Need for Speed: Most Wanted 5-1-0
Score: 90% ESRB: Everyone 10+ Publisher: EA Games Developer: EA Games Media: UMD/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Racing/ Racing (Arcade)/ Mission-Based Driving
Graphics & Sound: Hollywood has failed the sequel test on so many occasions that I think we all come to a sequel fairly jaded. As a contrast - and some may disagree, but I welcome the debate - I think the gaming industry has done a better job of mastering the art of the follow-up. Need For Speed is a mature franchise, with several good titles under its brand over almost every platform. NFS: Most Wanted 5-1-0 is definitely a move forward in the game's evolution, without sacrificing the qualities gamers enjoy. Great graphics have always been a part of the franchise, and NFS: Most Wanted on PSP is no exception. There isn't a fair comparison with Midnight Club, in terms of having photorealistic environments to drive in, or cities modeled down to the streetcorner level. But, NFS: Most Wanted manages to create a very fast, track-racing feel in urban and outdoor settings that are credible. From skid marks on the road to sparks that fly and destructible elements along the track, the immersion factor for graphics is high. The interface is good and loads fast, which was my pet peeve in Midnight Club. Where I did feel nostalgic for Midnight Club was in the musical offering. NFS: Most Wanted manages to include some good tunes and a neat track browser that is separate from the game, but was low on the number of tracks available and the styles represented. I also would have liked a more robust tool within the game to manage music during play.
Gameplay: Midnight Club certainly conveyed the illicit nature of street racing, but NFS: Most Wanted 5-1-0 is really all about running from John E. Law. The excitement of the driving, which is palpable, sometimes takes a back seat to the thrill of running from a pack of Smokies out to bust you and take your ride. As to why NFS: Most Wanted stands out from other racing games with cops? It's the A.I., stupid! The cops on the road are consistently the most aggressive and have the best cars, compared to the A.I. of other racers. Cops will also lay roadblocks in front of you to up the ante. If you get slowed down or stopped on the road, a countdown time starts and 3-2-1, you're busted! The theme of building up a car in Career Mode may be stale to some by now, but NFS: Most Wanted presents a large list of licensed cars with tons of options to unlock. By racing stage challenges and beating boss racers, you can earn the money to pimp your rides. There are measurements in addition to money, such as respect points and your ranking on the "Blacklist" with other outlaw drivers. These rankings open up the field to other challengers, and also unlock bonus races that weaker players won't see. Rather than have dumbed down A.I., NFS: Most Wanted takes the high road by offering good players a good experience and better players a better one. If Career Mode seems unwieldy, there are plenty of quick race options, including the chance to race as a cop (fun), and outrun the cops in a do-or-die scenario. Timed races and multiplayer also offer further depth in the game. The multiplayer has a huge amount of possible customization, letting the "host" build up to a four player wireless competition. Bots can substitute for human players, so between 2-4 players can play under the same mode.
Difficulty: NFS: Most Wanted 5-1-0 does a nice job of ramping the player up on each level, with the first few stages containing some pretty wimpy drivers and soft tracks. I was holding my breath for the first boss, but he was a creampuff. There are more than enough bosses to make for a decent challenge. By the time you reach the first one, you'll most likely have upgraded your car, and you'll need to save your winnings to purchase a nicer ride if you hope to compete. Buying performance upgrades is easy, and the interface shows what you already have and what is available to buy. Tips are put on screen during the game, and there is even a "tip browser" buried in the main menu in case you want to review tips that flashed during loading screens.
Game Mechanics: The controls for the game are buttery smooth and the interface in-game is really nice. I found the racing screens a little crowded, but not so much that it is a distraction from the track. Several different configurations for the main controls can be selected and the range of options available when starting a multiplayer game boggles the mind. NFS: Most Wanted doesn't make you work hard in order to get started playing. I don't think I've seen a slimmer manual for a game that had so much under the hood. Even navigating the garage is easy, and there are minimal load times, which is a huge plus always. The music browser is forgettable, but may be a nice addition for people who have a favorite artist or three here. I would have said spare the time on the browser and just get more music in the game, but... As with most of the PSP wireless games, connecting with other players is nothing more complicated than navigating to the Multiplayer menu, choosing setup options and some of the groundrules. This is a sweet ride, and in a photo finish with the obvious competitor, Midnight Club, I found myself wanting NFS: Most Wanted to win on the basis of a smoother interface and less annoying load time. Really, they are both awesome games, and anyone who enjoys good arcade racing with the tuner angle should make sure to add both to their library. If you are a fan of the franchise, be sure that NFS: Most Wanted is a worthy heir to the throne.
-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock
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