Zwangsdemokrat
BACKER
2007
How can this be better than 95% of modern survival games??
2019
This review contains spoilers
Oh shit it's Majora's Mask all over again.
Need for Speed Retrospective #7
This game single-handedly invented the 2000s. Between those glossy visuals and its markedly 'cool' soundtrack, there's so much style oozing from every pore of this game.
Though a risk at the time, the shift from expensive sports cars to the then-popular underground tuning scene can only be described as a stroke of genius in retrospect, giving the series its recognizable style for years to come. This shift incidentally also solves many of the predecessor's problems, with the tracks now feeling tight, densely packed and atmopsheric.
Playing this today though, I can't help but notice the formula is far from perfect here. Sure, the visual tuning is fun and you'll probably find yourself spending more time in those menus than doing actual racing, but it's actually quite sobering to see that it has little to no impact on the story and progression. Also, as any review of NFSU is obliged to mention, the enemy AI can be outright infuriating at times.
This game single-handedly invented the 2000s. Between those glossy visuals and its markedly 'cool' soundtrack, there's so much style oozing from every pore of this game.
Though a risk at the time, the shift from expensive sports cars to the then-popular underground tuning scene can only be described as a stroke of genius in retrospect, giving the series its recognizable style for years to come. This shift incidentally also solves many of the predecessor's problems, with the tracks now feeling tight, densely packed and atmopsheric.
Playing this today though, I can't help but notice the formula is far from perfect here. Sure, the visual tuning is fun and you'll probably find yourself spending more time in those menus than doing actual racing, but it's actually quite sobering to see that it has little to no impact on the story and progression. Also, as any review of NFSU is obliged to mention, the enemy AI can be outright infuriating at times.
1997
Need for Speed Retrospective #2
Booting this up you instantly know you'll be in for a good time. The colourful cartoonish graphics have aged gracefully, the driving feels fast, grippy and responsive. Despite never having appeared in the arcades, NfS II feels exactly like the type of game you would find in an arcade cabinet back in the day.
The showcasing part is still there, but this time the driving is the focus. The choice of cars, tracks and modes is still very bare-bones, but what is there is fun and I can easily see myself driving around in circles for hours in this game just to relax.
Booting this up you instantly know you'll be in for a good time. The colourful cartoonish graphics have aged gracefully, the driving feels fast, grippy and responsive. Despite never having appeared in the arcades, NfS II feels exactly like the type of game you would find in an arcade cabinet back in the day.
The showcasing part is still there, but this time the driving is the focus. The choice of cars, tracks and modes is still very bare-bones, but what is there is fun and I can easily see myself driving around in circles for hours in this game just to relax.
Need for Speed Retrospective #5
I'm quite the inverse of a car buff and have zero nostalgia for the brand of Porsche. Still, the way this game's story mode is presented blew me away. Unlocking new cars and challenges while progressing through the ages makes so much sense and feels incredibly satisfying. The visual style perfectly complements the experience.
A niche entry in the series to be sure, but definitely worth trying.
I'm quite the inverse of a car buff and have zero nostalgia for the brand of Porsche. Still, the way this game's story mode is presented blew me away. Unlocking new cars and challenges while progressing through the ages makes so much sense and feels incredibly satisfying. The visual style perfectly complements the experience.
A niche entry in the series to be sure, but definitely worth trying.
2011
The game is only five hours long and still forces you to play the same levels over and over again.
Need for Speed Retrospective #18
At this stage, EA was desperately throwing things at the wall to see what sticks. And to be honest, The Run was such a breath of fresh air, I'm quite sad it didn't stick.
The story about a bland white guy and a large-chested redhead sidekick somehow playing the Mafia by participating in a transcontinental race was obviously nonsensical, but serviceable enough to sell the constant feeling of being on The Run. With the thundering music, the camera eerily close behind the car, police sirens approaching from behind and full-blown avalanches rolling in from the front, The Run was an action-packed blast from start to finish. I don't trust anyone who says they weren't excited playing this.
The Run sure is a slim package. It's short, there's zero customization and all cars are basically the same, but that's not the point. They set out to create a cinematic experience and for me, they nailed it. I just wish the game had been a little more successful. Imagine what could have been. We could have gotten a dozen Fast and Furious level bonkers cinematic driving games in this series.
At this stage, EA was desperately throwing things at the wall to see what sticks. And to be honest, The Run was such a breath of fresh air, I'm quite sad it didn't stick.
The story about a bland white guy and a large-chested redhead sidekick somehow playing the Mafia by participating in a transcontinental race was obviously nonsensical, but serviceable enough to sell the constant feeling of being on The Run. With the thundering music, the camera eerily close behind the car, police sirens approaching from behind and full-blown avalanches rolling in from the front, The Run was an action-packed blast from start to finish. I don't trust anyone who says they weren't excited playing this.
