Need for Speed: Most Wanted Review (no fat)

by Electronic Arts Platform: Xbox360 Genre: Racing	ESRB Rating: Teen Release: 2005-15-11	Need for Speed: Most Wanted Features: Expansive environment to explore Multiple types of races to compete in Online/multiplayer capabilities Upgrades and custom cars available
	Egamer's Rating: 8 / 10. Reviewed on: 2006-11-26

Game Description

The release of the Xbox 360 from Microsoft has brought about some of the most visually appealing games ever. And with every new console that is released, there is always a developer that pushes the graphical envelopes. Need for Speed: Most wanted is no different. Most Wanted is the latest title in the series of the Need for Speed games, and quite possibly the greatest. Why is it the greatest? Read on…

Need for Speed: Most Wanted Gameplay

Gamers start out going head to head with the greatest underground racer in Rockport, Razor Callahan. Of course, being the newbies, they lose the race. But they lose by no fault of theirs. Some of Razor’s homies have tampered with the gamer’s car, thus they lose the race along with their pride and their freedom as they are caught and hauled off to the county jail. However, a sexy little lady named Mia bails you out, and you are able to start anew again.

You will be pitted against the 15 members of Rockport’s black list. The black list is the list of the top races in Rockport, and gamers will have to go head to head with each racer in the list individually to claw their way to the top. However, in between each blacklist race, you will have to complete missions and milestones in order to move on to the big races. While competing against the racers in the blacklist, they will have a chance to compete for the pink slip of their opponent’s car. This is a good thing, if you choose to accept the car, as the cars are automatically tuned and upgraded. If you don’t get these cars, you will have to buy and upgrade your own cars. A multitude of upgrades are available in the game, from custom paint to spoilers to vinyl. Get the picture?

While racing or cruising around time, it is inevitable that gamers will be chased by the local police. The more you try to escape from the police, the more that your heat level rises. As the gamers heat levels rise, so does the aggressiveness of the police. If gamers allow their heat levels to rise high enough, they can find themselves with not only police squads on their tails, but also helicopters watching them from above. They will also have to dodge spike strips and police traps just to get away. To evade the police, gamers will have to get out of their view, and stay out of their view, until their cooling meter fills up. Very tense situations lie ahead if you tend to enjoy the situation.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted also features online, multiplayer gameplay, which is a nice addition to the title. However, not all modes are available for online play, and the modes that are available are pretty standard racing types. Sprint, circuit and drag races await gamers that head online, and gamers can choose to race in ranked or unranked races. There is also an online blacklist, so gamers can see who the fiercest opponent is online, and then take them down.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted Graphics

Graphics in Need for Speed: Most Wanted are of very high quality, and are presented in a nice manner. While the graphics look alright on standard television sets, they look the best on HD TV’s. But that goes without saying, as all graphics look better in high definition. There is only one downfall to the graphics in the game; sometimes they stutter. This can be seen on the horizon as gamers turn corners. Also, textures in the objects are there one second, and gone the next. While this is noticeable during game play, it in no way affects how the game is played, and the outcome of the races.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted Audio

Need for Speed: Most Wanted offers a variety of tunes for gamers to listen to while competing in races. Everything from hip hop to rock is covered here, and there is a nice selection of songs to choose from. The sound effects presented in the game sound uber realistic, and the clash of metal on metal couldn’t have gotten any better than this. Also, each engine of each car sounds different than the one before it. This just adds to the feel of the game, and gives gamers a sense of awareness as they switch from one car to the next.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted - Final Verdict

There is a lot of content here for gamers to dive into, and the environment of Rockport is huge. Gamers will have a ball exploring it all, and finding new secrets on each street, overpass, and back alley. The game progresses at a nice pace and the controls are easy to handle. If a rad racing game is on your list of games for the Xbox 360, then you definitely should pick this one up. However, it clocks in at $59.99, making this a little steep on the wallet.