While impressive, have we had enough time to enjoy the last NFS game?

While Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit was released a mere 6 months ago, many racing fans will wonder if it's much too soon to release Need for Speed: Shift 2 - Unleashed. The answer is a resounding "yes" depending on the type of racing gamer that you are. What I am referring to is that it is amazing that EA can deliver the goods on one of the best arcade racer in years, and now with Shift 2 may have released the best "simulator" as well. Even if you thought that the first incarnation of Shift was a very good game, especially coming from the famed GTR development team, Shift 2 takes all those wonderful aspects and tosses in even more incredible visuals, details, and a very humbling realistic direction for the Need for Speed series. It is true that this brand of simulated racing may be a bit too much to pick up and play for casual racers, real gear heads will absolutely eat up all the cars, models, engines, and what not that has all the makings for a "real racing fan's game."

When it comes to visuals all I can say is... hot damn! I mean it's really difficult to tell the difference sometimes from the real thing and game play. This not only holds true for replays, but unlike some racers "GT5... cough" this game looks good while racing as well, whether you are playing from the in game cockpit to the behind the car camera you will be astounded on how detailed and amazing Shift 2 looks. You'll really get the wow factor rolling when you see the astounding day to night transformation that goes from eye-wateringly beautiful dusk, to dark and dangerous night time driving. While all of the game cameras work and play quite well, you won't get a real sense of driving unless you stick to the in car view. Not only is the detail accurate, but it doesn't get much more exhilarating overtaking cars and cutting tight turns than in that viewpoint.

If you ever wanted to hear and feel the sense of power of an S class car, just take on the in car view and you will provide your ears with a treat as well. Honestly, this version of the series should be called Need for Senses to better describe what it does for the eyes and ears to provide the necessary adrenaline rush. The game's announcer who leads you through the game's lengthy career mode is more insightful than he is a projection of excitement.

Where Shift 2 Unleashed will make it or break it for you depends on if you can appreciate, and be effective in, a simulation-type racer. Keep in mind, for years this is a series that racing fans have known as a typical, fun, pick up and play game. While still no where the depth and complexity of the Forza and Gran Turismo series, if they continue to find the support from the gamers, they may give those two series a serious run for their money. This not only goes for the game's authentic handling, but the real road degradation and wear that will affect your handling over the course of your career.

While the RPG style career mode, online races, and Autolog system provide a good amount of replay value, it is still a shallow game in comparison to not only the other realistic racing series, but even other titles in the NFS series as well. This makes me wonder just how much depth and longevity that Shift 2 could have provided with a few more months of development time. It's not like EA needed that proverbial racing game right now. GT5 has come and gone and the next Forza is not due for a while, so why the desperation to release it now? Even if the game were to feature DLC tracks, I don't want to pay for a game I could have gotten for free down the line in months to come. Not that you will have the game beaten in a day or even a week, but I still would have loved to see just how much they could have dug deep to take on those rival racing titles. For now, it just feels a bit undercooked and needs more baking time to make a gamer feel completely full.

Should you buy Need for Speed: Shift 2 - Unleashed? But of course, as it is still a very impressive title despite its drastic move to realism, even with a somewhat lack of depth. You'll know that you made a wise purchase the first time you press that pedal to the medal and feel that rush and sense of speed. I don't consider myself a car nut by any measure, but I appreciate and love a good racing game when I see and play it, and Shift 2 Unleashed is just that...a very good racing game, no more no less.