Shift 2: Unleashed

***Shift 2: Unleashed*** (also known as *Need for Speed: Shift 2 – Unleashed*) is a racing video game, the seventeenth installment of the *Need for Speed* series and sequel to *Need for Speed: Shift*. It was developed by Slightly Mad Studios, the same developers who did *Project CARS* and *Project CARS 2* and published by Electronic Arts. It was released worldwide between March and April 2011.

## Why It's Unleashed

1. It's an expanded version of the original game with new aspects and features that weren't featured such as night-time racing, helmet camera and the *Autolog* feature from *Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010)*.
2. 37 manufacturers with 145 cars to drive, featuring the Lexus LFA, Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA and Aston Martin DBRS9 GT3. All cars except Ferraris and LF-A Concept (which is updated to production model) are carried over from *Shift* with a lot more new cars added. This game has the longest car list (except constantly updating games like *World* and *No Limits*) in the entire series.
3. Over thirty-six tracks including new the ones such as Nürburgring GP with its other variants (which the original only had the Nordschleife), Circuit Zolder and Hockenheimring.
4. New soundtrack featuring artists like 30 Seconds To Mars, Hollywood Undead, Billy Clyro, Jimmy Eat World, Rise Against and Stone Temple Pilots. In addition, each licensed track has three remixed variants:
	1. ***Dirty,*** which is more electronic-focused, heard when you don't get podium position.
	2. ***Cinematic,*** which is more cinematic-styled with audience cheering in the background, heard when you get podium position.
	3. ***Gladiator,*** which is very intense and more orchestral-focused, heard in the menu screen.
5. Improved career mode based on real life motorsport events like the FIA GT series.
6. Even more darker and gritty tone than the former. Every time you start up the game, you'll see a still scene of a brutal car crash in Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps which is pretty disturbing yet well-made. And not to mention that the night-time racing is much more realistic than in the previous games in the entire series as the cars have a very narrow amount of visibility, making it a challenge for any players out there.
7. Outstanding cinematic cutscenes with real, well-known professional racers like Vaughn Gittin Jr. (Monster Energy/Falken Tire Ford Mustang GT and Ford Mustang RTR-X), Chris Rado (AWD & dragster Scion tC) and Darren McNamara (Toyota Corolla GT-S/AE86).
8. Tons of visual and performance customization including engine-swaps like **stuffing a Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) (RB26DETT) engine into a Nissan Silvia S15!** Currently in the series only this game and *Need for Speed: Heat* have this feature.
	* Unlike the original *Need for Speed: Shift*, nearly every car can now be Works converted.
9. More realistic physics and damage model than the previous game. Now your wheels can fall off if you crash hard enough. This was supposed to be implemented in *Need for Speed: ProStreet*, but was cut because of time constrains.
10. The Drag racing is back, also featuring ***real*** dragsters.
11. The Steam release includes all the DLC such as "Speedhunters Pack" and "Legends Pack". Also, it's redeemable on Origin as well!
12. There are still 5 more cars that can be found in PC game files and some cutscenes: Alfa Romeo 8C Spider, Aston Martin DBS Volante, Audi R8 V10 Cabriolet, Koenigsegg Agera, and Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster. You can activate them by modding.

## Bad Qualities

1. The handling, despite being improved from the original *Shift*, is still twitchy. Now this game is even more unplayable with keyboards. It even feels strange when using steering wheels.
2. The new helmet camera is very annoying. It not only narrows your view, but also automatically predicts your line of sight for you when cornering (which can't be turned off). You have to predict both the corner itself and how the camera reacts to it.
3. AI is still quite aggressive.
4. The events against rivals such as Chris Rado are pretty brutal.
5. Some racetracks such as Miami and Ambush Canyon can be pretty difficult. Some Miami drift tracks are quite buggy.
6. No music plays during races (except drift events), just like most EA Sports games.
7. Ferraris are gone again possibly due to licensing issues, despite being featured in previous *Shift* game.
8. The iOS version has basically the same dull gameplay as *Shift* for mobile version. Also it doesn't have an Android version.
9. Like the previous *Shift* game, unpausing the game causes the volume to raise up incredibly loudly to the point it become ear-rape which can damage the player's eardrums especially whenever he/she is using headphones.