Parents' Guide to

Shift 2: Unleashed

By Brett Molina, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Realistic racing sim with jarring crashes.

Game PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360 2011
Shift 2: Unleashed Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Shift 2: Unleashed Game: Screenshot #1
  • Shift 2: Unleashed Game: Screenshot #2

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

BrioCyrain
BrioCyrain Adult
May 6, 2012
age 14+

Speed

It's Need For Speed's answer to GT5. Avoid the barriers unless you want a good bashing.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much violence
Too much consumerism
Tom_Gamer_Tom
Tom_Gamer_Tom Adult
April 21, 2011
age 11+

Lot more difficult than last time, still fun.

Shift 2 Unleashed, isn't violent but it is one of the most difficult racing games I've played, if you play it properly, not play it safe. By play it safe, I mean play on easy with all the assists on. It is very hard to crash doing that, By play it properly, I mean on Medium-Hard with no assists, and no clue when to brake. This game isn't mature, it's got a lot of crashing but no blood shown, no people dying. Just a very smashed up car. So it's good for over 11+ if you are going to play it properly, or with a few assists.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
See all 2 parent 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

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