Even so, when the press release came out with ‘simulation’ listed as the fresh direction it still came as quite a surprise. Indeed, it’s not so much a change in tack – or even a reinvention – but closer to a completely new franchise with the old name attached. The cheesy FMV has gone, the bullshit stories, the police chases, the nitrous, the huge drifts and powerslides are all left way behind. Instead, SHIFT takes us to famous racing circuits and intricate city-based tracks, and in terms of gameplay it offers a far more realistic and challenging experience. From our first hands-on with the game, it seems clear that Need for Speed SHIFT certainly has the potential to be a far superior racing game, and it took less than five minutes with the game to allay our fears and realise that this is a very, very good move for the franchise.

Billed as being “built by racers for racers”, Need for Speed SHIFT also heralds the introduction of a new developer to the series, in the form of Slightly Mad Studios. Previous developer Black Box is still involved with executive producer Michael Mann helping out, but Slightly Mad has a team with plenty of simulation experience, and a very impressive game engine already in place to ensure that the core mechanics of Need for Speed SHIFT are of a suitably high standard (and deliver the sense of realism that most racers aspire to). And that’s something Slightly Mad is keen to push in the game; that it’s more about the driver experience than it is about collecting cars and pimping rides (although full customisation will still play a big part).

The visuals as a whole are very impressive, with detailed car models extending into the driver’s seat, a cockpit view that lets you pan the camera around to see your hands moving the steering wheel and shifting gear in real time – you can even see your feet pushing the pedals in sync with the action. With the list of outside effects including smoke, flying gravel, realistic and persistent tyre marks, motion blur, depth of field, soft shadows, hugely impressive real-time lighting and reflection, day and night settings (interchangeable at the touch of button) and variable weather, you can assume that it will look every bit as detailed as the handling and physics. Of the two tracks we got to race on – the fictional London street circuit – was very Gotham-esque, with plenty of colour and a highly polished veneer to it. The other track, Brands Hatch, was one of (we’re promised) many ‘real world’ circuits to feature. The most notable things about this particular circuit was that it highlighted where Slightly Mad has put a lot of effort into making the environment far busier than recreations we’ve seen in other games. Rather than keeping with the sparse, open landscapes some tracks lend themselves to, the developers have littered the circuits with packed crowds, track-side marshals, flags being waved, large video screens relaying the action, and so on. While it may utilise some creative license, it certainly looks a lot better with such colourful and life-giving elements.

When it comes to the racing, SHIFT seems to handle the simulation element wisely; leaning towards the Race Pro level of realistic handling and driver demands, but without being as ruthless and punishing of your mistakes. We were still having to pick out the racing line and brake intelligently into corners (slow in, fast out, remember!), as pushing the car too hard will see you sliding uncontrollably off the track. However, it took us a lot less time to get to grips with SHIFT (it only took three or fours efforts to bag a top-three finish) as the cars certainly seem to stick to the track a whole lot better. This may not be quite as realistic as Race Pro but it makes it a lot more approachable for casual gamers, so as not to completely alienate the Need for Speed fans who have grown unfamiliar with the concept of braking for anything.

There are some great touches in SHIFT to make you feel closer to the action, with Slightly Mad focusing on its desire to make the sensation of driving as realistic as the handling itself. Using some neat camera work, the game introduces the effects of g-force, which pushes you back into the seat when you accelerate at speed, while throwing you forwards when you slam on the brakes. It’s clearly noticeable in the cockpit view, but even if you’re using a third-person camera, the HUD itself will zoom in and out to give that sense of movement. When you’re hitting top speeds, it’s not just the surroundings that blur but also the car itself, and if you’re using the cockpit view the dashboard (and all its gauges) will also blur into an almost indistinguishable haze.

One final visual feature – and probably our favourite when it came to feeling like we were in a race car – is the new crash engine. Rather than slamming into cars and walls with reckless abandon (though it is still quite forgiving in keeping your car intact), the disorientating visual effects add an equal amount of punishment. Depending on the power of impact the screen will blur over for a few seconds, hampering your vision, whereas a really hard hit will scrunch the screen up for a split-second in shards of colour. Collisions with other cars will cause a ripple effect from the point of impact that also blurs the screen for a brief moment – and with opposition AI that holds a grudge and will target you for some rough riding if you piss them off, this could happen a lot. Hammering around the tight London circuit, slamming into cars and barriers is a fair assault on the senses and Need for Speed SHIFT could be one of the first racers we’ve seen that could actually induce nausea if you use the cockpit, bonnet or bumper views. If Slightly Mad’s only goal is to make you feel like you are in the driving seat of a real car, the team is well on its way to nailing it.