Shift 2 Unleashed

Shift 2 Unleashed is another polished title from EA and sits at the top end of the racing genre on iOS. Sim fans and arcade racers alike with both get a lot of joy from racing around the many tracks on offer and the upgrade system is impressive.

Shift 2: Unleashed is bigger and better than its predecessor, with a lot more variety of races and excellent single-player career mode.

In the end, EA have created another fun game on the iPad and iPad 2 and have successfully ported their Need for Speed universe onto this format. The gameplay works well on the iPad and the controls are almost perfect, although a little simplistic at times.

In this iPhone version, Shift 2: Unleashed can't take advantage of the wide iPad screen to maximize its excellent first person driving experience, but the overall results are still excellent in terms of quality: the tilt controls work great, they're completely customizable and there are plenty of races and modes to play with. However, the lack of an online multiplayer is really disappointing.

A little better than the first Shift for iOS – new tracks, new cars, very similar visuals and a bit more fun. [September 2011, p.76]

Featuring new locales, new vehicles, improved graphics, and Origin integration for social gaming elements, Shift 2 Unleashed doesn't bring a lot of innovation but it does continue to provide a high level of racing excitement that the casual user can enjoy.

The sumptuous feast of cars, the variety of different racing challenges, high production value along with simple brand recognition assure Need For Speed – Shift 2 – Unleashed will race to the top of the charts – where it deserves to be.