Need For Speed: Most Wanted Review

By Kristan Reed Published 6 December, 2005

Kristan goes in hot pursuit.

Version tested: Xbox 360

No need to have a guilty conscience anymore: Need For Speed is back on form, and about time too.

For the past couple of years it's been tough to admit you like Need For Speed. It's been like associating yourself with the embarrassingly boozed-up mate who chants football songs, hugs random strangers and willingly sports an ironic haircut with no sense of irony.

We didn't really want to be seen in public with EA's driving franchise anymore.

When something you've cherished for so long veers so harrowingly off course, the only thing you can do is put on a brave face and hope it's "just a phase".

But when that "phase" went and sold about 20 times better than any of the previous NFS efforts, there was a clear and present danger that the franchise machine that is EA would just carry on making the same game a further 47 times. It all felt like the worst kind of dream, except with more 'Yo'.

So it came as something of a surprise to find that Most Wanted isn't the hideous abomination we feared it would be. No sir. It's easily a contender for the arcade driving game of the year.

Hotter than the sun

Drawing heavily from our all-time favourite NFS diversion, Hot Pursuit, EA has sent the rozzers after us again, and it's up to you to prove that you're not only the best driver the state has ever seen, but that your cajones are the size of space hoppers. In other words, Buster, you've got to cause as much abject mayhem, destruction and general chaos while giving the fuzz the slip. Easy.

Well, it would have been fairly straightforward if Mr Vest himself, Razor, hadn't gone and stuck a banana in your tail pipe and sabotaged your ride - winning it off you in the process.

Forced to work your way up the criminal Blacklist from the very bottom of the pile, the career premise is to defeat all 15 challengers, fill your 'rap' sheet, customise and buy new, faster wheels and eventually take on the smart-mouthed Justin Timberlake wannabe, win your ride back and shout "Have it!" in his stupid, surly face.

But doing so is a challenge that will test even the most hardened arcade racing gamer out there. Unlike, say, the Midnight Club series, you must overcome a great selection of races and challenges before you can even win the right to face-off against each Blacklist member. Presented with a familiar open-world environment, you can either drive around at your leisure to each race, or jump straight to them via the pleasingly slick menu system. With pretty much everything (such as maps and phone messages) accessible via the d-pad, you can access any of the currently available Race or Milestone challenges by simply hitting down.

Lap it up

'Need For Speed: Most Wanted' Screenshot trail

Blazing a trail.

This takes you to the race menu, and from there it's a simple case of selecting one and roaring off down the track to inevitable glory. Well, not quite. In terms of race types, Most Wanted has plenty. As well as the familiar Circuit challenges, there's Lap Knockout (last place eliminated each lap), Drag (manual gear-shifting short, straight race), Sprint (point to point race), Tollbooth (time-limited checkpoint racing), and Speedtrap (accumulate the fastest speed through each). So far, so standard.

But on top of that (and here's where the fun bit resides), you must also complete a set number of Milestone challenges before you get to meet each Blacklist member. These are comprised of various law-breaking tasks, such as clocking up a specific speed trap infraction, trading paint with a specific number of cops, or perhaps merely evading the law post-chase within a time limit. As with the race challenges, there's no linear path to follow and it's up to you to select whichever takes your fancy at any given time.

Such is the nature of the scoring system of the milestone challenges that it's actually possible to find yourself knocking off several challenges at once. For example, should you manage to clock up several minutes on the run, you'll probably also have caused a ton of damage, traded paint with several cop cars, and made yourself into a valuable bounty. So long as you successfully evade the law by whatever means, all of your numerous infractions will help to not only tick off the various milestones you need to have reached, but also the bounty tally the game sets you.

Bounteous

'Need For Speed: Most Wanted' Screenshot breakdown

Heading for a breakdown.

Having finished all the races required and met all the various milestones, you still might find you're lacking in the bounty tally - and Most Wanted also gives you a number of pre-arranged bounty areas to choose from, allowing you to be effectively dropped into a hot-spot so you can start causing trouble immediately. Even at the early stages, Most Wanted is definitely a game that requires a concerted effort on your part.

