Need for Speed Review [Gadgets 360]

Gadgets 360 says: "As it stands, you can do better this year's Need for Speed. Sure, it possesses all the traditional EA spit and polish we're used to what with a punchy soundtrack and fantastic production values, but they do little to elevate one of the lesser entries in the franchise."

[DarkOcelet]

"Poor handling and the baffling lack of customisation options make Need for Speed a chore to play"

So the only two reasons that i was gonna even consider the game for apparently sucks. Sigh.

Also, the game is night racing only? For today's standards, that is pretty poor.

[yarbie1000]

handling is fine once you start upgrading your car. And it has a ton more customization than a game like driveclub. My biggest gripe is the world is empty. not many ai cars in teh city

[Xavior_Reigns]

lol

Couldnt resist huh

[emad-E-three]

Bringing up Driveclub and downplaying it only tells me how insecure you are about your purchase!

And Btw "handling is fine once you start upgrading your car" is not an excuse! Poor handling is poor handling!
Good thing i'm not supporting it (Always on/Microtransactions) is a cancer specially for NFS that is perfectly fine as an offline game.

[xander70769]

Not sure why you are getting so many disagrees. I really like Driveclub, looks amazing and great controls, but there is a total lack of customization and it SUCKS.

I can't speak to NFS handling issues, but the game features a TON of customization. For me part of the fun of a racing game is customizing everything about your favorite car, from tires to body mods to performance tuning etc...

[PC_60]

if they said its only night racing in the game then they haven't played it because there is mornings and sunsets

[iNFAMOUZ1]

bruh night time is when the races go down

[StormLegend]

Wasn't Need For Speed Underground Night time only?

I'm pretty sure it was.

[Retroman]

MY U.S. VERSION has daytime only UnderGround 1/2
you must have European version with night time only.

im playing Underground ps2 right now i see nooooo night time driving.

[TKCMuzzer]

This seems odd, I was in the beta and found there to be a ridiculous amount of customization options plus you could tweak the handling to suit your style far more than most racers. I don't know, maybe the reviewer just didn't find these options.

[IRetrouk]

Yeah i was in the beta too, loads of customization, more like underground 2 than anything else and yes even the handling is customizable. Dont understand this reviewer lol

[C-H-E-F]

Some cars have 8 different front bumpers others had 2, so this is probably what he is referring to.

[steve30x]

Theres loads of customisation but the handling is very odd. I play arcade racers , Sim Cade , and sim racers but this has to be the weirdest of them all. I can not get used to the cars weird handling.

[woutervanjel]

What the hell is everybody talking about? You can fine tune every cars handling.. This is the first race game that finally got it right.. I can change the handling whenever I want to try something different. Haven't you guys played the game at all?

[steve30x]

@ woutervanjel : Ive played about 20 hours of this game and I've done all kinds of adjustments to the handling and nothing makes it feel good. It feels as if the controls are oversensitive and the car steers when you steer but the car grips way too much and its almost impossible to drift the car without it wanting to hit the wall. Also pressing the handbrake almost stops the car on the spot as if all four wheels lock up and the tyres are glued to the road. I did like most of the game but the car handling , lack of pause , lack of the ability to restart a race and if you lose you have to go back to the race start point instead of quick travelling or giving me an option to restart the race and unskipable cut scenes ruined the game for me.

[darren_poolies]

I played the beta, the handling was fine and the customization seemed pretty in depth. But what do I know, I'm no "professional" games journalist.

[Spenok]

So I personally don't play racing games, but I keep up with the industry, this video at the 1:25 second mark says the car customization is pretty in depth.

I'd look at reviews from trusted websites, not ones from sites most have never heard of like Gadgets.ndtv (who the hell are these guys lol)

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

And while I wouldn't exactly call NX Gamer a "trusted" source, they at least have some video to back it up.

Just a heads up.

[BigBosss]

Played the beta and it surely does bring back nostalgia moments from the Underground series. I love the game personally and cannot wait to play it and I know, the whole only online thing sucks.

PS. 6 is a low score, I'd give it 8.5 to 9.0

[DarkOcelet]

You cant give it an 8.5 or 9/10 from a beta my friend :D

[BigBosss]

I meant from what I have played, seen, etc haha.

