I had high expectations from this one but now I am totally disappointed
I can only compare Shift 2 with it's predecessor.
Graphics
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The first one had better visuals. For example when I was racing in nurburgring, the asphalt and the sides of the road where far more impressive in Shift. The new one has a more cartoon-ish style. Especially the opponent cars. They look smaller than usual and with low quality textures in a distance. I like the bug squashing effect on my windscreen but nothing else. And the frame rate drops are killing this game(
Force Feedback
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much better in the first one (stronger and more detailed). In the new one sometimes there is no fbb at all. Tested with the same wheel....
Car upgrades
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The new one wins. More choices and detail. But there is a problem. If you do a lot of upgrades you will eventually change category and then you can not compete the initial race ;-)
So you have to stop and then you will find that still your car can not outrun more of your opponents in the class...
In-game screens
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More information is given on the new one but it's less organised.
Game AI
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The opponents can kick you out of the race for good and they are very aggressive. Still you only seem to scratch their paint when you do the same
Perhaps it's my idea, but this game is worst than the previous one. Maybe that's because Shift was the most advanced game at the time of it's release. The new one can not make such difference. I had high expectations from this one but now I am totally disappointed and I don't think that a patch can fix a lot of things
All my hopes are resting with Dirt 3 now ;-)