Need for Speed Retrospective #19
Most Wanted 2012 has gotten a lot of shit from long-time NfS fans for using the name of the series' most beloved title for a product that had nothing in common with it. Interestingly enough, leaked beta builds suggest that this was not always the case. At some point, Criterion was working on an actual sequel or spiritual successor to the 2005 original, but once again it was rushed development that left the final product noticeably unfinished, like an empty husk of what could have been.
Emptiness is the exact emotion a playthrough of MW 2012 will fill you with, almost as badly as 2008's Undercover. There's no visual identity, no human faces, no progression structure and no motivation for anything. The occasional surrealist cutscene feels very out of place and only strengthens the feeling of irritation. Tracks are so badly telegraphed that I had to reset again and again after missing my turns. New cars are now simply found by the roadside and tediously upgraded in the most repetitive manner possible.
The tragic irony is that the driving mechanics in this game are actually superb. Where the vehicles felt far too light and flimsy in the developer's previous Hot Pursuit endeavor, they are now markedly heavy and bulky, which makes for a much better driving experience. MW 2012 easily could have been a milestone, but in this state it feels like a sandbox without any sand.
Most Wanted 2012 has gotten a lot of shit from long-time NfS fans for using the name of the series' most beloved title for a product that had nothing in common with it. Interestingly enough, leaked beta builds suggest that this was not always the case. At some point, Criterion was working on an actual sequel or spiritual successor to the 2005 original, but once again it was rushed development that left the final product noticeably unfinished, like an empty husk of what could have been.
Emptiness is the exact emotion a playthrough of MW 2012 will fill you with, almost as badly as 2008's Undercover. There's no visual identity, no human faces, no progression structure and no motivation for anything. The occasional surrealist cutscene feels very out of place and only strengthens the feeling of irritation. Tracks are so badly telegraphed that I had to reset again and again after missing my turns. New cars are now simply found by the roadside and tediously upgraded in the most repetitive manner possible.
The tragic irony is that the driving mechanics in this game are actually superb. Where the vehicles felt far too light and flimsy in the developer's previous Hot Pursuit endeavor, they are now markedly heavy and bulky, which makes for a much better driving experience. MW 2012 easily could have been a milestone, but in this state it feels like a sandbox without any sand.