NOT
Lack of Visual Customization
A key element that truly made the original Need for Speed Most Wanted the game it was lie in the lovely customization system. Unfortunately many of those things did not return. Though Most Wanted still features performance upgrades in the expected categories, visual upgrades would’ve nicely improved upon the already great experience. Aside from the color of your car (which isn’t voluntary in single player) there is no real way of distinguishing yourself from other racers. Surely this point stands, but even it does not diminish the greatness of the game, but is a general gripe.
Multiplayer
The online multiplayer in Most Wanted is something that seemed to have much promise, but sadly did not live up to it. Long story short, it feels overall quite sloppy. The game seems as if it has a free roamimg-style, but it’s is not really there. One second you may find yourself racing around the streets of Fairhaven, and then the next you will be involuntarily forced to drive to a set location for a mission. These missions sadly are rather sloppily done and give little direction to the racers involved in them. Similar to Burnout Paradise, you find yourself meeting up at a set location, and going from there. The worst of events I personally found were 9/10 occurrences where I would get to the location, and have no set direction for where I am racing, since the game simply tells you to “RACE”, and you must then find your own way. Everything about the multiplayer just has the feel that more time should have gone into making it better than it is.
Verdict
Over the past few years fans have been voicing their complaints based on how they feel the Need for Speed series has become less over time. Fortunately, the reboot of Need for Speed Most Wanted by developer Criterion brings Need for Speed back to some of its truest roots. Though it lacks a great feature from the original title being visual customization, and doesn’t have the greatest multiplayer in a racing game, the single player and overall experience are great. There is a great amount of events and other things to do while you drive around Fairhaven, and everything related looks beautiful while it is being done.
[Editor’s Note: Need for Speed Most Wanted was reviewed on the Xbox 360 platform. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]
