This game should be your Most Wanted

Ever have that feeling that something is going to be less than stellar, but is in fact fantastic beyond your expectations? This is what I experienced with Need for Speed: Most Wanted.

I was almost fooled by the lame opening to the career mode with it’s bad acting and script, not to mention the real people playing roles (a bit odd, but workable). Still, the gameplay will soon make you forget the opening. The first thing I noticed about the game was the control. Even at speeds over 150 MPH, you feel smooth and in control. Even when barreling towards a wall, I felt no worry. The response to the controller was superb: not too sensitive, but sensitive enough. The nice feature I noted, in case anyone wants to be a control freak about their controls, was the ability to change certain aspects of your ride in three options for certain situations. Want more speed for a drag race or a speed trap challenge? Just adjust your car for better turbo and faster nitrous boost. Of course, these will affect the steering, handling, etc., but that’s why you can create 3 presets (I prefer one normal, one fast, and one for beautiful handling).

The physics in the game are wonderful as well. I always hated racing games that were too arcade like with engines that caused cars to bounce off walls and take huge jumps with no change in speed. NFS: MW has pleased me very well. When you take a jump, your car slows by about 20 MPH when you land. When you hit a car in any way (left side, right side, back side), your car slows. Walls will slow you down, indefinitely, as does hitting most moveable objects in the game (signs, barrels, tollbooths, etc.). The only glitch I found is with the objects you hit. When you nail a small tree going 170 MPH, it doesn’t shatter, nor would it fly in the air. Also, light posts and signs will not land upright if you hit them square on going 200 MPH. Sorry; I’m just really anal about physics (blame college).

For anyone who’s ever gotten tired of career modes in games, but hated the other nuances of the game, NFS: MW has an answer. The career mode can be a bit repetitive at time (times that are few and far between, believe me), but when they happen, you can always free roam and hit crap for no reason, find cops to chase you because you want to “stick it to the man”, or indulge yourself in the challenge mode. The challenge mode itself is so deep that I spent a good 10 hours playing. You work your way through stage of increasing difficulty, using different cars to complete tasks ranging from speed traps to cop chases to tollbooth sprints. It’s a good distraction from the game, and it allows you to sample some cars you didn’t drive because you either couldn’t afford them, or they were too lame to buy (VW…… no way). It’s pretty cool with a friend too, to alternate challenges, in case you get a bit peeved at a challenge and you want to throw the controller at the screen and….. Well, you know; we’ve all been there.

Still, the difficulty in the game isn’t unbearable. The game is pretty easy going until you get about 57% complete with just the career mode. Then it’s tough. The challenges become really long, and a bit hard to complete. Cops also become ridiculously skilled, but it also doesn’t help that your faster cars are light as feathers, especially against SUVs (I HATE SUVS!) I’m calm now. *Note about physics again: When you T-bone cars in the front end as compared to the back end, then engine does not cause enough difference to create an extra 15-20 MPH decrease in speed as opposed to the back end. Seriously.* Either way, the game does add some intensity when you progress. Still, the cops later in the game are extremely skilled, and a bit annoying (I found myself restarting sometimes because I didn’t want my Porsche impounded due to a minute and a half chase). Oh yea, and forget it if you hit a spike strip: no more respawning tires like in NFS: Hot Pursuit 2. You’re done, so avoid at all costs.

The graphics in this game are superb. I’ve played on both Xbox and PS2, and the Xbox, as usual blows the PS2 out of the water with graphics. As far as everything else is concerned, they’re the same, but the races are easier to “see” in the Xbox version, so I’m writing the review for the Xbox game. Still, the environments are huge, and the graphics show you all in great detail. The one problem I had was the gloom that seemed to hover over the landscape. I know it’s a city, but not even cities like Detroit and LA are covered with a dark gloom like in the game. It was a bit dreary; especially with the rain (can I get some snow please?) *Note on physics, again: Driving becomes slightly difficult when it rains, but not realistically, with turns still at 150 MPH, I don’t think so.* Regardless, the game looks sharp.

The sound in the game is sweet. Revving engines, cop sirens, metal on metal collisions, and squealing tires are all realistic sounding. Now, I may hit it right on with half of you reading this, and the other half will say “what is he smoking”, but the rap in these games is a bit lame. I’m not a huge rap fan to begin with, and the rap in NFS: MW disappointed even more. Even the “rock” songs were lame. None of them made me download songs from the artists like Madden or NHL did (see: Animal Alpha, Avenged Sevenfold, and OK GO). Still, the music can be drowned out with the game sounds if you adjust the sound options, so you can be king of that domain, whatever your preference is.

The plot in the game is a bit thin. It seems as if it will be a huge story line with “CG” movie breaks between big wins, but it never develops, and this sucks, because Mia is one attractive female, or at least me and my dorm buddies think so: you be the judge. But if one good thing came of the plot of you trying to get your car and rep back from the slimeball that took both, it’s the idea of the Blacklist. You gain rep by completing tasks in order to race members on the Blacklist. Beating them gets you more rep and closer to your main rival. Another fun feature is gaining extras from your beaten rider, like cash, upgrades for your car, and even pink slips (oh how I love my Lamborghini). The Blacklist adds some underground flavor to the whole scene, making it a bit more fun to play, especially when running from cops.

If you’re looking for a tuner game, you’re in the wrong area (try aisle “G”, as in Gran Turismo). Sure, there is the ability to add upgrades to the car like better tires and brakes and nitrous, but it’s all progressive with the game, and every upgrade is practically necessary to complete more difficult tasks as the game furthers. This game is more for the customization crowd. Ever wanted a car with sweet body tribal vinals in black and red? Done. Want decals and gold rims to match your gold and silver striped Benz? Go ahead; this game is your oyster. It really doesn’t add much to the gameplay, but it does make the car look cool. So go crazy (I know I did for a few races, RIP pink and lime green flame Porsche).

There are some nice touches that will make you smile when you utilize them. There is a slow time mode that will cause you to see things at a slower speed but still maneuver your car with great accuracy and responsiveness. This is great for taking sharp corners, or avoiding head-on collisions with those freaking SUVs (take note, students). Also, putting different paint, body kits, rums, roofs, and practically anything on your car will make you less noticeable to cops when the heat is high (heat affects how the cops try to stop you: high heat means SUVs, spike strips, and helicopters). Also, shortcuts can make or break you, depending on if you know how to use them and where they are (do not let your opponents use them when you aren’t). One last neat thing is the ability to get cops off your tail by destroying them. Okay, you just disable them, but creating obstructions will slow cops down and even disable their cars (fallen water towers, giant tires, you name it). Also, look to semi-trucks with cargo for some help (wink wink).

Overall, I’d give the game a 9.2/10. The fun factor is through the roof, and you’ll spend a good 30 hours on this game, easily. Have fun, drive dangerously, and become the most wanted (I’m talking about the game; don’t do it in real life and blame me, as I cannot afford a lawsuit, but EA can). Now go out and disable some cop cars.