You won't mind making the effort, though, because the excellent structure means that you'll probably end up making progress even when you're idly engaging in some exploratory free-roaming. And even during races there's a chance the law will tear after you, meaning that when you complete your race you've got the added challenge of shaking them off.

Evading the law, of course, becomes the key focus of the game, and Most Wanted doesn't let you down in this regard. Although you can try and ram cars off the road, it's not all that easy to do. Sure, Nitrous certainly comes in handy when you need to make a clean getaway, but you can rarely burn off the cops that easily. With the filth haring after you from all angles, the last thing you want is to be boxed into a corner and busted, because not only does it cost you, but you risk having your car impounded. With so much to lose, Most Wanted allows you to ram into pre-determined scenery items known as 'Pursuit Breakers'. Marked on the mini-map as a red triangle, you can lure your unsuspecting lawmen into an explosive gas station or collapse a rickety tower on them - just in time to let you make a clean escape.

Chill out

'Need For Speed: Most Wanted' Screenshot brooding

Brooding sky.

Even then, you still have to lay low for a while, with other units likely to head for your last known location. Cunningly, though, Most Wanted offers up a number of spots to hide in on the mini-map, allowing you to speed up the 'cooldown' process into the bargain.

Borrowing from the GTA school of law-breaking, there are five degrees of pursuit - known as 'heat' in this case. At 1, you're probably faced with just one unconcerned cop, but by the time you reach 5 you're on the run from a bevy of SUVs and even state choppers. And the more times you evade the law, the more they'll be all over you like a rash when you do re-appear. With this degree of recognition likely to hamper your progress, you can go much further than GTA's Pay N' Spray, with body modifications more likely to fox the law than a simple re-spray.

With such a rich template of possibilities, Most Wanted becomes a thoroughly compelling prospect, forever testing your racing prowess and then following that up with increasingly insane chase sequences. Taking its cue from every Hollywood car-chase you've ever seen, the action's as fast and frenetic as you could possibly hope, constantly offering up one crazed set-piece after another. If you're not sending a lorry-load of enormous logs across the highway or flipping a patrol car into the air, then you're doing Duke of Hazzard jumps in slow motion at 164mph while scattering lamp-posts, boxes, and fire hydrants asunder.

Bang and blame

'Need For Speed: Most Wanted' Screenshot go

Go go go!

And yet, while all the attention is likely to be placed on the pursuits, the racing side of the game quietly goes about its business. Feeling like a more assured version of the Underground handling model, there's an initial tendency to feel like you're driving on bald tires. Holding corners is a bit of a joke, and wet or bumpy surfaces are a lottery. But as you spec each car up (by beating Blacklist members and unlocking new upgrades), and eventually buy (or win) the superior models (permed from Porsche, Lamborghini, Mazda, Ford, Mitsubishi, and BMW) the game becomes faster and even more of a rush to play. We're not sure that making the game less fun at the beginning is an especially smart idea, but at least the game gives you a tantalising glimpse of what's to come before you're forced to drive the rubbish cars.

Allied to a well-crafted progression system, the game ups the ante at sensible increments, never completely overwhelming you with ill-judged difficulty spikes that rob you of your resolve. The closest we came to being completely exasperated was when we found ourselves unwisely speccing up one of the earlier cars rather than buying a new one - suffice to say we then spent a long, laboured session having to earn cash in order to get the model that was capable of winning races. If we have one over-riding gripe with Most Wanted, it's that the game doesn't reward progress with new cars, and by leaving it up to the player there's a big risk of leaving them unable to make progress. Some clearer signposting or mandatory upgrades would have saved a lot of hassle here, but so long as you're clear on what cars to own it's a game you can make steady, satisfying progress in.

