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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.
Need for Speed Retrospective #6
Over the last couple of entries in the series, the story mode has become the centerpiece of any Need for Speed game. Yet somehow it's this title's biggest miss. There's no real sense of progression and the required tracks are often extremely long, feeling somewhat samey and uneventful. Were they trying too hard to become 'realistic'?
Other than that, the handling feels great, the graphics are nice and the strong police AI requires meaningful tactical decisions from the player. I remain a little on the fence about this one.
Over the last couple of entries in the series, the story mode has become the centerpiece of any Need for Speed game. Yet somehow it's this title's biggest miss. There's no real sense of progression and the required tracks are often extremely long, feeling somewhat samey and uneventful. Were they trying too hard to become 'realistic'?
Other than that, the handling feels great, the graphics are nice and the strong police AI requires meaningful tactical decisions from the player. I remain a little on the fence about this one.
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.
Need for Speed Retrospective #4
Between the techno-adjacent soundtrack, the new damage system and the risk vs. reward betting mode, it seems like they were going for a fast-paced action movie vibe with this one.
While the story mode can feel very lenghty and drawn-out at times, it is notable for how repairing and upgrading your car actually makes sense in the context of the game's economy-based progression system and also adds a mild tactical element to it. Nice one!
Between the techno-adjacent soundtrack, the new damage system and the risk vs. reward betting mode, it seems like they were going for a fast-paced action movie vibe with this one.
While the story mode can feel very lenghty and drawn-out at times, it is notable for how repairing and upgrading your car actually makes sense in the context of the game's economy-based progression system and also adds a mild tactical element to it. Nice one!
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.
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.
1994
Need for Speed Retrospective #1
What an amazingly strange start to the series.
You can immediately see what they were going for. A game for driving enthusiasts faithfully showcasing different exotic cars.
You can also immediately see where they didn't succeed. The driving itself fells like an afterthought, mostly tedious and fickle. The showcasing part lands far behind the developers' high ambition. While boasting a fully narrated 20-piece powerpoint presentation for each car may have impressed some critics at the time of launch, it is very unlikely to do so today.
What an amazingly strange start to the series.
You can immediately see what they were going for. A game for driving enthusiasts faithfully showcasing different exotic cars.
You can also immediately see where they didn't succeed. The driving itself fells like an afterthought, mostly tedious and fickle. The showcasing part lands far behind the developers' high ambition. While boasting a fully narrated 20-piece powerpoint presentation for each car may have impressed some critics at the time of launch, it is very unlikely to do so today.
2010
Let's be honest: I didn't expect to die 31 times on a difficulty called "casual auto".
Plays like ass, but the music goes obscenely hard.
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
2011
The game is only five hours long and still forces you to play the same levels over and over again.
2012
Imagine playing this on a device that actually works as intended. Would have been fabulous.
2010
I did enjoy my time killing fantasy fascists for eight hours, but then with absolutely zero introduction there's Lovecraftian themes, a management sim and a morality system, all of it badly implemented and nothing coming together in any meaningful way.
Why would they put Wreck-It Ralph into this but not Vanellope, who is an actual character in a fictional kart-racing game in the same movie?
2007
How can this be better than 95% of modern survival games??