The Run sure is a slim package. It's short, there's zero customization and all cars are basically the same, but that's not the point. They set out to create a cinematic experience and for me, they nailed it. I just wish the game had been a little more successful. Imagine what could have been. We could have gotten a dozen Fast and Furious level bonkers cinematic driving games in this series.
Need for Speed Retrospective #9
This game needs to be in the same conversation as Okami and The Wind Waker when it comes to timeless styles. I found myself just roaming around and admiring the view many times, which is quite the compliment for a game old enough to have a drivers license of its own.
Though not as explorable as in Underground 2, the open world is still dense and fun to traverse with plenty to do in each chapter. The game's structure is an interesting choice, its obvious weakness being its repetitiveness. After the first thirty minutes, the remaining 14 chapters become very predictable and can sometimes feel like a slog. Adding to that, the later police chases are very unforgiving and frustrating, as small mistakes will lose you a lot of progress.
Still, a fantastic driving game. You guys were right all along: This is the golden era of NfS.
This game needs to be in the same conversation as Okami and The Wind Waker when it comes to timeless styles. I found myself just roaming around and admiring the view many times, which is quite the compliment for a game old enough to have a drivers license of its own.
Though not as explorable as in Underground 2, the open world is still dense and fun to traverse with plenty to do in each chapter. The game's structure is an interesting choice, its obvious weakness being its repetitiveness. After the first thirty minutes, the remaining 14 chapters become very predictable and can sometimes feel like a slog. Adding to that, the later police chases are very unforgiving and frustrating, as small mistakes will lose you a lot of progress.
Still, a fantastic driving game. You guys were right all along: This is the golden era of NfS.
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.
Need for Speed Retrospective #8
NFSU2 resembles a traditional RPG more than it does a driving game. Your car is your main character, gradually growing in power and visual pizzazz as you progress through the story. I think everyone who played this game fondly remembers their first little Peugeot or Volkswagen they started their journey with. A remarkable achievement for a game like this.
The game's open world very much augments this style of gameplay, with new and more interesting parts of the city unlocking piece by piece. I also love the fact that NFSU2 is bold enough not to boast any fast-travel, making wayfinding and route planning an integral part of the gameplay experience. The way exploration is rewarded by finding new shops and parts makes for a fun experience as the player both hones their skills and grows more familiar with their surroundings.
Fantastic experience, easily the best one so far.
NFSU2 resembles a traditional RPG more than it does a driving game. Your car is your main character, gradually growing in power and visual pizzazz as you progress through the story. I think everyone who played this game fondly remembers their first little Peugeot or Volkswagen they started their journey with. A remarkable achievement for a game like this.
The game's open world very much augments this style of gameplay, with new and more interesting parts of the city unlocking piece by piece. I also love the fact that NFSU2 is bold enough not to boast any fast-travel, making wayfinding and route planning an integral part of the gameplay experience. The way exploration is rewarded by finding new shops and parts makes for a fun experience as the player both hones their skills and grows more familiar with their surroundings.
Fantastic experience, easily the best one so far.
2015
Need for Speed Retrospective #22
Not only the first NfS game I was willing to finish in a while, but one I actually enjoyed all the way through. It's nowhere near the heights of the series, but after contemplating to give up on this retrospective more than once recently, it was a huge relief to finally be playing a competent and confident product again instead of something cobbled together in the last possible minute.
As the reboot title might suggest, they went back to the Underground/Carbon era look that the series is most known for. And despite building heavily on these earlier titles, I like how different and recognizable 2015 is. The permanently rainy and foggy night-time world looks and sounds absolutely stunning and the first-person cutscenes, as cringeworthy as they might be, are a decent stylistic fit.
Even in the gameplay department, it seems they were going down the remake/sequel route for Underground 2, my favourite game in the series. Comparing the two titles side-by-side, I can see that 2015 is doing remarkably well in many regards, though sadly lacking in others. Where unlocking and exploring new areas was a huge driving factor in NFSU2's gameplay, 2015's open world is wholly accessible from the start. Fast travel (even to unexplored areas) is immediately enabled and hidden secrets are close to nonexistent. All this makes the open world appear much smaller than it is and, frankly, quite useless.
Despite these points and some minor issues with the difficulty curve, I enjoyed 2015 quite a bit. After ten bumpy years of hit-or-miss games in the series, I am finally feeling optimistic again.
(One final point: This game has absolutely no business requiring a constant internet connection. Both idea and execution are terrible.)
Not only the first NfS game I was willing to finish in a while, but one I actually enjoyed all the way through. It's nowhere near the heights of the series, but after contemplating to give up on this retrospective more than once recently, it was a huge relief to finally be playing a competent and confident product again instead of something cobbled together in the last possible minute.
As the reboot title might suggest, they went back to the Underground/Carbon era look that the series is most known for. And despite building heavily on these earlier titles, I like how different and recognizable 2015 is. The permanently rainy and foggy night-time world looks and sounds absolutely stunning and the first-person cutscenes, as cringeworthy as they might be, are a decent stylistic fit.