And with this progress comes not only faster, more intense gameplay, but extra chunks of the city to explore, and given that it's one of the most fantastically beautiful environments driving gaming has ever seen, that's a pretty decent incentive to get going. On the 360, at least, it's staggeringly beautiful at times, with a full dynamic lighting system able to change the mood and ambience of any given scene. Some of the sunset effects are truly stunning sights to behold, and even the merest glance at the game's sparking, effervescent brilliance is enough to make you aware you're looking at something that's a clear jump ahead of anything else we've seen in the genre. Finally stripped of the baby oil sheen that blighted the last two NFS titles, surface wetness actually looks right for once, as do the thunderous weather effects that rumble into life midway through a race. Needless to say, the cars themselves look just as impressive, bouncing off the delightful-looking scenery with the most incredible reflective effects. If only there wasn't the tendency for the screen to look like it's coated in Vaseline we'd be singing its praises even more. Sometimes clarity is preferable to feeling like you're losing your eyesight. And as one very small, minor gripe, the game does - on a few occasions - suffer from the odd pause. Odd, but noticeable.

Under my wheels

'Need For Speed: Most Wanted' Screenshot autumn

It's always Autumn.

Sonically we're torn between the utter brilliance of the roaring engines, screeching tyres and satisfying crash effects that scream past in full surround sound, and the characteristically awful soundtrack. Whether it's plumbing the depths of generic rock or club anthems, there's not one single tune that stands out as being anything other than utterly mediocre on repeat listening. We realise it's all a matter of taste and all that, but seriously, this is one game you'll want to create your own custom soundtrack for.

As far as the rest of the package goes, the news is good, too. Admittedly, the customisation side of the game isn't quite as deep as the Underground series, but it's forgivable in this context on the basis that those games were all about the street racing modding scene. Even so, you still get innumerable opportunities to spec your car up - just not to the mind-boggling brand-obsessed degree you could before (to us, that's a good thing, to be frank).

Elsewhere, even outside of the vast career mode there's an expansive Challenge Mode that essentially breaks down some of the best elements of the game into bite-sized chunks, while the presence of Quick Race always comes in handy if you fancy tackling a specific part of the proceedings. But for many, it's multiplayer where the real added value will apply, and Most Wanted's structure lends itself perfectly for a huge variety of both unranked and ranked online races. Essentially, all the race modes available in single-player are playable online for up to four players, (with four-player split-screen as well), with the usual ability to jump into quick play, or filter them in a custom match or create you own. Although you do, admittedly, still have to agree to EA's blessed T&Cs, the experiences we had were slick, lag-free and basically identical to any other non-EA Live experience. We won't ever have the time or talent to make the Blacklist 15 (the game's online leaderboard), but it's proving immensely popular already.

Unlike a lot of arcade racing games we've played over the years, Most Wanted is one of the few games that's destined to provide a lasting challenge, despite the inherent repetition at its core. Although it does tend to recycle a lot of its routes and tracks too, it's a game you'll enjoy exploring, and one that - if anything - grows in appeal with repeat play. Thanks to an excellent progression system, there's always something better, faster, more intense to enjoy around the corner, building the already frenzied action to the kind of climax that'll make your head spin. Building on the solid base provided by old and more recent Need For Speed titles, EA has finally created an arcade racing game that has the mass appeal its shareholders demand yet has enough substance to keep the hardcore happy too - and for 360 owners it's near enough an essential purchase.

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (79) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Psi #1 6 years ago

    i need more speed!

  • krudster #2 6 years ago

    Better in some ways (more challenging, pursuits are excellent), not as good in others (crashes not in the same league, not quite as fast).

  • ImGameCube #3 6 years ago

    May get this for the Game Cube at lunch time, will I be equally happy?

    A.

  • Chtulie #4 6 years ago

    No mention at all about the slow mo special? Where the player can engage a sort of a bullet time thing temporarily to mae some tricky manouvers easier/possible/more cinematic?

  • alpha-0ne #5 6 years ago

    i didnt downlaod the demo as i have the game but aparrently the demo has framerate issues the full games does not

  • krudster #6 6 years ago

    Speedbreaker - yes, an unheralded feature that you can use to take corners with more accuracy. Not something I used all that much; I personally found I got into more trouble. Quite useful to break up road blocks, but for taking corners I always mucked it up.

  • #7 6 years ago

    /is ashamed

    I bought this at the weekend and played it for half an hour and just thought it was all pants no trousers. Thought I would 10 day return it.

    After reading all of the krud mans review, I've decided I obviously haven't given it any sort of a chance, and I agree with krudster when he says it's not wise of the developers to make the game not terribly fun at the beginning. I shall give it another few hours then.

