Title: Need for Speed: Unbound
Developer: Criterion Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: December 2, 2022
Platform Reviewed: PlayStation 5
Platforms Available: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Article Reading Time: 8 minutes
A Familiar Road with New Turns
As is customary in the Need for Speed racing series, just like in the earlier installments, we get our hands on furious races, omnipresent tire smoke, and tuned supercars in a new art style this time. Need for Speed, with the latest console version, got a chance to do something originally different. And it was an exceptional experience. The first impression immediately after starting the game was evident. Criterion was very heavily inspired by its previous work. Once again, you take on the role of a young racer looking to make a name for himself in the city. Starting from scratch with an old car, you race in day or night events to earn a living while trying to shake off the cops who come down on you after every race. A concept familiar from the older Need for Speed Heat. But this time, it’s been tweaked slightly. You create your own hero or heroine at the start of the game. The choice is broad; you can make a weird hipster, a Japanese anime-style doll, or something decent.
Night and Day, Risk and Reward
The races in Unbound are divided into day and night. During the day, it’s quiet everywhere. The races are characterized by less risk from the police, but at the same time, you can’t expect any more significant rewards. At night, on the other hand, the money starts rolling in. Law enforcement is alive and well, and the most frantic races are held for big money, which only the best can win. Of course, at night, the cops are hot, and your Heat level after each race is higher than in broad daylight. If you get caught, you lose all the money you didn’t manage to take to the garage.
The Heat of the Night
Several racing opportunities will appear on the map throughout the night. You will also often be chased by the cops after a race. If you shake them off, you can park and save your accumulated money, but this will jump you forward half a day, and the night’s events are gone. It’s more tempting to keep playing at night and run all the events. The more events you complete in one night, the higher your Heat level. Escaping the cops from level three onwards requires skill and a fast car. That hurts a lot when they catch you and confiscate all the money you didn’t manage to stash in the garage. It’s a thrilling aspect of the game, and the “this race will still work before they get me” style of decision-making was something I really enjoyed.
Racing Perfected
The story of Unbound is quite exciting and expansive by series standards, with well-written characters that are memorable and believable. The dialogue may be simple and annoying. However, we’re still talking about NFS, where the central aspect isn’t the deep story but the racing. The racing aspect of the game is perfect. This is precisely how I imagine arcade racing. In city traffic, at full speed, cutting corners, jumping, and passing closely with other road users flatting out. In Unbound, you will be dealing with surprisingly challenging races. It took me a while to learn how to drive at full speed amongst all the pitfalls, and I needed to tune the car to get to the front. The race modes don’t stray from the familiar standards; we have classic time trials, city circuits, drifts, and a special mode where you collect points for spectacular track runs and try to hit as many cones, paint barrels, and preferably jumps and skids as possible. At this point, one thing that really bothered me throughout my time playing was the lack of a fast travel option on the map. You have to transport yourself everywhere. Suppose the police patrols have it in for you and your high Heat level. In that case, you won’t just drive to the next challenge unleashed, but you’ll be dodging the police patrols with fear, marked on the map by a moving red icon. It’s neither cool nor fun, but it fits the game’s concept that the cops are here and will take your money if you’re not careful.
Aesthetic Overdrive
What would Need for Speed be without a good dose of tuning. You can customize each licensed vehicle, of which there are a staggering number, to your heart’s content. The ability to detail the powertrain is a big plus. Compared to previous installments, the authors have gone into even greater detail. Moreover, any minor modification of the car is noticeable on the road. Of course, many stickers, shiny wheel rims, bumpers, tinted glass, etc already exist. The graphics of NFS Unbound on the latest gaming consoles, especially on the PlayStation 5, are simply breathtaking. The game’s setting, Lakeshore, is a bustling and vibrant metropolis with towering skyscrapers, busy streets, and poverty-stricken suburbs, all of which are beautifully rendered with stunning attention to detail. The surrounding countryside is equally impressive, offering a plethora of scenic routes to explore. The cars in the game are also incredibly detailed, with every aspect of their design and mechanics flawlessly captured. The only downside is the lack of an interior view, which would have made the experience even more immersive. Overall, NFS Unbound is a visual masterpiece that truly showcases the power and capabilities of the latest gaming consoles.
New Styles and Online Shortfalls
A controversial pre-release feature was the new comic book style, where all the effects, like clouds from spinning tires, collisions, crashes, and flyovers, are complemented by cartoon and graffiti effects. Also, all the characters in the game look like they are from an animated movie. I was skeptical of this concept, but the developers have kept this style at bay. The graffiti is a tasteful art addition that often adds to the game’s atmosphere. The characters look too cartoonish for my taste, with bland facial expressions that make the contrast between the cartoonish and photorealistic visuals all too apparent. In addition to the 30-hour campaign, the game offers an online mode and a separate city map where you can race against other players and earn money. However, it appears that the developers did not invest enough resources in this mode. The lack of police cars, which add excitement and challenge to the races in the campaign, makes the online mode feel somewhat lackluster and empty. This is a missed opportunity, as the potential for engaging and competitive multiplayer races is certainly there. Hopefully, the developers will address this issue in future updates to the game.
Conclusion and Legacy
So, in conclusion, Need for Speed Unbound is an excellent addition to the famous franchise. Suppose you overlook that the developers were heavily inspired by the subtitled Heat and put in next-gen graphics. In that case, you get excellent arcade racing complemented by the original art style. It’s clear that the game was made for the fans, who get exactly what they expect but in a new and prettier package. The number of cars, their upgrade options, and the frantic racing are precisely what NFS has always been about, and that’s not changing. Here, all of this is brought together by an interesting story. Disappointingly, some repetitive activities and an unfinished online mode. In short, the franchise is still maintaining a relatively decent quality because it’s about to celebrate 30 years.
Purchase and Experience the Rush of Need for Speed: Unbound
Steam: Race to Steam to grab your copy and hit the streets in style.
Epic Games Store: Speed over to Epic Games Store for your adrenaline-fueled adventure.
PlayStation Store: Drive your way to the PlayStation Store and experience next-gen racing on your PS5.
Microsoft Store: Accelerate your game on Xbox by visiting the Microsoft Store.