[The93Sting]

I think the reviewer hasn't played much of the game to start with, 6/10 is freakin low comparing to what we've seen so far from the game, its an easy 8-9/10 from what we've seen alone. not a 6. that is pathetic to be honest lol

[ocelot07]

@The93Sting you can pretty much say that about any game then. Last year I thought Assassin's Creed Unity looked like a 10/10 then once released it was more like a 6. Same thing for The Order and Sun Set Overdrive.

[TKCMuzzer]

Of course you can from a personal point of view. In fact the beta was very polished and contained a lot of content, so yeah you could make a judgment from it, I did.

[BoriboyShoGUN]

That night only definitely gets old quick!!! It was fun for a little bit, but after a while it just isn't what Underground was :(
Part of racing games is driving while enjoying the visuals, kind of hard to do when it's always night. And yeah the lack of traffic and people just makes it boring.

[Mr_GoolyPunch]

Underground was always night though?

[BoriboyShoGUN]

Thinking back you might be right Gooly, but I don't know it just doesn't have the same feel. I'll get it a little later when it drops in price.

[woutervanjel]

You were younger.. Maybe you're getting boring.

[Whirlwind_Fanfare_08]

The customization system could've been better in this game! i found the vinyl editor annoying to use because it had nothing showing how large or small my sticker was and i couldn't mirror it to where it'll appear on the other side of the car, no number showing what size rims you putting on neither and no weight reduction, but still found myself messing with cars more than actually playing the game. The car lineup(just like in every NFS game)is great! not perfect, but great.
Impressed with how the graphics of it looks and the car detailing. And this, imo is where i really have problems with it during the beta! dead environment which made the game feel boring to play, no manual transmission(which is being investigated according to EA) and no offline single player. Good game, but with too many flaws! a 6/10? maybe a 6.5!

[BoriboyShoGUN]

you can mirror the vinyls it's just a pain in the rear! The possibilities are crazy but they definitely didn't make it easy.

[GiantFriendlyCrab]

EA has destroyed all their franchises

[Hoffmann]

And they destroyed a ton of franchises by companies they bought as well.

I don't buy games from them now since around a decade. Beside Dead Space 1+2 in the last generation, and Burnout 3-4 nothing on the Playstation 2 and 3.

[Pl4sm4]

dont forget sim city ... ahh god that was a quick and horrible death to a great franchise and its studio D:

[WellyUK]

Hate on EA but they still make good games... Mass Effect 1-3, DA:O and DA:I, DS 1 and 2, BF:BC 1 and 2, BF3, PvsZ Garden Warfare (Massively underrated game) and Titanfall.

There is hating how EA go about their business then there's just pure stupidity, they have published a lot of great games and highly rated ones. They have however destroyed some very well loved games which may not of happened if they weren't owned by EA.

[RiseofScorpio]

Mass Effect would have ended way better if Bioware was still with Microsoft. EA has ruined pretty much every franchise they have.

[WellyUK]

Still doesn't change the fact Mass effect 3 was great up until the last 5 minutes... May of had a poor ending but most games now a days seem to have poor endings according to the internet.

[DOMination-]

Casey Hudson ruined it, not EA

[Lennoxb63]

I agree. But nowadays its popular to hate on anything that has a huge following or a big business.

Look at the iPhone. There's nothing wrong with the iPhone. But people hate on it because people its so popular.

[annoyedgamer]

ME 3? DA:I ? lol and such a small list you have for such a large publisher. Cherry picking much?

[mezati99]

So from my understanding this game has:

No offline
No justification for no offline
No pause
No drag racing
No manual transmission
No cockpit view
No wheel support

Yep, i am out

[WellyUK]

It's not a sim... So what were you expecting? Forza?

[Double_O_Revan]

Something as simple as cockpit view has been in NFS for as long as I can remember. Its just laziness.

[boing1]

I do not recon cockpit view in nfs except for shift. Care to shed a light?

[Whirlwind_Fanfare_08]

News flash @WellyUK, it's not burnout either. How come every damn time ppl ask about why manual transmission is not included in the game is this answer:it's not a sim! such a ignorant reply.
Jeez!

[Afreelunch]

boing1, even the very first NFS released in 1994 had a cockpit view. Not all of them have it, though. Definitely not a deal breaker for me.

[steve30x]

Just because its not a sim doesn't justify the weird handling that I have never experienced in any type of racer which includes Arcade racer , Simcade or sim. Also it does not justify the lack of manual gears. The rest I did like in the beta and 10 hour trial.