    Makes you feel your review was worthwhile after all, eh krudster? ;)

  • stoopidgreg #8 6 years ago

    i found the demo quite fun and graphically very nice. i didn't like the handling, however. it just didn't feel real, but i guess it IS an arcade racer.

  • kangarootoo #9 6 years ago

    I'm very much in the Burnout school of driving game pref (as opposed to more realistic stuff like CM Rally and GT), but I found the "drive into all the other cars" mechanic of BO4 a little disappointing. Sounds like this new NFS title might win me over (once I or one of my housemates finally gets an XB360).

    In other unrelated news, finally played HL2 on XB. Full left hander AND widescreen support. Plus a decent aiming mechanic, as mentioned by EG in the review. Well worth a look.

  • old_skool #10 6 years ago

    Played this on the PC . Well , all I can say is , its better than NFS Underground 2
    Edited by 1 at 06/12/05 @ 12:18

  • Gouki #11 6 years ago

    It is a fantastic game. I know i'm probably mad but i have been playing to more than Gotham 3.

    Few niggles with frame rate but its worth a play for sure!

  • tengu #12 6 years ago

    Thanks for the great post Bengali!

  • Zomoniac #13 6 years ago

    As good as PGR3?? Somebody shoot these people.

  • krudster #14 6 years ago

    Different genre.

  • Talha #15 6 years ago

    Well NFS comes through again - good news. I played it on my PC - the game stuttered badly even tho I have a 6800GT coupled with a P4 3.0. It is playable on 1024x768 but not beyond. Frankly I went for the PC version for the graphics, but after months of playing GT and Burnout (silky smooth on my PS2 thank you), I find a racing game stuttering very frustrating. Real-time weather is nice though.

    Also, does anyone else find the city of Rockport too deserted to be comfortable?

  • Hicksy #16 6 years ago

    ooooooh i really wants this now!

    the question is do i trade in PDZ or hang on to that in the hope it will get better than the rubbish start (1hr in)

    might rummage around at home for some old game trades to lessen the wallet's pain

  • #17 6 years ago

    Did you read the review Zomoniac? They are completely different games. The only thing they have in common is the fact that the vehicles all have four wheels. It's like comparing chalk and cheese.

    So many bloody pointless posts, get the feck out of my comments thread!

  • Furbs #18 6 years ago

    Great review. Glad it got a good score (much as I hate them), would have been easy to write it off as another sequel and give it average marks - taking the "safe" way out.

    Its totally different to PGR, they compliment each other, but you cant compare. When I just want "fun" I'll load this up. When I want something weighter I'll go over to PGR3. At the moment I'm playing this more than PGR, but only because I want to get back to where I was on the PC.

    Anyone managed to do a "Fast and Furious" style drive under the logging trucks? Managed it at 90 degrees, but not driving parallel.

    bengali, why do you have to take comments off at a totally different tangent all the time? Can you not post in a relevant one? It gets bumped in the "latest comments" anyway so people can see. And to be honest, EVERYONE'S opinion should be taken with a pinch of salt. Its common sense.
    Edited by 1 at 06/12/05 @ 12:39

  • JonFE #19 6 years ago

    Kristan,

    Did you have a chance to compare it to any of the other versions ? Is it worth the extra tenner ?

    *** Not trying to stir up any bad blood here, just curious ***

  • Furbs #20 6 years ago

    JonFE, I've played Xbox1, PC (on a medium spec) and 360. Unless you have a high end PC, I'd say it was, just for some of the awesome effects, like the HDR which for once isnt done to death. The cars obviously look alot nicer than the Xbox1 version, which can be quite jaggy.

  • Talha #21 6 years ago

    This game has been given High Praise by EG. Great review, for once without the next gen chip on its shoulder. Good lord, after Underground 1-2 I thought EG simply won't review it. Happy news though: on IGN I saw 'NFS Underground 3' as one of the PS3 launch titles a few months ago!!

    Does anyone remember Porshce Unleashed? Doesn't it rock?

