Official Shift 2 Raves Thread (Was Appreciation Thread)

[napanoyhta]

A thread to say why we like it so much and to share our best moments in the game.

(for the record: PS3 + G27 with AWD's settings from this forum, on ELITE + HARD)

I'm currently at 12% completion and so far I'm loving it. I actually never imagined a racing game could be SO good. It's immersive, beautiful to look at, it gives me a real feeling of danger, it makes me understand when I'm at the limit of the car and that's a wonderful sensation.
I will discuss a few bullet point.
- I don't mind the physics at all. I find that I can make the car do pretty much whatever I want it to do. Small and sudden correction manoeuvres included. And I love the way the wheel goes soft when I lose traction.
- The graphics: yes I can clearly see the resolution is not excellent, but I like it very much anyway, there's something special about the design of the game, the circuits, the atmosphere. It all feels alive, I can sense these circuits have a soul.
- The AI is amazing. I like the way the cars are all packed together, there is not a clear leader. They are intelligent, they will never stop trying to pass you and pass each other too, if they can't pass you on one side they try the other one. They break late, they make mistakes. And I don't find them to be overly aggressive at all. 99.5% of the time my races are without any contact. When they take me out it's because I invaded their line, not because they are jerks. I took notice of this and realized that sometimes I put myself suddenly in their line and simply they have not enough time to react. Simply put: I find it very similar to playing online against real people. This makes the replayability of the game very long, because any "quick race" I create will be just as challenging as any career mode race.
- There are some aspects that I find very realistic: I lose control when I land after a jump, when I hit a curb, when I hit another car.
- Night racing: the lighting and everything, it's just very well done. I turn off the light in my room and I stay in total darkness and it's really engaging.

Favourite moments so far:
- The 3-stage event at Glendale at night with my 676PI Acura NSX. My goodness. Sliding through those long corners, passing the rivals on the inside managing to keep in the tiny space between the barrier and the opponent, all this while basically tandem-drifting, knowing that the slightest touch would send me off, feeling that I'm on the limit of the car and of the track. And at the end of the turn the opponent would come out still ahead and I would go "damn!" and the battle would continue in the next corner with no time to breath. Adrenalin rushing, heart pumping. I found myself laughing out loud, out of pure satisfaction when I got things done well, and at the end of each stage I was shaking.
- Dijon: I just love that track.

Least favourite things:
- "The Eliminator" events: just too much chaos.


All in all the reason why I love this game is emotions and sensation. It makes me feel fear, pride, accomplishment, satisfaction, adrenaline, physical exertion. I never imagined this could be possible. At the moment my opinion is: far beyond expectations. And I really hope it keeps being like this until the end.

Anyone else appreciates S2U as much as I do?

 

[Widowmaker00]

I do love it too. I have no problems driving with a DS3, with no adjustments.

I think im lvl 16 now.

 

[jamesscotland73]

I totally agree with all of the above.

As the days pass and people eventually begin to get their settings configured correctly I think more and more people will be won over.

I have never felt so connected to a car before.

The physics were totally undriveable until i got my wheel settings dialled in, now i would say it has the best physics i have ever experienced. (im 37 and have played racing games for about 20 years).

Its unfortunate that the developers couldnt have included in the booklet a guide for setting up the top 10 selling steering wheels.

 

[VXR]

After the initial "oh god, what a mess" period, the settings I found matched to Pro with ABS on has made for a fun experience. No, the car doesn't flow like I find in FM3, but it's not anodyne like I found much of the GT series.

They all have their place and right now, this one is keeping me hooked.

 

[paulpg87]

i'm loving it too. it'fun, lot of tracks, lot of custom and great challange on hard with the time trial, invitational etc and they force you to use a variety of cars. Great deal i'm happy.

 

[JediRage]

I agree as well.

I love the helmet cam. It feels natural and focuses my attention on the track. Whenever I used to drive in cockpit view in GT5 my eyes used to water because of 'searching' for the vital things to look at, if you catch my drift. I don't squint at all when using helmet cam in Shift 2 and it really livens up the feel of driving.

The other thing I like about the game is Autolog. I only have 4 friends who have the game but trying to beat their times makes me go back and 'grind' events every time they beat my time.

I agree about glendale and dijon. Lots of fun to be had. The first triple race series on glendale in the NFS Mustang was bloody hard. And Dijon is no piece of cake, the snake half of the track is insane with the elevation changes and all.

