Visually the game is very sharp and the vehicles are photo-realistic. The lighting effects and shadows are perfect. The sun reflects off different parts of the car and real-time shadows are cast relative to your position and speed. This is one feature that really shows off the 360's capabilities. The framerate runs at only 30 fps but it's steady. There are instances of pop-up and draw-in that give the game an unpolished vibe as some buildings, light standards and bits of scenery are created before your eyes.

The list of cars is incredible. There's not one that I wouldn't want to own. The list includes vehicles from such luminaries as Mercedes Benz, Aston Martin, Porsche, BMW, Toyota and of course the American manufacturers. Who doesn't want to get their hands on a Dodge Viper? These classics display a true-to-life physics that gives them more weight than we're used to in such underground street racing games. Powersliding requires more control as the momentum is much harder to harness. You have to start applying the brakes earlier to compensate for the extra inertia. You will also note that these cars don't accelerate as quickly as you may be used to.

Upgrades include spoiler, rims, hood and trunks. This isn't a sim so if you want better performance you're going to have to try to purchase or otherwise unlock a vehicle that suits your driving style better. One of my favorites is the Lamborghini. There are two of them, the Murciélago and the Gallardo. I can't really detect much difference between them so either one of them are fine for me. They display excellent handling characteristics with quick acceleration.

Should your skills need a little work there are a couple of features that will help you in some circumstances. The Speed Breaker slows the action down to allow you to have a greater degree of control over your vehicle when you might otherwise find yourself out of control. The Speed Breaker can be used to negotiate tight turns or to avoid collisions with other vehicles and buildings.

Cops begin by giving chase and are easily outsmarted; at first. You can hear them talking about you and your behavior on the radio. Eventually they recruit more help including police choppers and Corvette's driving for the right side of the law. Things begin to heat up as they become more intelligent and aggressive - think army in GTA3. The Pursuit Breaker is a feature that allows you to destroy some kind of object that will fall behind you and block the path of the cops. You can destroy things such as radio towers, overpasses and bridges.

I have not had the opportunity to try the online modes yet but the AI does a great job of imitating an actual human player so I didn't even miss it. There are lots of modes and racing styles to enjoy should you bond with this game. I do tend to get bored in racing games eventually regardless of how many features they pack in because everything revolves around racing, however I must admit that the sheer variety of racing styles coupled with the thoroughly entertaining storyline, made this Need For Speed one of my Most Wanted. I'm sure no matter which system you play it on, you'll find NFSMW a real winner, even when you're losing.

By StewXX
CCC Staff Writer

Here we are with an update to the highly anticipated Xbox 360 title: Need For Speed: Most Wanted. Now, if any of you know me, I hate racing games. More so than animal slash pet sim games. Need For Speed: Most Wanted will definitely win over current racing and NFS fans, but those of us who groan at racing will no doubt fall in love with the sheer power of the beautiful graphics NFS: MW has to offer. Putting the graphics on the back burner for now, let's take a look at some gameplay features for NFS: MW.

EA has yet to release the final list of cars in game, but we do know that there will be over 40 available cars. Unfortunately for all you Italian gas guzzlers out there, Ferraris and SUVs will not be in the game. The car list should range from Porsche to Chevy, with ever manufacturer in between.

Now, Need For Speed wouldn't be one of the most popular racing franchises if it didn't offer, yea, racing. NFS: MW will feature 2 main racing types; Pure racing and Pursuit racing. Depending on which route you take, you'll have a plethora of races to choose from. In Pure Racing, expect some races such as Sprints, Toll races and Drag races. Pursuit races are starting to sound like the more exciting racing types. Pursuit Racing features racing types like Cop Chases, Point to Point, Timed races, Speed Trap races and more.

NFS: MW will also feature a new gameplay feature called Pursuit Breaker. Well, it's much less a feature than it is a way to score extra points. As the driver, you can use your car to destroy the environment around you, creating some roadblocks. Essentially, the more cops you stop with your makeshift roadblocks, the more points you rack up. What these points will be used for are yet to be determined, but they'll most likely be aimed towards vehicle upgrade.

Last but not least, NFS: MW isn't without a story; even if it does resemble the Fast and the Furious movie quite closely. You're the newbie in town trying to gain some street cred. The cops are the bad guys and want to take you down. You race, you win, hooray. EA isn't exactly taking the ingenious route with their story, but NFS: MW will be the first Next-Gen title to feature full motion video. Actors have been hired to help tell the story along.

Granted, some of the lines and dialogue are corny, but the video style is very cool. The FMV is a cross between Sin City and Sky Captain, which makes for a slightly blurred image with muddled colors. If for some reason you're not familiar with those movies, think Max Payne's comic scenes.

Awesome looking FMV sequences, a nice (as of yet to be finalized) list of cars to choose from and incredibly detailed graphics will elevate Need For Speed: Most Wanted high above the rest of the pack.

EA announced today that Need for Speed Most Wanted, from the makers of the hit Need for Speed Underground franchise that has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide, currently is under development at EA Canada. Combining the thrill of illicit street racing and tuner customization with the intensity of strategic police pursuits that rivals any Hollywood-style chase scene, Need for Speed Most Wanted challenges players to become the most notorious and elusive street racer.

“Out-race your opponents, evade cops and exploit the open world in Need for Speed Most Wanted; street racing doesn’t get any better than this,” said Larry LaPierre, senior producer, EA Canada. "Players instantly will feel the thrill of the ride as they hit the streets in an open world environment where drivers can tune their cars to compete against any class of vehicles or use their wits to out-fox the law to satisfy their need for speed.”

Need for Speed Most Wanted delivers a unique, fast-paced and gripping ride in the racing genre as players build up their Rap Sheet and street cred to move their way up the Black List to become the most wanted racer on the streets. Players will go head-to-head with the top drivers on the scene as well as strategically evade more than half dozen cops at any one time. Add in a dynamic open world, new gameplay and customization as well as tuners, supercars, muscles and sports cars and Need for Speed Most Wanted will be on every gamer’s “must-have” list.