Parents' Guide to Shift 2: Unleashed

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Common Sense Media Review

Brett Molina By Brett Molina , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Realistic racing sim with jarring crashes.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 11+

Based on 4 kid reviews

What's It About?

SHIFT 2: UNLEASHED is a realistic racing simulation based on the FIA GT1 world championship series. Players compete in a series of events featuring several races en route to becoming a racing champion. Dozens of cars are available from automakers such as Toyota, Honda, Ford, BMW, and Lamborghini. Players start out with a trial lap and race to determine the difficulty and computer assistance (such as auto-braking) players need. They can then begin entering pro races. Throughout their career, players earn experience points to unlock new cars and equipment. They also have their results tallied in an online Autolog that gauges how well they perform against friends online.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 2 ):
Kids say ( 4 ):

Shift 2 is an incredibly beautiful, authentic racing title. It rewards players for driving with precision and skill instead of aggression. Crashes really pack a powerful impact, as players watch the screen shake and blur. Controls are easy to pick up, but prepare to practice often to learn how to master corners and other racing techniques. The Autolog also adds another avenue for players to measure their skills. Overall, Shift 2 is a really strong title for players who love racing games.

Online interaction: The game features online races with open chat. This means that kids could potentially run into others online who express language and ideas unsuitable for kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how to manage video game playing in their life. How do you determine how much time to spend playing vs. doing other things like reading and exercising?

  • How does this game compare to real-world racing? Does it make you want to become a race car driver?

Game Details

  • Platforms : PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
  • Pricing structure :
  • Available online? : Available online
  • Publisher : Electronic Arts
  • Release date : March 29, 2011
  • Genre : Racing
  • ESRB rating : E10+ for Mild Suggestive Themes, Mild Violence
  • Last updated : June 19, 2019

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