Even in the gameplay department, it seems they were going down the remake/sequel route for Underground 2, my favourite game in the series. Comparing the two titles side-by-side, I can see that 2015 is doing remarkably well in many regards, though sadly lacking in others. Where unlocking and exploring new areas was a huge driving factor in NFSU2's gameplay, 2015's open world is wholly accessible from the start. Fast travel (even to unexplored areas) is immediately enabled and hidden secrets are close to nonexistent. All this makes the open world appear much smaller than it is and, frankly, quite useless.
Despite these points and some minor issues with the difficulty curve, I enjoyed 2015 quite a bit. After ten bumpy years of hit-or-miss games in the series, I am finally feeling optimistic again.
(One final point: This game has absolutely no business requiring a constant internet connection. Both idea and execution are terrible.)
Need for Speed Retrospective #20
Booting up a new Need for Speed game really is like a box of chocolates. With its always-online mentality, glossy wet look and esoteric storytelling, Ghost's first outing is once again something completely different.
As for the MMO-like qualities, the game Rivals most reminded me of was Ubisoft's The Crew, which came out only one year later and is now sadly defunct. The cool thing about The Crew, though, was its vast, exciting and explorable world. Here, we get little more than a series of tunnels in which we sporadically meet other players minding their business. Even the series' own Need for Speed: World handled the open-world aspects much better.
To my great dislike, the racer/cop split from the Hot Pursuit subseries is back and once again amounts to little more than the necessity to do the same content twice, as perfectly exemplified by the two identical unskippable tutorials the game starts with.
Despite my personal hatred for authorities and the complete lack of visual customizability, the gameplay on the cops' side might actually be superior. On the racer side, the fact that I couldn't even pause the game combined with the cops on constant lookout for me made the game unnecessarily stressful. At each safehouse I took a deep breath of relief, evaluating if going back out there was even worth it at all. After a couple of hours I naturally decided it wasn't and never bothered with the game again.
Booting up a new Need for Speed game really is like a box of chocolates. With its always-online mentality, glossy wet look and esoteric storytelling, Ghost's first outing is once again something completely different.
As for the MMO-like qualities, the game Rivals most reminded me of was Ubisoft's The Crew, which came out only one year later and is now sadly defunct. The cool thing about The Crew, though, was its vast, exciting and explorable world. Here, we get little more than a series of tunnels in which we sporadically meet other players minding their business. Even the series' own Need for Speed: World handled the open-world aspects much better.
To my great dislike, the racer/cop split from the Hot Pursuit subseries is back and once again amounts to little more than the necessity to do the same content twice, as perfectly exemplified by the two identical unskippable tutorials the game starts with.
Despite my personal hatred for authorities and the complete lack of visual customizability, the gameplay on the cops' side might actually be superior. On the racer side, the fact that I couldn't even pause the game combined with the cops on constant lookout for me made the game unnecessarily stressful. At each safehouse I took a deep breath of relief, evaluating if going back out there was even worth it at all. After a couple of hours I naturally decided it wasn't and never bothered with the game again.
2021
There's a lesson to be learned here for any open world style game: If you want people to explore your world,
make
traversal
fun
make
traversal
fun
Need for Speed Retrospective #12
I feel like I can't say much about Undercover that hasn't been said already. It's definitley no underrated raw diamond. It's incredibly ugly und incredibly unfinished. The visuals hurt your eyes and the handling and physics are simply non-functional.
The most amazing thing about this game is how many elements are just hanging in the air. The leveling system does nothing and the open world is just there. You can't even access the races from it properly. Clearly, the one-year release schedule was no longer going to fly for games of this scope. Please give developers more time and resources.
I feel like I can't say much about Undercover that hasn't been said already. It's definitley no underrated raw diamond. It's incredibly ugly und incredibly unfinished. The visuals hurt your eyes and the handling and physics are simply non-functional.
The most amazing thing about this game is how many elements are just hanging in the air. The leveling system does nothing and the open world is just there. You can't even access the races from it properly. Clearly, the one-year release schedule was no longer going to fly for games of this scope. Please give developers more time and resources.
Need for Speed Retrospective #3
Despite police chases already being present in the very first NfS game, Hot Pursuit is the first in the series to really lean into the 'illegal' part of the racing fantasy. The police having new moves and proper AI makes the mode into a fun little distraction.
You could say that NfS III feels more like an addon to its predecessor than a standalone game, but with more cars, improved handling and a number of interesting tracks, there's still loads of fun to be had here.
Despite police chases already being present in the very first NfS game, Hot Pursuit is the first in the series to really lean into the 'illegal' part of the racing fantasy. The police having new moves and proper AI makes the mode into a fun little distraction.
You could say that NfS III feels more like an addon to its predecessor than a standalone game, but with more cars, improved handling and a number of interesting tracks, there's still loads of fun to be had here.