Review
Played on: Xbox OneReleased: 2015
There's no shortage of Need For Speed titles within this huge racing franchise. It spans all the way back to the early days of 3D racing in 1994, on the ill-fated 3DO console. There's been a lot of sub-racing genres represented throughout it.
This latest instalment, from 2015, aims to reboot the entire franchise into something new. Perhaps, a little close in time to the release prior to it. One can ask ourselves if the series could have needed a longer break. However, this reboot turns out to be quite a solid racer under the bonnet.
NFSs appearance is perhaps it's most innovative feature, while the rest of the structure is more typical for an open world NFS title. Situated in a huge city, you're a new member of an underground racing league. Rivalling gangs roam the streets and illegal street races are the way to make a statement and climb the ranks.
It's not exactly rocket science and the story within is represented in some cheesy, but intentionally so, movie clips with actual actors. The cutscenes are so over the top, they actually become quite funny. Bringing back memories of older 90's EA titles with similar cutscenes. Tongue in cheek and intentionally exaggerated they become a nice way of moving the story forward and introducing the characters in the story.
The actual driving feels very solid this time around, there's a nice meaty sound to the cars and they control with a more realistic grip to the tarmac. The far more arcade oriented approach of recent NFS games, have all had this floaty drifting mechanic in comparison. This time around, the physics engine is somewhere between arcade and simulation, but closer to the latter.
There's a wealth of tuning and styling options too, more so than most other racers. Letting you dig into setting up the car both visually and mechanically, just the way you want it. For casual players though, you can simply tune the car by pulling a slider bar from drift to grip, as your preferred car handling.
Much like how the Forza Horizon games allow you to drive a certain type of car or specific model, without forcing you into cars you don't prefer, NFS2015 lets you hold on to your favourite car for long periods of time. Allowing you to tune it up to compete in faster races.
NFSs appearance is perhaps it's most innovative feature, while the rest of the structure is more typical for an open world NFS title. Situated in a huge city, you're a new member of an underground racing league. Rivalling gangs roam the streets and illegal street races are the way to make a statement and climb the ranks.
It's not exactly rocket science and the story within is represented in some cheesy, but intentionally so, movie clips with actual actors. The cutscenes are so over the top, they actually become quite funny. Bringing back memories of older 90's EA titles with similar cutscenes. Tongue in cheek and intentionally exaggerated they become a nice way of moving the story forward and introducing the characters in the story.
The actual driving feels very solid this time around, there's a nice meaty sound to the cars and they control with a more realistic grip to the tarmac. The far more arcade oriented approach of recent NFS games, have all had this floaty drifting mechanic in comparison. This time around, the physics engine is somewhere between arcade and simulation, but closer to the latter.
There's a wealth of tuning and styling options too, more so than most other racers. Letting you dig into setting up the car both visually and mechanically, just the way you want it. For casual players though, you can simply tune the car by pulling a slider bar from drift to grip, as your preferred car handling.
Much like how the Forza Horizon games allow you to drive a certain type of car or specific model, without forcing you into cars you don't prefer, NFS2015 lets you hold on to your favourite car for long periods of time. Allowing you to tune it up to compete in faster races.
Sure, you need to buy some of the faster models at one point, but it helps get you more familiar with each car.
The game takes a personal approach to owning each car, it's about tuning and styling it into your own personal racer, rather than owning 500 cars in your garage. In fact, you can only store a handful of cars at one time in your garage, further emphasising that it's about making a unique ride. It's a refreshing approach, and while the car selection is fairly slim, it's a varied enough selection across various car brands to cater for most motor enthusiasts.
The whole game shows a more direct and clear goal as to where they want the series to go and what it offers. The NFS series has jumped around so many aspects of racing genres, it's been difficult to retain a sense of direction and affiliation with the series as a whole. You simply had to try out each title to see if the style and gameplay suits you. Mostly, the previous entries have focused on cops vs. street racers, resorting to the overused Hot Pursuit formula.
NFS 2015, however, approaches a darker and more gritty night scene visually, a cinematic approach to it's presentation and focuses mostly on the actual racing. It does have cops roaming the streets and roaming the map though. The main game feels more like real street racing, with a raw feeling to each car, combining excellent motor sounds and top end visuals.
Sure, NFS2015 doesn't reinvent the wheel, pun not intended, and there's nothing fundamentally new here. There's a fairly generic main map, tons of races set up in an uninteresting manner. However, the cutscenes, graphical style and presentation and more narrow focus on the dangers and thrills of street racing brings it into a more unique package than previous entries.
The small roster of cars makes up for itself by offering lots of variation to cater for motor enthusiasts and the customisation will really allow you to make a personal car, should you want to put hours into it.
I'll recommend this racer over the NFS titles of recent years, it's a great visual treat for those seeking to see the best nighttime cities in any racer to date. While Forza Horizon 2 and 3 are far more packed with cars and varied races, I highly recommend those over this NFS. But, if they're already in your collection, well, then NFS2015 is definitely worth checking out.
It's a solid racing package and a great effort at making Need for Speed relevant again. If only it didn't get so damn repetitive in the long run.
The game takes a personal approach to owning each car, it's about tuning and styling it into your own personal racer, rather than owning 500 cars in your garage. In fact, you can only store a handful of cars at one time in your garage, further emphasising that it's about making a unique ride. It's a refreshing approach, and while the car selection is fairly slim, it's a varied enough selection across various car brands to cater for most motor enthusiasts.
The whole game shows a more direct and clear goal as to where they want the series to go and what it offers. The NFS series has jumped around so many aspects of racing genres, it's been difficult to retain a sense of direction and affiliation with the series as a whole. You simply had to try out each title to see if the style and gameplay suits you. Mostly, the previous entries have focused on cops vs. street racers, resorting to the overused Hot Pursuit formula.
NFS 2015, however, approaches a darker and more gritty night scene visually, a cinematic approach to it's presentation and focuses mostly on the actual racing. It does have cops roaming the streets and roaming the map though. The main game feels more like real street racing, with a raw feeling to each car, combining excellent motor sounds and top end visuals.
Sure, NFS2015 doesn't reinvent the wheel, pun not intended, and there's nothing fundamentally new here. There's a fairly generic main map, tons of races set up in an uninteresting manner. However, the cutscenes, graphical style and presentation and more narrow focus on the dangers and thrills of street racing brings it into a more unique package than previous entries.
The small roster of cars makes up for itself by offering lots of variation to cater for motor enthusiasts and the customisation will really allow you to make a personal car, should you want to put hours into it.
I'll recommend this racer over the NFS titles of recent years, it's a great visual treat for those seeking to see the best nighttime cities in any racer to date. While Forza Horizon 2 and 3 are far more packed with cars and varied races, I highly recommend those over this NFS. But, if they're already in your collection, well, then NFS2015 is definitely worth checking out.
It's a solid racing package and a great effort at making Need for Speed relevant again. If only it didn't get so damn repetitive in the long run.