 

[Hollidog]

I agree completely.
For me the best part of this game has to be the tracks, to compare with GT I love some of their tracks like Deep Forest and Midfield (why did they take that out), but having other tracks like Zolder, Enna Pergussen and Dijon, tracks that I havent seen in a racing game for consoles before, is great. THen there are all the F1 tracks like Monza, Silverstone, Nurburgring, Hockenheim, Catalunya and probably some other ones that I have forgotten or havent gotten around to driving on yet. All in all this game is great and I have recommended it to a couple of people and of the one that has bought it so far, he also seems to be enjoying it.

 

[HeadsoupBob]

Well said napanoyhta, I agree.

I think this is going to be one of those games where everyone at first thinks WTF? But then after realising it's not broken, but different, it will eventually become something great and looked back on as changing the scene for the better Well hopefully anyway...

 

[brambos]

I love this game. When I've put in a week more I'll make a 'final verdict' post (lol) but so far it's more than great!

- I love the car selection (could have been bigger, but at least there is no useless or silly fluff and ancient junk in the car lot)
- I love the track selection: Spa-Francorchamps is my new favorite race track in any racing game
- Cockpit view is natural, intuitive and simply works very well
- The racing is a visceral spectacle, it's raw, dirty, loud and immersive; all your senses get battered.
- The AI is just brilliant
- Damage is awesome
- When you tune your car a bit and enable steering assist the handling is adequate.
- Autolog is the perfect hybrid between online and offline racing and makes me come back to old events to beat my friend's scores

I could go on, but I will in another post. So far this is to me what a *RACING* game is all about. If I want to drive a perfectly modeled toy car around in a sterile plastic world, I'll play GT5... If I want to have an exciting race I'll be playing Shift 2.

 

[RomKnight]

I love the helmet cam (i'm a motorcycle guy) but I can't keep on track much long using it. I thought it would be more intuitive from the movies. Now the cockpit view.. finally I can see the road like in my car and not feel like canned sardines even inside GT cars.

The night racing... i have no words. Best EVER.

The AI. I'm on Medium... sometime feels easy, others hard. Still need to see that "cheaters" and cars on rails to believe it... You push them they push you. You drive fair and clean and they rather crash instead of messing with you. In the font positions they do defend their line and you need to find their Achilles heel...

Lots of custom options from liveries to custom paints and rims for all tastes and sizes.

Tuning is too complicated for me. But I certainly use some options.

Upgrades to everything and engine swaps.

Only one freeze so far and I play for hours. I'm on PS3 (fat) / G27 with 100% steering sensitivity, deadzones=0, 450º (lock in tune menu usually 26 to28) and no aids/abs

What I don't like: drifting. I want that Mustang but i hate drift

 

[bmwisme]

We all know by now the shortcomings of this unpatched version but it is about time a thread for those of us focused on having a blast!

Shift 2 has been loaded since release day... will go back to GT5 at some point as I truly enjoy that also but for now S2 is so immersive it keeps me coming back.

My vote for best features are:

AutoLog: Instant and dynamic interaction throughout. Too much to list!
Helmet Cam: Never did like restricking cockpit views until Shift 2.
Computer AI: Tough - no "real" racer wins every time.
Customizations: Many, cool stuff, buy and SELL components (adjust PP).

Dislikes:
...Oops, this is not the thread :~>

PS3 version using DS3 or Wheel

 

[spapadillion]

Good thread, good posts. It's about time.

While S2U is probably the least realistic game, in terms of handling, that I've played in a long time, as I prefer to stick to only the hardest-core of the sim genre, it's also one of the most fun. The way the cockpit camera bobs and wobbles as you go down the excellent selection of tracks is great, the overall atmosphere is excellent and the AI really are in a class of their own. Hopefully we start seeing some of the features introduced in the Shift series popping up in other racing games in the future.

While the oft-maligned input lag is attrocious and almost inexcusable, once one overcomes that initial obstacle and becomes able to seperate their own mistakes from those of the game, there's an absurd amount of fun to be had customizing one's cars and beating all the challenges. And yes, tuning helps immensely. Just stay away from the online mode if you've never been to prison, or in a gang, or on Jabba's sail barge.

All in all it's an excellent game, even if they're holding back a good number of cars for ransom as DLC. Time will tell if I cave and alter my policies to include negotiating w/ terrorists.

 

[Dude27]

Love it too...

+++
- AI is alive and dynamic without to be too stupid
- Sounds are amazing (but not as good in external as the infamous fake Pagani Trailer)
- all the new real life tracks and cars are amazing
- once you rule out your handling problem/FF wheel setup, it's become a REAL pleasure to drive : input lag is mainly due to hardware resource, if your game is not fluid, your FF handling won't be...
- The career mode is much more serious and fun
- I love the Autolog and to see the time-attack (same car, smae setup, same track for everybody) racing leaderboard with your friends per track is amazing and you are really motivated to beat their time
- despite what say the haters, S2 really have a (real) good physic engine!

