (Local Area Network) play, enhancing the multiplayer experience and Mouse Support, providing full menu navigation through the game using your PC mouse.

[MysterD]

Today ONLY on D2D - $24.95 for NFS: Shift PC.