Need for Speed: Shift Preview

[H.Bogard]

1up has a nice preview of the Pro racing version among the three NFS sequels that we'll be getting our hands on later this year. Check it out.

To accomplish that goal, EA brought in Slightly Mad Studios to develop the game. That name may not sound familiar, but their pedigree in racing games will. The studio formed out of the core team that created the highly acclaimed racing games GTR, GT Legends, and GTR 2. And they've been at this already for some time. Two years worth of work has gone into the tech, and by the time Shift hits this fall, another year will have been added to that development time. Not only does this have the game looking good at this point, in an uncommon gesture at a first-look event, I was handed the controller about halfway through and turned loose to play.

My favourite bit:

One of the best of them comes out while playing in cockpit view. To help communicate the sense of momentum, the point of view shifts to reflect how the forces would move your head around. So, coming into a corner hard on the brakes felt almost like I was physically leaning forward into the screen as the virtual windshield got closer to my view, and likewise, going hard on the gas on the exit drew back the camera to mimic how my head would have been pushed back from the acceleration.

Sounds a lot similar to last year's mind-blowing GRID, with much added improvements and twists. Can't wait for this!

[Bingley Joe]

Nice screenie. I haven't really enjoyed an NFS game since Porsche Unleashed, but that hasn't stopped me from keeping my eye on the franchise in the hopes they'll recapture the brilliance of that one.. Having SMS on board certainly makes that possibility much more likely.


This post reminds me that I should probably be on the lookout for a cheap copy of GRID though