  • morriss #22 6 years ago

    I really don't know what game to get...It's really frustrating!!!

  • Derblington #23 6 years ago

    I've only read the conclusion so far (I'll read the review later) but I agree with it 100%. Superb game on all fronts, and the loading times are like greased lightning!

  • lennon #24 6 years ago

    Extra paint and gloss? Thats the one Id choose.

  • kangarootoo #25 6 years ago

    @Mapster

    "So many bloody pointless posts, get the feck out of my comments thread!"

    I really hope that was sarcasm...

  • Genji #26 6 years ago

    Woo, looks like a good ga... oh wait, I hate car racing games. :-)

    Pass.

  • krudster #27 6 years ago

    I'd say the extra cost is worth it. It's the only port I've seen so far that actually uses the horsepower of the 360.

  • JonFE #28 6 years ago

    Furbs, thanks for the info - looks like I'll get the X360 version (just have to self-justify two racing games at the same time :)

    Kristan, thanks :)

    *edited 'cause I crossposted with Kristan*
    Edited by 2 at 06/12/05 @ 12:51

  • Talha #29 6 years ago

    I think the cars are also a big factor in why this game is challenging PGR 3 as THE racer to have for X360 (something unimaginable previously). I mean, Ferraris and Lambos are back, and the starting Golf GTI ain't bad either.

    Edit: For those who haven't played: Please un-check the 'catch-up' option in the game, since that apparently reduces the elastic AI for a more realistic experience. Otherwise, you will throw down your mouse/pad within half an hour.
    Edited by 1 at 06/12/05 @ 12:52

  • #30 6 years ago

    Jasparse,

    I can read, but unfortunately the stench from the amount of shite I have to read in the comments threads lately is making my eyes water.....

  • krudster #31 6 years ago

    Actually, the elastic AI is nowhere near as bad this time around. You know, you are actually ALLOWED to build up a lead....

  • Hicksy #32 6 years ago

    Good tip Talha thank you!

    /definitely picking this up in next 2 days

  • Talha #33 6 years ago

    Funnily enough, the review at GameSpot (for the 360 version no less) claimed that he put down the controller for 30 seconds and still caught up with the others. Thankfully I tried the demo, otherwise I almost would not buyit at all. Any idea, Krudster, what might have led them to to this experience?

  • Genji #34 6 years ago

    "Jasparse,

    I can read, but unfortunately the stench from the amount of shite I have to read in the comments threads lately is making my eyes water....."

    Now now ladies, we can work out arguments without namecalling.

    "Muppet" is acceptable, though.

  • #35 6 years ago

    You're welcome :)

  • reality_cheque #36 6 years ago

    Genji: "Woo, looks like a good ga... oh wait, I hate car racing games. :-)

    Pass."

    Then why bother posting? And why even bother reading the review?

  • Talha #37 6 years ago

    I think we should sue EA for ditching the replays. On XBox and PS2 it is understandable, but CRIMINAL on 360 and PC. I would have thought they would have come up with a replay-to-video thing similar to Xpand Rally - instead, they ditch the entire mode.

  • #38 6 years ago

    ok :)

  • bionutz #39 6 years ago

    Should I get it for PC or Gamecube? I have AthlonXP 1466 + ati 9600Pro

  • glaeken #40 6 years ago

    The PC demo really put me off this. Performance and graphics were fine but the car handling I just found terrible.

  • Genji #41 6 years ago

    "Then why bother posting? And why even bother reading the review?"

    Because I like EG reviews? Because I enjoy posting?

    EDIT: Actually, I think I'll just fill in until LeDillante gets here and complains about it getting an '8'
    Edited by 1 at 06/12/05 @ 13:19

  • bionutz #42 6 years ago

    Or maybe it's time to upgrade :) grrrrr.

  • #43 6 years ago

    Upgrade to a 360? ;)

  • bionutz #44 6 years ago

    hehehe :).

  • sajtion #45 6 years ago

    another 8 what a surprise

  • #46 6 years ago

    An 8 for a new NFS game IS a bloody surprise lol
    Edited by 1 at 06/12/05 @ 13:28

  • DiscoMike #47 6 years ago

    Is it a good giggle over Live? If so, i might pick it up this week or next.

