need for speed: most wanted review

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By Greentoastrack on 28th Oct 2006

Greentoastrack's Ratings

Addiction Level	7/10
Graphics	9/10
Multi-player	Yes
Value for money	9/10
Overall value	8/10
Greentoastrack's recommendation

Good Points

The police chases are especially fun
The cars can be simply beautiful

Bad Points

It can be oh so frustrating
A large amount of in-game advertisements
The amount of modification has been reduced

General Comments

The past two 'Need for Speed' games have been completely revolved around the underground tuner racing scene, and Need For Speed: Most Wanted does not detract from this in anyway.

Obviously, as the title suggests, the main feature of this game are the police pursuits. These are not only fun, but dangerously addictive, and in progressing through this game, you may find your way to the slammer numerous times. This is slightly let down by the fact that they have the intelligence of a waffle iron. They will drive into each other, whirl straight into such obvious hazards such as petrol station pumps and creaky water towers, and even turn around and drive in the opposite direction.

Despite some of the pitfalls, there are many positive elements. The car list has been expanded since the previous outing, with many exotic cars making an appearance, and the free-roam area has increased in size since Underground 2, and makes good use of different environments such as country roads, fishing villages and urban metropolises.

Back to the car front now, and some sad news to be had. The amount of modification available has been dramatically decreased since the last time, probably to help attract the likes of Lamborghini and Porsche, but nevertheless, it is still easy to create an individual looking set of wheels. I believe that the attraction of these exotic car companies is a bad thing though, as it takes away that shred of realism there was in the previous games. I mean, when was the last time you saw an illegal street racer driving a Murci lago?

You may also want to know that the URL, Drift, Street X and Outrun races have disappeared from this title, and two new race modes have appeared; Tollbooth and Speedtrap races (which are just Sprint races is disguise).

There is a 'story' in this game too. It may just be your run-of-the-mill revenge story, but it works. The game revolves around you arriving at 'Rockport City' in your BMW, but soon it is sabotaged and won in a race against an annoying fella called 'Razor'. He then becomes the highest ranked street racer in the city, and you slowly have to climb up the rankings and then take him out, with a lot of speed tickets on the way.

I get quite annoyed when I play this game, as the sheer amount of advertising in it is terrible. EA have no shame. Everywhere you find the corporate logos of companies that have no connection to racing whatsoever, companies like Axe (Lynx), Burger King and Cingular. Shape up men, it's not a billboard!

Finally, the most frustrating part of this game is the develish catch-up. You can be tens of seconds ahead, when magically your competitors speed catapults into unbelievably realms, with them passing you on the final turn. You may find this a cause of broken joysticks and PlayStation's, as it is that horrible.

Overall, I do recommend this game, though you should accept that nothing's perfect.

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