Racing games tend to aim for one of two markets: those of us who like our racing fast, easy to play, and unrealistic, and those who like something that's as close to the real thing as possible. While games made for either crowd sometimes include concessions to the other, you can always tell where the heart of the game lies. The awkwardly named Need for Speed: Shift 2 Unleashed seems to fall somewhere in the middle, but with the now-expected leveling system and Autolog support from Hot Pursuit in the mix, it may find a home with both camps... although everyone will find something to grumble about.

Shift 2 wants to scare you, and it succeeds. The game includes a view that puts the camera inside your virtual racing helmet, and you can see your head bounce around with the crashes and your eyes dart around the track when you take corners. You can hear the sounds of cars zooming around you, and the roar of your own engine is deafening. Racing games have long been a sort of wish fulfillment for those of us who can't afford to own one of these cars or can't travel to the often exotic locations to enjoy the scenery, but this is one of those games that drives home the point that the driver's seat is a terrifying, dangerous environment.

Need for Speed: Shift 2 Unleashed ps3*, xbox, pc Release Date: now

now MSRP: $59.99 Official site * = platform reviewed

During your first night-time race, you'll see the headlights of the other cars come from behind, allowing your to see your own shadow on the turn in front of you. It feels like you're being hunted by bellowing, metal beasts. When you hit the wall, all color drains from your view, which is less effective, and becomes annoying as the other cars bully you around the track. You'll get thrown around, so it's always important to give as good as you get. In Shift 2, racing is very much a contact sport. Damage is both aesthetic and mechanical, so you'll see and feel it if you're being reckless with your car.

The game allows you to turn down many of the features to force the game into something approaching an arcade-style racing game. You can adjust the racing line, steering, and braking assists, and you can make the damage visual only. As always, the more control you give yourself, the more fulfilling the game will be, and to win the later races you'll need to understand your car in a deep way. My problem with all this is that despite the Need for Speed name, this is being positioned as a more serious racing game, and the cars still feel distressingly light. It's way too easy to lose traction. The racing is consistent within the game, but it never feels as satisfying or "real" as the more accomplished simulation-style games on the market.

The game allows you to upgrade the 120+ cars, which adds another layer to the best times you'll find in the Autolog system. Are other drivers better than you, or did they trick out their car for better performance? You can add nitro and upgrade things like your brakes and suspension—and all these options can be tuned to your heart's content.

The game showcases 35 locations, including some fantasy tracks in locations that wouldn't be possible in real life, so there's a good variety of cars and races to explore. Everything you do well adds experience points to your account and allows you to level up, so even if you fail a race you'll get something out of it, which gives you an excuse not to rage-quit when you crash in the last lap.

The experience system and perpetual competition from friends makes it easy to get sucked into the game, and the development team definitely spent time making the cars feel powerful and the tracks dangerous. Your opponents are scrappier than we're used to from other games, making the competition impressive even from the computer. There is a full suite of online options as well if you'd like to earn experience playing against humans.

Still, it's hard to say whether or not you'll love the game if you pick it up. Some fans may feel the racing is too touchy, while hardcore sim fans may feel like they don't have enough control of their cars. Just to test this hypothesis, I put in my copy of Forza 3, and marveled at how much better the driving felt.

The game sits between two worlds very well, and I'm having a ton of fun playing, but this is game you'll want to try before you plunk down your $60.

Verdict: Rent