The Need For Speed (NFS) series has been a full part of my childhood and I can confidently say that I have played almost every installment. Initially it was just fast cars, stunning graphics (at the time of release) and adrenaline-fueled races that really made this game attractive.

 

However, to its credit, the series developed a more serious character with the likes of NFS: Most Wanted (Blacklist) and NFS Carbon, which featured interesting plots and sophisticated reward systems (for body kits, upgrades, cars, etc.).

 

Unfortunately, while the new game looks better, and in some ways, feels better than the original, it has also shed a lot of features that made the first game so enjoyable. Instead of intriguing plot twists and a more sophisticated incentive-system, the latest NFS: Most Wanted seems like a stripped down racing game, more like the earliest NFS games.

 

 

Plot & Gameplay

 

 

 

Players find themselves in Fairhaven, tasked with beating 10 racers on the the list. Unlike the original, there is no narrative or colourful characters to help you along the way. In fact, your opponents are only identified by the cars they drive. So no cheeky taunts and no faces you feel like punching while driving at 200mph. The fact that you are racing against faceless opponents might be interesting to some but in a game like NFS Most wanted, the entire process seems quite mechanical.

 

Why bother with a “list” at all then? The skills of your AI opponents is impressive but they are not impossible to beat and there is always that element of luck involved. In some races, you could find yourself getting busted just before you cross the finish line. However, in some other cases you could find yourself winning a losing race as the cops bust your opponent in the nick of time. 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, if you are into NFS for the cars, you are not going to be disappointed. They look stunning and sound awesome. Obviously they don’t provide the most realistic driving experience and with practice (smart use of brakes and acceleration), you’ll ace every course. 

 

Winning races is essential for unlocking rewards, body kits and enhancements for your car. Victory in each event also also brings about speed points, which you need to accumulate in order to challenge your opponents. However, while the customisation process can be very rewarding and provide a real sense of accomplishment, the process of actually building a collection of cars is quite dull.

 

 

 

 

In fact, players don’t have to buy or even earn cars through event wins, instead they just find cars parked all over the city. The only cars that cannot be “found” are the ones driven by the ten racers on the most wanted list. While this makes things a bit dull, it is great when the heat’s on and you need another car to dupe the police. There are also repair shops everywhere, that help players reduce their heat level.

 

The police chases are amazing and the stakes keep getting higher because getting busted mid-chase also means a loss of all speed points accumulated throughout that chase. Keep in mind that you might want to do your best to avoid heavy pursuits in ordinary cars, because sometimes it feels entirely futile. The fun starts with the faster cars and once you’ve got yourself a cool set of upgrades. 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the main campaign, there are a number of separate events including standard checkpoint races, speed runs and ambushes. Again, the supercars are the best way to enjoy these events. Ambushes is probably my favourite mode because it starts with players on the verge of being surrounded by cops and the objective is to evade the authorities as fast as possible. 

 

 

Conclusion

 

Despite the lack of a solid narrative and slightly unrewarding elements of the game, NFS Most Wanted is a lot of fun to play. The variety of racing events and gaming styles you could play throughout your racing career is impressive. Moreover, the audio-visuals are amazing and more importantly, the cars look stunning. In some sense, this game goes back to the very roots of the classic NFS series. A definite must-have for all NFS fans out there.

 

 

 

 

 

Reviewed by Navam Niles