  • #48 6 years ago

    Dunno mate, haven't tried it yet, but may get a chance to stick it on later if PGR3 isn't hogging the limelight.

  • Beano #49 6 years ago

    Have anybody tried both the downloadable Marketplace demo and the final version of the game on Xbox 360 and can comment on the differences in framerate ?

    If not, can someone with the retail/final version please try the demo also and campare ... that would really be appriciated ;)

    Reason for my question is that I tried the demo frm Marketplace and found it to have a really awfull and choppy framerate :( :( :(

    Also, is the final game 30FPS or 60FPS ?

  • BillGaitas #50 6 years ago

    Supercars are back but there are NO FERRARIS :(

    Its not an oldschool NFS but I think I'll give it a try

  • Stickman #51 6 years ago

    "another 8 what a surprise "

    Is that meant to mean something? What an odd little comment.

  • #52 6 years ago

    Beano, I've not played the demo but the retail version is smooth. Only played for half an hour mind but can't fault the graphics or the framerate.

  • Feanor #53 6 years ago

    Shame this review didn't mention the almost naked hoochies in the cut scenes. :)

  • Darren #54 6 years ago

    Way to go, Eurogamer, 8/10!!! Woo-hoo!

    Ahem... yes I agree with that score. I got it for the 360 and bar some niggling framerate issues (especially after playing it on the Xbox which bizarrely runs faster and smoother), it's a really great game, not quite next-genish (although the graphics are lovely and jaggy-free) but it's tons of fun to play all the same! :D

  • Carrybagma #55 6 years ago

    A sane 360 thread! Blimey.

    Maybe making no reference to graphics really is the way to go for next-gen reviews.

  • Xerx3s #56 6 years ago

    wtf. You give great games a 7 or lower and this an 8? I found this to be the least interesting games of all with crappy controls & tracks. This shouldnt get more than a 4 or a 5 imo. The only thing that is oke, are the graphics.

  • Zuiyo #57 6 years ago

    Is there any Hondas or Toyotas in this game? If so, might give it a chance. I won't be caught driving a merc or a beemer even in a game.

  • Pablo2k5 #58 6 years ago

    Quote from Jaspoid..."Here's my reader review!

    Tried the demo on a 9600 Pro. Barely playable. And totally crap. In line with Driv3r.

    3/10.

    Feedback?"

    Yes, I tied the demoon my 7800 GTX 512 meg, smooth as butter and looks to die for, great game.
    8/10 ;-)

    ...next...

  • Derblington #59 6 years ago

    I've now read the review and I agree. I'm not *quite* as enthuiastic about it as Krudster but it's a very good game and worthy of the praise imo. One of the best 360 games so far...

  • Darth_Flibble #60 6 years ago

    Talha: wheres the "catch up" option? been through the options and can't found it (this on the xbox version)

  • Xerx3s #61 6 years ago

    "Some of the people criticising the handling really didn't give the game a chance.

    Once you buy parts for the cars you can alter aspects of the handling. You can even do this mid-race, altering such controls as ride-height or steering sensitivity from the pause meny. "

    I dont agree. I think a game should pick you up from the first moment ( a good game anyway). And when you compare this to other racing games, its just infirior imo. Not because the cars are crap in the beginning, they are crap in the beginning in other games too.

  • Martin #62 6 years ago

    The Xbox version has horrible graphics. Compared to Forza and PGR2, NFS:MW looks like an early Xbox game or a decent PS/2 one.

    I find myself baning into scenery far too often due to the blurry and muddled graphics.

    It's a shame because the game is quite fun, much thanks to the great sound.

    Clearly the best NFS game in a long time and it fits in somewhere between PGR2/Forza and Burnout.

  • velocity_girl #63 6 years ago

    Well there is no way i would give this an 8... first game on 360 that I thought was pretty much average... looked kinda like xbox game (some nice effects tho)..
    might be wrong but i dont thinnk the review mentioned the slowdown that happens...also popup very occasionly - didnt expect to see that...