[UnR34L_DEAF]

When Need for speed reboot revealed, like it will be underground game. I was excited about it because Drag mode was most fun._. It is not in Need for speed reboot... Look bright side, there will have no season pass or micro-money. Hope in the future they will add drag mode.

[BoriboyShoGUN]

He's not asking for much. That list is basic racing features, this is a perfect example of why these companies get away with this BS. I was super pumped for this game but after the beta I think i'll hold out for a little bit.

*Yeah Whirlwind I don't get it either. Since when is manual transmissions for sims only??? PS1 and PS2 games had maunual transmissions!!!!

[georeo]

Also no online play with friends! All you can do is just do free mode with friends.its pretty sad.

[Pl4sm4]

that moment when the very first need for speed had at least a cockpit view xD

[Lennoxb63]

The reboot has a front bumper view.

[Bassmint]

No manual transmission??? fuuuuuu!

Do they think it's too hard for casuals to shift up and down gears or something..

[RiseofScorpio]

Played the trial on EA access. The live action is a little weird and cheesey, but the always online kills any chance of me buying this game. Just so annoying when you can't pause the game to check options, messages etc.

[MasterD919]

They've had so many attempts at a reboot of the series...maybe it's just time to hang it up.

[Retroman]

They don't need to hang it up what EA need to do is return "NEED FOR SPEED" tool kit back to either EA Canada (the first developers) or back to Blackbox studio that made Hotpursuit 2,Underground 1 an 2, Mostwanted......

im like you guys im tried of the Crapfest.

[Knushwood Butt]

Watched someone streaming this last night.

I'll pass.

Coincidental pun.

[iichiva]

I hope the other reviews are going to be better, i have faith in this game!!

[Retroman]

If you have faith in this crapfest then you must love
prostreets
undercover
The run
Criterions hotpursuit,mostwanted,rivals.
EA have NOT!!! made a decent NFS since blackbox studio MOSTWANTED.

EA in the works for "need for speed 2" movie haaaaaa good luck with that shyite EA

[deadfrag]

Hope it flops badly maybe them they start listening to fans.

[The93Sting]

Didn't they listen though? For customization and tuning?

[emad-E-three]

An Always On game is far from listening to fans!

[The93Sting]

@emad
I agree, but they brought back customization, which is something we've always wanted since Carbon 2006. but yeah the always online thing pretty much kills it for me sadly.

[Jon61586]

I'll wait for other reviews before passing jusgement.

[georgenancy]

watched a few streams and yeah the game doesn't seem good.Those cut scenes are so cringe worthy

[captainexplosion]

I played it for a couple hours and thought it was incredibly boring. The night racing and cut scenes drive me crazy.

[TwoForce]

Look like EA killed the franchise.

[FlexLuger]

Hm...Ill pass. Will play it when its free on access.

[BoriboyShoGUN]

Yeah I guess u Xbox guys have that going for you. Just wait and play it later. I'd probably do the same if I could. #CopsNice!!!!

[SynestheticRoar]

Another sorry year for need for speed. EA you suck.

[Kingoftherodeo]

got to play it free with ea access. the acting on this game is so bad like i just wanna smack the characters, not to mention your phone does not stop ringing characters call you back to back after a race. the handling is nice i do like the drifting but where are the cars? coming from forza this game feels empty you hardly run into the cops and when you do is easy to lose them.

nothing special about this racing game forza still the better racing game

[pwnsause_returns]

so you're telling me that that Rivals , a game that came out 2 years ago is better than this? wow....

[GardnerPL]

Sadly I read the review and I found this author is totally ignorant about need for speed. And the review is useless and wilful distortion. It is a shame such biased review article can publish on media.

Limited customisation? This one has the most detailed customisation since need for speed underground 2. You can individually change body parts，you can edit your car paint layers, you can change many of your car handling option.Your can step and step ungrade your car performance.

Yes, you can't the rims on a Ferrari. But how can this shortcoming become the overall verdiction that the whole game customisation is limited?

To be fair, need for speed 2015 has far more customisation options than Forza, DriveClub, The Crew,etc. So many real world aftermarket brands can add on your car. Ironic, this best features is deliberately distorted as "limited".

