Need for Speed: Most Wanted
NFS Most Wanted (2012)
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Racing, cars, Kinect, sandbox, PlayStation Move, Game Pass, EA Play, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet
Steam
A new installment in the legendary racing series. As the title suggests, the game refers to one of the most well-received parts of the series - the original 2005's Need for Speed: Most Wanted. The game was developed by Criterion Games, a company well-know for the Burnout series.
Need for Speed is one of the most recognizable and popular franchises belonging to Electronic Arts company. After the successful remake of one of the first installments of the series – Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit – the publisher asked Criterion Games Studios (Burnout series) to make something similar with another well-loved installment – Need for Speed: Most Wanted. The new Most Wanted was inspired by the 2005 hit mainly in terms of the in-game police pursuits and the theme of ranking-up in the so-called Blacklist.
Story
Need for Speed: Most Wanted for PC, PS3 and etc. takes the players to the city of Fairhaven. You take on a role of a virtual car driver, whose main task is to take part in illegal street races, evade the police, and get to the top of the Most Wanted list. In order to do this you need to gain experience, represented by Speed Points, which can be spent on improvements and car modifications. Scoring enough of these allows you to challenge the top 10 drivers in Fairhaven. The game story was pretty much marginalized, instead the emphasis was put on sandbox-style gameplay. You can explore the entire virtual metropolis, including the off-road routes and alternative roads.
Gameplay
Need for Speed: Most Wanted for PC, PS3 and etc. offers dozens of licensed sport cars. Interestingly, almost all of them are available from the start. Without major obstacles you can switch your car to any vehicle you see on the street (apart from civilian cars). Vehicles can be improved and adapted to specific routes – you can modify such items as tires, chassis, body and its color, as well as suspension. Overall, the driving model in Need for Speed: Most Wanted can be described as an arcade one. However, you should drive carefully, because hitting an obstacle with a speeding car results in crashing it.
Game modes
Need for Speed: Most Wanted for PC, PS3 and etc. has no typical distinction of single- and multiplayer mode. Friends can be encountered in the game world while in free run mode, and you can race them at any given time. Moreover, thanks to Autolog 2.0, all the players achievements - including speed records, the best times, results of pursuits, and jumping distance - are constantly tracked and compared with the results of others.
Technology
The graphics in Need for Speed: Most Wanted looks impressive. Vehicle models and environmental textures are accurate and detailed. The game implements a spectacular model damage.
Last updated on August 14, 2015
Last Update: December 6, 2012
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012) Game Guide
Unlike its older namesake, Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012) is absolutely devoid of any plot and conservative progression in campaign mode.
Videos and Screens
[1:08] Need for Speed: Most Wanted mobile version trailer
[1:09] Need for Speed: Most Wanted WiiU trailer
The main pros of the game
- Graphics and Visuals: Many users praised the game's graphics, noting that it looks good even for its age and has an appealing aesthetic, particularly at night.
- Open World Exploration: Players enjoyed the open-world aspect, allowing for exploration and the freedom to drive around the city.
- Fun Gameplay: The driving mechanics and the thrill of evading police were highlighted as enjoyable experiences. Some players found the game addictive and fun, especially when playing with friends.
- Sound Design: The sound of the cars and the soundtrack received positive remarks, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- Modding Community: There is a vibrant modding scene that allows players to enhance their experience, adding new cars and features.
The main cons of the game
- Lack of Story and Depth: Many players expressed disappointment over the absence of a compelling story and character development, which they felt diminished the experience compared to the original Most Wanted.
- Repetitive Gameplay: The gameplay loop, which involves racing and unlocking parts, became monotonous for some users, leading to a sense of boredom after a few hours of play.
- Controller and Input Issues: Several reviews mentioned problems with controller support and input configurations, making it difficult to play the game smoothly.
- Paywalls and Microtransactions: Users were frustrated by the presence of micropayments for unlocking cars and content, feeling that they should not have to pay extra after already purchasing the game.
- Unbalanced AI and Rubberbanding: The AI behavior, particularly rubberbanding during races, was criticized for being frustrating and unrealistic.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Customization Options: Players noted a significant lack of vehicle customization compared to earlier titles, with limited options for modifying appearance and performance.
- Campaign Mode: Users missed a structured campaign mode with a narrative, feeling that the game lacked direction and purpose.
- Challenging Races: Many reviews suggested that the races could be more difficult and engaging, as they found the current setup too easy after acquiring fast cars.
- Local Co-op Mode: The absence of local multiplayer options was also mentioned as a drawback, especially for players who enjoyed playing with friends in previous titles.
Summary
- Overall, while "Need for Speed? Most Wanted" has its share of fun and visually appealing elements, it falls short in storytelling, depth, and certain gameplay mechanics, leading to mixed reviews from players who had high expectations based on the original game.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 9845 votes. 1476 players anticipated the game.
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GAMES
in Need for Speed Game Series
Game Series
Need for Speed Series
One of the oldest and most popular racing game series in the history of the industry. Need for Speed is one of the most valuable brands in Electronic Arts' portfolio, with the US company's in-house development studios, such as EA Black Box, EA Gothenburg, and Criterion Games, usually responsible for its subsequent installments. The series started in 1994 with The Need for Speed, designed for fifth-generation consoles (3DO, PlayStation, Sega Saturn) and PC. The production was prepared by the team from EA Canada studio, created as a result of the acquisition of Distinctive Software (devs of Test Drive and Test Drive II).
29 video games
Need for Speed: Most Wanted Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows October 30, 2012
Android OS October 30, 2012
Apple iOS October 30, 2012
Nintendo Wii U March 19, 2013
PlayStation Vita October 30, 2012
PlayStation 3 October 30, 2012
Xbox 360 October 30, 2012
Developer: Criterion Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts Inc.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Quad Core i5 2.6 GHz, 2 GB RAM (4 GB RAM - Vista/7), graphic card 1024 MB (GeForce GTX 560 or better), 20 GB HDD, Windows Vista (SP1)/7, Internet connection
Xbox 360
Supports: Kinect
DLCs for Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Ultimate Speed Pack
DLC
December 18, 2012