    I agree about tunes tho... they were shit (with only the prodigy being the bearable one)

  • gamerbunny #64 6 years ago

    Looks very good, I'll buy it, but I thought the PS2 version was the worst of the lot??
    Oh well beggers can't be choosers?

  • Hicksy #65 6 years ago

    I'm getting this in exchange for PDZ tommorow.

    I just gave PDZ one last shot after trying to get the controls bearable but I just can't get on with it.

    It's a poor action and stealth game rather than commiting to one type, the controls are poor, graphics are poor, gameplay is generic.... this looks much more promising!

    Kameo and PGR3 are still uber tho! :D

  • William #66 6 years ago

    "Have anybody tried both the downloadable Marketplace demo and the final version of the game on Xbox 360 and can comment on the differences in framerate ?"

    I didn't play the final version, but was shocked to see the demo framerate to drop to about 15fps (360 VGA output, 1366x768 resolution).

  • velocity_girl #67 6 years ago

    hicksy... i just exchanged NFSMW for Perfect dark 0...

    good luck!


    i agree about the other two games - fantastic!

  • velocity_girl #68 6 years ago

    William i can confirm the full version definitely has framerate issues... alot of the times when you dont expect it....

    still the rain looks nice ;)

  • MaxiSleep #69 6 years ago

    William said

    "I didn't play the final version, but was shocked to see the demo framerate to drop to about 15fps (360 VGA output, 1366x768 resolution)."

    On the framerate on 360, Its is quite good on 720p via the component. It not as fast on VGA for some reason. If playing VGA try 1024x768 in Widescreen format.

    I suspect that the game is not optimised for non standard resoulution, and it trys to render at the native resolution rather then upscaling.

    To my surprise it is by far my favorite game on the 360. And it feals much smother then the demo on my PC (7800 GTX with 3800x2 and 1.5mb)

    Edited by 1 at 06/12/05 @ 21:06

  • Hicksy #70 6 years ago

    bye bye PDZ

    hello driving nirvana a la 360 pt 2

  • bloodflowers #71 6 years ago

    Yeah - I was quite relieved when I played the demo and saw how godawful the graphics are - look GREAT until they move (and tear, jerkily around the screen). I was worried for a moment I might have to relax my boycott of EA games ;-)

    So when are Rockstar going to start prepping for Midnight Club 4? MC series -still- the best arcade drive on consoles, without question.

  • Talha #72 6 years ago

    @Darth_Flibble : Well in my PC version it is under "Option>Game>". Don't know - EA have been known to dumb down games for console versions. I sure hope you find it.

    Interesting divide seen here on graphics. I think if we set aside the likes of PGR3, Forza and GT, which strive to be more realistic, and compare it to pure arcade racers like Burnout, MC, etc, this is one of the best looking of the lot since the graphics are highly stylised. That said, I have yet to see the likes of what Criterion have accomplished on PS2 and XBox on ANY platform. On my monitor BO4 looks virtually indistinguishable from a PC racer.
    Edited by 1 at 07/12/05 @ 07:07

  • Beano #73 6 years ago

    "On the framerate on 360, Its is quite good on 720p via the component. It not as fast on VGA for some reason. If playing VGA try 1024x768 in Widescreen format. "

    I actually tried the demo on my Samsung 40" LCDTV in 720p via component... very choppy framerate !

  • Darth_Flibble #74 6 years ago

    @ Talha: thanks for answering my question but it seems it's not in the console version, bloody EA.

  • Talha #75 6 years ago

    @Darth_Flibble : My sympathies. EA are on a feature-cutting spree these days - they ditched replays from both Burnout and this. For me, unchecking the catch-up really alters the racing experience. Then again, I have just barely scratched the surface of the career mode - maybe elastic AI is still there only I haven't noticed it. Anyway try to enjoy what is there!

  • bloodflowers #76 6 years ago

    The catch-up option appeared to be in the demo version at least, although I can't recall where I saw it - it was some non optional screen you had to go past to get into a quick race.

  • bionutz #77 6 years ago

    OK. I tried the demo. Is really good. There are some framerate problems with my AthlonXP 1466 + 9600pro + 512RAM, but I'm running the game full quality at 640x480.
    It's awesome, handling is good and let's not forget EA Canada is the one that made the best NFS evah: Porsche Unleashed.

