Need for Speed: Most Wanted

Racing games aren't really my thing, unless they fall under the gimmicky umbrella such as Mario Kart or other battle style car games. For this reason I've never liked the Need for Speed games, to me they're just chavvy generic games where wannabe racer boys can customize their car to look as trashy as possible complete with ridiculous spoiler.

I ended up getting Most Wanted and I don't even remember quite why and being frankly blown away. Fine, put aside the street racing "Isn't it cool to be a criminal" childishness and all the customization (Which actually I enjoyed to an extent) and you've got the police evasion addition and I really quite liked it.

Generic racing is a plenty sure, but it looked good for its time and had a killer soundtrack. These types of games usually have nothing but moronic dance "Music" sided with rap but here there was lots of rock/metal including Bullet For My Valentine and Static X.

So racing around this impressive city, with those tracks blasting and the adrenaline of evading the army of police cars behind me while at the same time dodging sets of spikes tossed across my path?! Great stuff.

Truth be told there hasn't been another Need For Speed game I've enjoyed since, not even the reboot of this very title from 2012. But we'll always have this wonderful little gem.

The Good:

Great soundtrack

Looks great

Police evasion is a lot of fun

The Bad:

Still just a Need For Speed game at its core

I feel chavvy just playing it

Before I go and write down what the 3 versions I mentioned before are like, Let me just say that NFS: most wanted should definitely be the face for racing games everywhere. The graphics are amazing, the story is enjoyable, and the gameplay is fun and addicting.

Following the line of games from NFS: Underground, NFS: Underground 2, NFS most wanted and NFS: carbon, You've just left Bayview City to come to Rockport City to challenge the blacklist, the toughest racers around. Unfortunately, your first day in the City, you meet with RPD's toughest cop, Sergeant Cross. He keys your car, leaving to deal with a dangerous pursuit. in the days that follow, you win races to enter a blacklist race against Razor, one of the meanest street racers around. He secretly screws up your car, and wins the race, taking your car as a prize. after seeing him leave, the police arrive and haul you off to jail.

However, you are sprung out of the joint, because there's no proof you were involved with the street racing. You are picked up by Mia, who is willing to help you get your car back, in exchange to make side bets on your races to get rich. she supports you with safehouses, and a ride to the car shops for a brand new car. from here the game starts. it's up to you to defeat the whole blacklist and get back your car from Razor, who has used that car to go to the top.

GAMECUBE VERSION

The Gamecube version is probably the worst port of all. The graphics aren't as good, There's no online play and the Soundtrack is badly butchered, due to the size of Gamecube discs. However, the controls are pretty good and the Game doesn't freeze as often as the other versions.

PLAYSTATION 2 VERSION

The Playstation 2 version is probably the one i'd recommend, due to it's availability and improved graphics over the Gamecube. On top of that, the soundtrack is all there. Unfortunately, sometimes the controller can be a pain. I don't know if it's just my controller, but sometimes the X button fails (I noticed the same problem in NFS: Carbon) and it doesn't happen on just one controller. So the right joystick is a decent alternative for an accelerator. Another thing, some copies of the game freeze, so it's kind of frustrating when you make it to the end, and the game freezes. some copies do that, others don't.

XBOX 360 VERSION

In terms of graphics, this version blows the others way thanks to HD compatibility. In terms of soundtrack, you can have your own. just go to the Xbox 360's Music player, play your own music, and you're all set. The controls are also spot on, thanks to a good controller. the only 2 problems I have with this game, is that it freezes on occasion (but unlike some of the PS2 discs, you can get to the end of the game) and the real-time sun movement is really a pain, especially during a sunrise or a sunset. the sun gets in your eyes and you can't see where you're going.

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Bottom line, this game is a milestone in gaming (i'm not kidding) and I recommend you play it, no matter who you are.

10/10

I'm very sad cause many underestimate Most Wanted, calling it worst NFS game ever. Well, nonsense!!! This it the game Hot Pursuit always should've been. GFX is truly special, much better than Underground series, with sun out and bye bye midnight darkness. The best thing is reflecting effect of the sun on the road and even trees wave slowly on wind. Sound is also on the level, cars sound authentic, the best example is Aston Martin which is sooo good recorded that GT or Forza can be ashamed. Even every tuning stage reproduce new engine sound. Car list is bigger and this time exotics and muscle are also back! And you can tune them up too!!! There is difference between RWD, FWD and AWD cars, as RWD with a lot of torque must be launched gently or they'll spin and AWDs have fastest launch and best handling. YES, there is difference in handling EVEN if you've tuned handling to max. Guys telling you otherwise haven't played game long enough to realize it. AND YES cars handle MUCH better than in U2. Of course it's far from realism, but those who want realism can play GT or Forza. Need for speed gives you MUCH better sense of speed and action. Oh, and unlike Underground series, you don't have to pimp your ride to make progress, pimping has a purpose - to fool the cops so they can't recognize you. Story is also good, although a little but too less Josie Maran FMV. She is absolutely gorgeous and by far THE BEST NFS girl out there. As for the best part of the game - police chases, they are phenomenal. Fast and so much adrenalin packed, you won't believe. Once you hit higher heat levels, tougher and faster cop chases are gonna get - and suddenly it will click - the cars have to respond like they do - fast and smooth, easy to control and regain control if you lost it, yet they have weight and crash like they normally would (you can feel the weight and they slow down drastically) - unlike U2 where crashes where like small plastic cars crashes... Nice story, Cool GFX and Sound, great rides and tuning, phenomenal speed sensation and pursuits, and the best NFS girl ever - Josie Maran. Gameplay - 10+. My opinion and 2 cents...

This Game Is My Personal Favourite The Storyline Plot Was Brilliant,Graphics Are Great Police Pursuits Love Em . Car Selection In This Game Was Excellent ,I Cant Praise How Much I Love This Game No Other Need For Speed Game Has Come Even Close To Being Better Than Most Wanted .

First of all, I know this is about 3 years late and you're probably a successful businessman or IT guy, but I just need to say this and it's better late than never, right? So I realise you may not like this game, but I think you're missing the point. If you haven't won any races after winning it? you must suck. Sorry. I'm not at all a gamer and even I can do it. And the bad physics and weird things like that don't matter, it's supposed to be a fun little game to just play around on. You want realistic? Hell you've got Forza. Any more realistic and you'd actually be in a car.

Anyhoo...the point is NFS is where you get to do crazy stupid things, like go into a turn at 300kph and somehow get around. Or sometimes crash and look like an idiot.

In the end, fair enough if you don't like it.

And btw, it stands up very well over time. Have a good life :D