This foundation of gratifying gameplay anchors the experience, while the rest of Need For Speed's specifics run the gamut from equally outstanding to smash-your-controller frustrating. Even just the breathtaking speed of upgraded vehicles makes the driving in Need For Speed absolutely gripping. The sense of ownership that comes with tuning a single ride to perfection rather than simply grabbing the flashiest vehicle available proved tremendously rewarding. Its jaw-dropping visuals, adrenaline-pumping audio, and highly-customizable handling make screaming around the darkened streets of Ventura Bay an intense thrill.

The game is far from perfect, but it is, at points, truly exceptional.

Now Playing: Need For Speed - Video Review Need For Speed doesn't offer manual shifting or any of Rivals' weaponry, but it does have a button devoted to killing your engine while you hide from the cops. I did eventually conquer those missions, and in the process I learned two extremely valuable lessons: Using a single 'balanced' ride for both drift and race events is a terrible idea at higher levels, and despite all of the frustrating nonsense Need For Speed put me through, I was always excited to dive back in.īy clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's This extra currency, I hoped, might let me upgrade my way to victory. I tried and retried until I finally decided to grind through smaller side events to earn some 'rep' and cash. I'd been building my stock Subaru into an unstoppable tuner beast for nearly 15 hours at that point, but for whatever reason, I just could not get past the most recently unlocked story missions. While it's not a completely novel approach for the series ( Underground covered tuner car culture over a decade ago), it does open a few new avenues for Need For Speed's arcadey but nuanced style of racing-most notably in its progression and customization systems.Īt one point during my playthrough, however, I hit a wall. This latest Need For Speed follows in the footsteps of the first Fast and Furious film by exploring the white-knuckled world of illegal street racing. At various points, it's been a police chase simulator, a realistic track racer, and even a Cannonball Run-style action movie on wheels. The Need For Speed series has always been something of a chameleon.

Need for speed 2015 pc ps4 controller