My need for the Need For Speed series just went from 0 to 60. by StewXX

November 18, 2005 - Need for Speed Most Wanted is an example of a game that is released on the Xbox 360 but was not developed exclusively for it (like most 360 launch titles). To judge the new console by this title will be doing it a disservice since it's capable of so much more but as the business end of things go, we're going to be seeing a lot more of these titles that can be shared with other consoles so as not to limit sales, at least until the market share has been established. The Xbox 360 will offer better graphics and more downloadable content and quite possibly an extra exclusive level or mode with some new games but it will be awhile before EA starts solely developing for the next gen systems since the userbase is at such a minimum.

Need For Speed: Most Wanted tinkers with the underground racing concept and manages to offer few innovations. It throws in lots of races, vehicles, modes and features but it approaches the genre as a "best of." Racing fans might make this game their stranded-on-a-desert-island choice but it's only because it takes the place of two or three similar titles. There can be no doubt that it's refined but I'm not so convinced that it's been tweaked much nearer to perfection.

"The cutscenes are hilarious and you'll definitely get caught up in the bad boy vibe."

Following a testosterone-fueled revenge story featuring every shallow element you can imagine including hot cars, hot babes and hot-headed challengers, you will exact your revenge through racing. Razor is the main antagonist in the Career mode and before you can even challenge him you will have to race against more than a dozen other dorks. The smack these guys talk is incredibly embarrassing and would only hope to fuel the rage of a 13-year-old boy, with traces of a learning disorder, that was raised on WWE wrestling. The story mode is incredibly engaging and adds a level of personality that the Need For Speed series has sorely lacked. The cutscenes are mostly hilarious and you'll definitely get caught up in the bad boy vibe.

Races are divided into circuit, drag and sprint. The basic races are further divided into Races and Milestones. You will have to complete a number of both styles in order to face a new challenger. While you can earn money for wins which can be used to upgrade your vehicle or purchase a new one, the challengers that you beat will relinquish markers which can earn you some big loot in a hurry. Hidden markers may contain large amounts of cash or other interesting items such as jail-bail cards or even the very vehicle that your competitor was driving.

City streets allow a better flow to racing. There are some obstructions and traffic but you can get around to various races much easier than before. The freeway is also streamlined with ramps that will take you where you want to go almost instantly. There are lots of places to explore and shortcuts to discover.

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.

"You'll find NFS:MW a real winner, even when you're losing."

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

Rating out of 5 Need For Speed: Most Wanted (Xbox 360) 4.3 Graphics Even though it was developed for the current gen systems, Most Wanted is one sweet looking racer. 4.8 Control Arcade racing doesn't get much better than this and we like that a whole bunch. Fine tune your wheels to your tastes. 4.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting Great tunes, impressive vehicle sounds and hilarious voice acting - but that's a good thing. 3.0 Online Only 2-4 players supported which is decent, but we'd like to see more cars on the tracks. 4.5 Play Value The single player game is hilarious and action packed. Lots of great modes to keep you occupado. 4.2 Overall Rating - Great Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.