Poor handling? Have your been played need for speed carbon and hot pursuit(criterion games)?Need for speed have different handling styles. Your can change the handling in detailed. This is the first need for speed that your can can change your handling style to "Blackbox-like" or "Criterion games-like". This author didn't spend time in tuning car handling and trying to find the best zone. From many of my friends who play the beta, this one handling can be tuned as very like the old underground or the recent Rivals.

"What's the point of having cars you wouldn't expect, like boring, pedestrian Volvos, if you can't soup them up? " If you don't like Volvos, just do not select this car into your garage. If you like super cars, you can select Lamborghini or others.The old need for speed underground has far more pedestrian cars than this one. Many people like pedestrian cars. And if you know something about the real world customisation, the majority of customisation is based on low end car,not super cars or exotics. Please learn some knowledge about car culture before you write this article.

And finally this less serious author give 6/10. I am shocked. This need for speed is definitely the best nfs of the years. You can see the people's reaction on facebook, twitter, youtube. Majority of them are very postive, especially for the old fans who are coming from the underground era.

Of course, the review is subjective. But as I write above, if a game media author lack of basic knowledge and respect about the game background and related culture background, what he writes is worth nothing!!! It makes people feel shame.

[static360]

I think they might have just done this review to get traffic to the site, shock factor brings in views

[MilkMan]

I'm a little disappointed with the nighttime only driving but it suits the theme of the series. Ok I get that. But there are a TON of customizations, I've seen them on the streams. It's pretty insane. So much so that I hesitated to woNier if I wanted to play. I want an arcade racer this looked more like Grand Torismo.

Also, low traffic count is also a bit of a let down. I'm hoping that when you play, the feel of it all, how it all comes together as a package is worthwhile. The parts (as it where) are not making me super excited.

[reallyNow]

I dont mind the night. I do mind the wetness. Is it always raining in this game?

[EazyC]

We need Midnight Club and Burnout back. Badly...

[FN4GM]

Who is Gadgets 360?

[mEATgrinder]

Your mum

[static360]

who ever they are, their credibility just went to shit really.

[starsi360]

Played the beta, the cutscenes are so bad it amazing no-one actually said "ok guys, this is shite, let's go back to the drawing board"

But the real killer for me is the always online/no pause combination.

No pause option ruined NFS Rivals for me. People need to pause the game as lives are busy... the number of times something would happen like I'd get a knock on the door 10 minutes into a police chase, and can't pause! FFS!

What is it with games these days, I feel they are trying to be too clever - I want to be able to play a standard single player version of the game and if I CHOOSE TO then jump online for races etc. I think Forza Horizon 2 got it right! Loved that game.

This unfortunatley won't get my money for these reasons, I'll wait for it to go in the vault, or pick it up for a tenner down the line.

Shame, NFS has been one of my favorites in the past - Most Wanted being the highlight (The original Most Wanted, not the Criterion one)

[GMW]

Why doesn't EA just do a remake of the original "Road & Track presents Need For Speed" with today's graphics and car line up?

I loved the way I would be racing then slow down as soon as I had the radar go off due to a parked police cruiser up ahead. I would then speed up after passing him/her so that I would not be chased down. Of course I had the option of just blasting right past and hoping for the best but that option meant you could race using different styles.

In a 'today' setting. They should include sleeper cruisers with no marking but maybe some outline of hidden lights, use the current range of actual police cars etc. The thrill would be racing from point A to point B and the goal being to reach there 1) without getting caught and 2) finishing ahead of your opponent.

I even remember there being a traction control system which was useful on the forest snowy roads where the advantage would have been using a 4WD car. There is a lot they can play with to keep it interesting. No need for over the top action, just some real substance and a mix between arcade and sim in handling which is something Driveclub has done particularly well. Now that I think about it, we should get Driveclub Policechase as an add on! LOL!!! That would be interesting seeing how good the quality is of the Driveclub Bikes expansion.

[static360]

What was it that this reviewer was smoking? Lack of "customization" options? This is easily the most customizable NFS to date, other racing games doesn't even come this close.Either this guy barely played the game at all or is just an idiot. The fact that you can't change rims on ferrari is because it is ferrari, it's a licensing issue most likely. Even if it is't so what? you have ton's of other cars in the game you can customize the shit out of to your hearts content. This review just kinda prove the shitty review so called game reviewers churn out nowadays

[D3athc3ll]

Preorder cancelled!!

EA sucks!

Well, lets hope Fallout 4 will be great!