---

- The world autolog time is FULL of cheaters!!! 6 seconds lap on Spa, are you kidding me!??? Fortunately if you choose well your friends, close times are motivating to beat.
- Graphic hog for medium range computer, if I want total fluid FPS + good FFB, AA must go... I guess I will have to change my beloved 9800GTX soon...
- DLC just for XB360... that's really not a good business practice, EA
- Don't like the Helmet cam... it's very disturbing that someone else see for you where to go...
- ATM PC modifications are more difficult than in S1, despite what the team said about modding, they closed a lot of "doors".

 

[brambos]

All in all it's an excellent game, even if they're holding back a good number of cars for ransom as DLC. Time will tell if I cave and alter my policies to include negotiating w/ terrorists.

Lol and 👍


One thing that leaves me impressed and which has been mentioned by others as well is that in this game you often really don't care about winning a race. Ending third or even last is often just as much fun, because the racing itself is such a gratifying experience.

It's probably down to the AI being so 'human'-like and competitive. But it's an interesting observation and something I never ever felt in GT5. In GT anything other than first place just feels like a waste of my time.

 

[OLDSKOOLACURA]

this game truly makes you clench up when you make a mistake and are headed to the wall.

I love this game, yes GT5 is better looking but that is the only thing GT5 does better. I'm selling GT5, and SHIFT 2 is now my racing game.

I do like how the wheel goes numb when you lose front wheel traction and how you can push the car to the limits and you know you are on a fine line.

 

[RomKnight]

I forgot to tell about Autolog... it should be considered a drug. Way too addictive...

 

[OLDSKOOLACURA]

I forgot to tell about Autolog... it should be considered a drug. Way too addictive...

I 2nd that lol

 

[deftonesmx17]

What I don't like: drifting. I want that Mustang but i hate drift

Use a controller for drifting; I found it impossible with a wheel on my PC and I assume the console version is the same.

Love it too...
- Graphic hog for medium range computer, if I want total fluid FPS + good FFB, AA must go... I guess I will have to change my beloved 9800GTX soon...

Don't waste your money; the game fluctuates anywhere between 40-60fps even on my XFX Radeon 5870 XXX.



Anyways...
Agree, I am loving this game as well. The racing feels alive and not sterile like GT5/FM3.

 

[G33KFR34K66]

I like it a lot. Lvl 19, 26% complete, and looking forward to more!

 

[supergoop]

I agree with all the things above so I won't repeat them again. In additional, I really like the little details in Shift 2 (some carried forward from Shift 1):

- Vibrating wipers at high speed
- Vibrating safety nets at high speed
- Proper hand animation moving the gear shifter
- Leaves on the road kicks up from the cars in front
- Marbles and debris on the road kicks up from the cars in front
- Hand-over-hand animation
- Proper dials for each car not only for the interior views, but also for exterior views
- Dials have covers that reflect the lighting
- Looking left and right pans smoothlhy (i.e. not instant like in Forza)
- Amazing sounds and the option to fine tune them individually (e.g. environmental, vehicle, music, voice, etc.)
- Track side atmoshpere (flag girls, reporters, mechanics, team mates)
- Damage visual
- Damage physics
- The reflection of the dash on the windshield
- Helicopters, hot-air balloons, flying airplans (it may not be realistic, but I still prefer it compare to a sterile environment).
- Voice (annoying for some people, but I like it. It adds a connection to my virtual team)
- Pre-event cut-screens. Again, I enjoy them and thought they were well done. It adds to the atmosphere.
- Pre-race prep-talk has variation (try restarting over and over again), and some of them are track specific.
- Restarting a race sometimes have different pre-race animation. Camera angles and voice are different each time you restart a race.
- Fast menus. I can exit a race, go to the car lot, buy a new car and be back in the race in about about 1.5 minutes!
- I like the post-race voice over. I don't find them anoying and adds to the atmosphere.
- I like the many different liveries for the same car. I don't like racing a car with the same livery and number (feels strange seeing myself on the track)
- Most cars can be modded or works converted.
- Interior upgrades are visually represented (add a rollcage or boost dial and you will see it)
- Having a windshield!
- Adding stickers to the windshield.
- etc, etc.

 

[Nuck81]

I approve of this thread...

 

[JediRage]

All in all it's an excellent game, even if they're holding back a good number of cars for ransom as DLC. Time will tell if I cave and alter my policies to include negotiating w/ terrorists.