  • Hicksy #78 6 years ago

    well it's done

    PDZ is back in the shop for some poor other fool to purchase

    NFS:MW 360 is in the bag :D

  • bionutz #79 6 years ago

    congrats!

  • reality_cheque #80 6 years ago

    I've not noticed any elastic effect while playing - the only thing i've noticed is the rival drivers being almost as shite at driving as i am at keeping off the police radar!

  • Agent_Llama #81 6 years ago

    Am hearing a lot of good things about NFS. So question is, do I get rid of Quake 4 and get NFS in instead? Quake 4 is alright but multiplayer is a bit frantic for my taste, and the storyline in single player is dismal.

  • Talha #82 6 years ago

    @Agent_Llama : IF you are a hopeless id (and Raven) fan, keep it. If not, you sure have seen better shooters in HL2, Far Cry, Doom, FEAR, etc. I have played through this game and it did not impress me much except for some parts. You'd be better off getting Call of Duty 2 - now that's what I call intense.

    Oh, we are on an NFS forum - all I can say is that you can get it, but try to avoid the PS2 version - it looks and plays horrible. Otherwise, you can safely ditch Quake 4 for this.

  • TripSkyway #83 6 years ago

    Is there a lot of text in the Game?
    I'm thinking of buying it for my 360 on saturday, but it will all be in Japanese. I'm usually ok with Menu's but if theres loads of Mission objectives I might get a bit lost.

    -Edit: didn't make much sense-
    Edited by 1 at 08/12/05 @ 08:39

  • Hicksy #84 6 years ago

    Didn't have much time last night but first impressions after 3 quick races are (360v):

    Very pretty! Not PGR3 standard in sharpness, but there is a lot of detail and interactive scenery. Weather effect are stunning!

    Not the best framerates, smooth when straightlining but a little chuggy on cornering (running at full HD res).

    Reasonable but not great handling (admittedly had the poor starter cars), very arcady, like a miniature ridgeracer feel...

    Seems like there is a lot of variety and the career / story mode looks a lot of fun... roll on tonight's session :)

    Do I miss PDZ? Not one bloody bit!

  • Pho-Zoon #85 6 years ago

    I got the demo off Marketplace and found it to be fantastic. Dunno about framerate...
    The big free-roaming environment is a key selling point for me, and so is the car customisation. Anyone who fancies a quick race against the pigs should get the 967Mb demo off Live.

    I'll definitely buy it, once I convince myself that owning 2 racing games a scant fortnight into the launch is okay.

  • Furbs #86 6 years ago

    Pho-Zoon, they are different enough for it to be ok :)

    NFS = Arcade blast
    PGR = Sim (yeah and any GT/Forza/GTR/GP Legends fans can eat my shorts etc).

    Buy it, and feel no guilt!

  • BeDevil #87 6 years ago

    There's really WAY too much OSD in this game - it hides too much of the track. SHould be much smaller or at least semi-transparent.

    Will try the demo of this though I think...

  • bloodflowers #88 6 years ago

    Been playing the full game for the past few days.

    Frame rate problems really do suck, tearing is pretty much normal, but it can really start to chug at times. And you know why this sucks so much? Because aside from those, this is a genuinely good game - I feel a mixture of stunned astonishment, and dirty guilt actually liking a title from EA. As a long term Midnight Club addict, the NFSU games just had nothing on them. This is the first time they've injected some soul into a street racer.

    Hope they release another, and get the smoothness sorted. Little bit of work on the handling too, and it'll be up there with the best. The tarted up Mustang GT seems to be the way to go for maximum fun, built for unrelenting aggression.

  • jlaakso #89 6 years ago

    I must've missed this review back when it came out. The demo is really, really good and beats Burnout Revenge in every way - except for the shoddy framerate. I would so much prefer a steady 30 fps and a little less special effects.

    Definitely on the shopping list. I like the Underground games, too, but ultimately the handling model and increased difficulty put me off. Most Wanted is clearly based on the same handling model, but it's been refined enough.
    Edited by 1 at 26/06/06 @ 10:46