Samsung: Limited Offers for Free NFS Shift Downloads

Written By: Simon on June 29, 2010 12 Comments

In some ways, we wanted to omit the “limited” part of the title, and that is because with 1.2 million free download slots available, there are plenty of chances for everyone to grab a copy of this impressive little mobile racing app. The offer is open to all Samsung S8500 Wave owners, and will last until all slots have been consumed. Limited or not, this is certainly a recommended download for any Bada smart phone owner who wants to experience some serious racing fun.

As any gamer would know, the Need for Speed series of racing games is considered to be the anti-thesis of the Gran Turismo series from Sony Computer Entertainment. NFS games thrive on providing the raw edge of gaming, taking players off the track and into the streets (though one NFS game did tackle closed circuit races), and NFS: Shift offers exactly that.

In terms of graphics, there is nothing that really stands out with the new game, the limited hardware on mobile phones require the polygon count to be cut down heavily and the once detailed car models that NFS is known for is absent in the game. Gone also are the 3D backgrounds –these have been replaced with large sprites that provide a similar effect, but with less of the graphic eye candy.

Gameplay however retains that same old high-speed action that the series is known for, and for this one simply factor alone players should try getting a copy of the game before all 1.2 million copies run out. NFS: Shift brings together many of the older racing control elements of the console versions with the addition of the accelerometer aided steering. While fun, it can also be quite complicated for newer players. Performing drifts around hairpin turns will take a lot of practice for many players unaccustomed to the slippery feel of tilting.