Need for Speed Retrospective #14
Nitro fills such an interesting niche in the NfS franchise. Appearing on the quintessential party console, it's a quintessential party game.
It's a shame we never got Nitro 2, because the foundations laid out here are fantastic. I love the game's style, the cartoonish animations and the endlessly satisfying graffiti painting mechanics. Nitro can be picked up and learned in mere seconds, making it a great choice for parties and other casual contexts.
I just wish they had leaned a little deeper into Mario Kart or Blur territory. The skeleton of an item system is here and would have been so much more fun had it just allowed me to hurl some things at my enemies. The same goes for the tracks, which are just a tiny bit too traditional. Throw in some over-the-top ramps and obstacles and you got the perfect party game.
As is, Nitro remains just a little too tame and will rarely persuade anyone to whip out this disc instead of Mario Kart Wii.
Nitro fills such an interesting niche in the NfS franchise. Appearing on the quintessential party console, it's a quintessential party game.
It's a shame we never got Nitro 2, because the foundations laid out here are fantastic. I love the game's style, the cartoonish animations and the endlessly satisfying graffiti painting mechanics. Nitro can be picked up and learned in mere seconds, making it a great choice for parties and other casual contexts.
I just wish they had leaned a little deeper into Mario Kart or Blur territory. The skeleton of an item system is here and would have been so much more fun had it just allowed me to hurl some things at my enemies. The same goes for the tracks, which are just a tiny bit too traditional. Throw in some over-the-top ramps and obstacles and you got the perfect party game.
As is, Nitro remains just a little too tame and will rarely persuade anyone to whip out this disc instead of Mario Kart Wii.