Haha, spot on. I don't like to encourage DLC, least of all from EA but I'm keeping an eye on the ones for Shift 2.

 

[buziii]

This is a good thread. I've never played or seen this game or any of it's predecessors. I'm an old guy and I'm playing GT5 a lot, and would like to find "the best" other racing game. I'm not at all details oriented, I just like to play games for fun, if you can imagine that! I don't play online and always enjoy a good career mode.

So, would you folks objectively recommend this game? Any other racing games I should consider?

 

[freedomweasel]

So, would you folks objectively recommend this game? Any other racing games I should consider?

Forza 3 and shift 2 are probably my favorite driving/racing games. F1 2010 is also incredibly good but I definitely have to be in the right mood for it. I can casually run a few laps in GT5 or Shift and have fun, but not so much in F1.

If they can patch the controls to be a little less twitchy it'd be even better, but even as it is now Shift is definitely a really fun racing game with a great car and track list.

edit: for the record I play with a DS3, so if you have a wheel my recommendation may mean little.

 

[Dude27]

This is a good thread. I've never played or seen this game or any of it's predecessors. I'm an old guy and I'm playing GT5 a lot, and would like to find "the best" other racing game. I'm not at all details oriented, I just like to play games for fun, if you can imagine that! I don't play online and always enjoy a good career mode.

So, would you folks objectively recommend this game? Any other racing games I should consider?

if you want something between a die hard sim like Iracing and something like Dirt 2, then Shift will really please you... even if you don't like online you still can enjoy to beat some friends time OFFLINE... no need to race against them, but you can race againts their time which is for me very addictive and fun (of course if you chosse well your friends with pretty much the the same skills as you and not cheaters or die hard pro drivers)

All in all, Shift2 is a very enjoyable and dynamic game where you really need to be concentrated, know your breaking points and learn/practice the tracks and the differents cars to do well... it's not die hard like Iracing but still it requires some good racing /performance skills. It's very rewarding in that sense.

 

[Nuck81]

if you want something between a die hard sim like Iracing and something like Dirt 2, then Shift will really please you... even if you don't like online you still can enjoy to beat some friends time OFFLINE... no need to race against them, but you can race againts their time which is for me very addictive and fun (of course if you chosse well your friends with pretty much the the same skills as you and not cheaters or die hard pro drivers)

All in all, Shift2 is a very enjoyable and dynamic game where you really need to be concentrated, know your breaking points and learn/practice the tracks and the differents cars to do well... it's not die hard like Iracing but still it requires some good racing /performance skills. It's very rewarding in that sense.

I still haven't touched online, last night I spent about three hours just going back to earlier races beating Autolog times. In fact I still haven't even touched the higher races yet, because of being so engaged with autolog...

 

[Dude27]

I still haven't touched online, last night I spent about three hours just going back to earlier races beating Autolog times. In fact I still haven't even touched the higher races yet, because of being so engaged with autolog...

yes, that's so fun and addictive... my careers is at -/+ 10% because I just enjoy to take this Aston on Donington or this Porsche on the Nurburgring just to go up in my friends leaderboard... so much fun that I forgot to going on in my career!

 

[FuriousDemon]

yes, that's so fun and addictive... my careers is at -/+ 10% because I just enjoy to take this Aston on Donington or this Porsche on the Nurburgring just to go up in my friends leaderboard... so much fun that I forgot to going on in my career!

For me career is #1 priority, autolog is in second place. The main reason is that there is no separation by the class of the vehicle. If you were competing against the same class against your friends, then it would be way more fun. I still plan on trying to beat autolog's times, but it's not as fun as it could have been.

 

[Nuck81]

For me career is #1 priority, autolog is in second place. The main reason is that there is no separation by the class of the vehicle. If you were competing against the same class against your friends, then it would be way more fun. I still plan on trying to beat autolog's times, but it's not as fun as it could have been.

That's why it shows what car and what the rating is on autolog. I think it's even more fun to beat their time in a car with lower rating...

 

[Dude27]

For me career is #1 priority, autolog is in second place. The main reason is that there is no separation by the class of the vehicle. If you were competing against the same class against your friends, then it would be way more fun. I still plan on trying to beat autolog's times, but it's not as fun as it could have been.

I agree, but I mean all these time-attack races where you have to beat a game time with a particular car and track with no possibility of tuning... it's very fun in these time attack sessions to beat also your friends time (on the right side of the screen) with exactly the same setup: same car, same tuning, same track... no cheating, just skills!

Of course later on to be able to have more cars and classes to really compete online with friends with cars with +/- the same performance rating is another story.