Need for Speed: Shift represents both a literal and figurative changing of gears for EA's popular {racing} series, as primary development duties have been transferred from EA Black Box to Slightly Mad Studios, and the gameplay moves from arcade-style action to physics-based simulation. Everything in Shift is designed to convey a sense of realism, from the cockpit view and disorienting effects of crashes, to the more than 70 licensed vehicles and 15 real-world courses. A 3D heads-up display mimics the movements of a driver's head, while depth-of-field effects blur the screen to simulate speed, inertia, and G-forces.

The "Career" mode finds players participating in traditional circuits, sprints, time trials, drifting events, and model-specific races. Finishing on the podium or completing specific in-race tasks earns players stars that help unlock more events. Each event contributes information to a "Driver Profile" system that records the way players behave on the track, branding them as either precision drivers or aggressive drivers, and keeps track of how "good" players are with a "Driver Level" ranking. Gamers can take their driver level all the way up to 50, unlocking new vehicles, accessories, and garage slots at ever step. Need for Speed: Shift supports both local and online multiplayer racing. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide