Need For Speed Shift is the newest game in the Need For Speed franchise, and a lot of people are wondering how it is? Well, from playing it, here are some of my first thoughts on the game.

Now, the first thing about this game you will notice is that it is racing on a track. Yes, they are streets, but they are barricaded off and it is a legitimate racing event. Ok, so maybe this is a bit more politically correct, but I sort of miss the street-racing thing that they had going with games like Most Wanted. I mean, isn’t that what need for speed is all about? It is maybe not as confined as Pro Street, but it comes close enough to almost turn some people off  I think.

The controls on the game are pretty cool. The cars are easy enough to control, and if you have ever played any racing games before, then you will find yourself drifting around the easier corners beautifully within the first race. But don’t think that the whole game is that easy! That is one thing that Shift brings you in this game… a challenge! This is no light-weight racing game, this one is pretty serious.

The graphics on the game are pretty cool, though you would think that in our futuristic state of graphics revolution, they would have been able to do a bit better. Still, the graphics are good, and you will not find the game cartoony. You will find it easy to see, easy to follow, and it did not leave me with a headache, which is always nice!

The AI of the other cars is normal. Hey, they run around the track in the right direction… what else do you want? Also, you build up your rep in one of two different ways. You can either be respected for being a meticulous driver, or for being aggressive. That part is  pretty cool.