Shift 2: Unleashed

 PlayStation 3
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 52 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 52
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 52
  3. Negative: 0 out of 52
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  1. Gamekult
    Apr 1, 2011
    70
    Quotation forthcoming.
  2. Eurogamer Sweden
    Apr 1, 2011
    70
    Shift 2: Unleashed delivers intensive racing for real gear-heads, with a daunting difficulty level and impressive physics. The Autolog function is excellent, but the experience is marred somewhat by the cumbersome controls, far too agressive opponents and a too hard easy mode for newcomers.
  3. Gamereactor Sweden
    Mar 31, 2011
    70
    Shift 2: Unleashed offers quality racing with nice simulations to some degree, but hasn't been improved since the original as much as it should have been.
  5. PSX Extreme
    Apr 4, 2011
    69
    Lots of great stuff but this raucous attempt at racing needs some settling and organization.
  6. Play UK
    Apr 21, 2011
    66
    Shift 2 has a bevy of neat ideas but none of them are executed to a degree that makes them worthwhile. [Issue#204, p.82]
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  7. PSM3 Magazine UK
    Apr 10, 2011
    66
    A solid racer ruined - on PS3 - by lag. Wait and hope it's patched. [May 2011, p.82]
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  8. GamerNode
    Apr 26, 2011
    60
    I have a feeling that I would love Shift 2 as I loved Gran Turismo 5 if it was a little more welcoming to series newbies. The high learning curve and stiff controls, however, are anything but welcoming, and it hurts the overall experience.
  9. Gameblog.fr
    Mar 31, 2011
    60
    Shift 2 is full of wonders: a unique helmet camera view, immensely immersive, its full of races and cars to customize, it's extensive, visually splendid, and blessed with quite good physics... But sadly, all those pros are spoiled by really crippling shortcomings, preventing it to overcome the two references that are GT and Forza. An annoying AI that continually hits you for no reason, and this even more enraging latency in the steering dynamics. With those two defects corrected, EA would have delivered something truly outstanding.
  10. games(TM)
    Mar 31, 2011
    60
    There's certainly nothing game-breakingly bad about Shift 2, and generally it is a polished, high quality, nice looking product. But it does fail to provide a more engaging alternative to the admittedly quite clinical driving experiences offered by the Forza Motorsport or Gran Turismo series. Underneath its fancy aesthetic effects Shift 2 is also rather on the dry side, with no especially compelling reason to pick it up if you already have one of the aforementioned console racing giants in your collection.

Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Best PS3 Game of 2011
48
#48 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2011

User Reviews

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User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 121 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 59 out of 121
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 121
  3. Negative: 32 out of 121
  1. dmonee
    Mar 29, 2011
    10
    This is why i'm sick of these aggregate sites. First and foremost, is the numerical score associated with a game. Then there is the reasonThis is why i'm sick of these aggregate sites. First and foremost, is the numerical score associated with a game. Then there is the reason behind the score. Why dock a point from Shift 2's score because it's not GT5 or Forza? Because it's violent and nerveracking, and not what real racing enthusiasts will enjoy. Really? I'm a racing fan and think this game is the best mix of sim and arcade racing EVER! It takes all the boring **** from Forza and GT5 and throws it away. Then they add a ferocity and an edge, let's not forget the best **** view in a racing game, and one that will be copied by everybody from here on out. Things thatve never been done before, BUT! gotta knock it! Gotta control the situation and make buyers balk. This game may not look like GT5 and Forza, but it's close. It's got 3rd party graphics. But, Gameplay! EWWW weeeee! Most fun i've ever had with a racing game. Customization, paint, drifting, etc....It's all here, oh yeah, awsome crashes, nighttime races on any track. You will see why graphical compromises we're made. Just a real fun, exhilerating experience. Go racers GO!!!!!… Full Review »
  2. RebelFreedom
    Apr 2, 2011
    3
    1st off, im 18 and own forza3 and gran-turismo5, and shift 2. i registered to this review site just for this game. i just want to say, dont1st off, im 18 and own forza3 and gran-turismo5, and shift 2. i registered to this review site just for this game. i just want to say, dont let them lie to you, this is no driving simulator. i pride myself on driving skill, and have driven fast for real (in one of the actual cars i used in game too XD) and this is more of a "boat" simulator. the handling is all wrong, and youl find yourself struggling to simply drive in a straight line at times. drifting is robbed too of course. its the same arcade style its always been. 2nd. tuning upgrades- tuning is extremely unrealistic, too. the values you use to tune dont represent anything in real life (i.e. springs:- 1- 2 - or 3, dampening: - 1 2 3 4 ect.) and upgrades, are well, kinda the same as NFS has always done.. but no individual tire width or things like that. so its not realistic, nearly in anyway.. 3rd. painting a car with vinyls like in forza is imposable. it took me an hour to do simple stripes for a charger, and the stripes arnt perfectly even at that. but enough bad, i dont want to ramble. some good, 1st. its pretty, and night driving, and the helmet cam are great, i dare say, perfect?. 2nd. NOS! i love that incorporated into it, i wish forza had it, its an amazing feature. and it doesnt replenish magically during a race either. i like that alot. (forza you paying attention? get NOS!) and thats about all worth mentioning to mind. i give it a 3 out of 10, and i really dont recommend buying it. i wish i hadn't. EA 'hyped' it up soo much, and its (im not exaggerating) mostly, a big LIE. im finding that out about alot of new games. rent them first, proceed carefully.… Full Review »
  3. SOUR_11b
    Nov 10, 2012
    1
    ive tried forcing myself to like this game, but its just not possible. the in-car helmet cam is the only good thing going for it. justive tried forcing myself to like this game, but its just not possible. the in-car helmet cam is the only good thing going for it. just being able to drive the car straight is a force to be reckoned with. imagine sitting in a swivel office chair spinning as you roll down the street, thats what this game is like. i only gave it a higher than zero score because the helmet cam is such a great idea.… Full Review »
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