Need for Speed: Unbound – Review
In “Need for Speed: Unbound,” the Need for Speed series returns. Furthermore, “Need for Speed: Heat” was released three years ago, making this an extended gap between instalments. This one, however, was created by Criterion Games rather than the now-defunct Ghost Games, which was instead converted into a support studio. Despite the turbulent years that passed in between instalments, “Unbound” is now widely considered to be among the series’ finest entries.
Curiously, Criterion wasn’t able to devote all of its free time during the hiatus to Need for Speed. Kieran Crimmins, the game’s creative director, told us that, with Criterion’s help, the game took about as long to make as previous Battlefield games (i.e. less than three years).
We can’t be certain, but this seems to explain the striking similarities between “Unbound” and “Heat,” another Ghost creation. The basic concepts of balancing grip and drift styles and on-road and off-road advantages, as well as most of the customization, are all very similar.
In contrast, Criterion has perfected what Ghost established, mending what was broken and improving the functionality of the rest. Also, that was a brilliant plan of action.
We noticed an immediate improvement in the game’s performance. There is a significant decrease in load times. The frame rate never drops below 60 fps, even at 4K. (we played on PlayStation 5). This is fantastic not only because it allows you to jump right into the action with much less delay than before, but also because it greatly aids in making the game feel and play faster. The new Need for Speed is lightning fast.
The graffiti-inspired visuals and cel-shaded characters look great during gameplay. Having a game that more closely resembles Capcom’s “Auto Modellista” in its dedication to this aesthetic would pique our interest in Criterion’s abilities. If the next part manages to push the envelope even further, that will be a success.
The quality of driving is also vastly enhanced. Early on, cars still have some heaviness and a slightly understeering tendency, but these issues are quickly addressed through upgrades, leaving drivers with a much more responsive vehicle. Moreover, the unusual tap-brake/gas-to-drift mechanic is no longer required. If you prefer the game to control more similarly to other racing games, you can disable that feature. You can use much less throttle and brake to fine-tune the car in corners, and you can start drifts with much more handbrake.
There has also been an update to the boost mechanism. You can now activate as much or as little nitrous as you like, whenever you like. Similarly to the slipstream boost in Midnight Club and Grand Theft Auto games, there is a new “burst” nitrous function that increases with drafting, drifting, passing traffic closely, and other similar manoeuvres. You’ll only have a limited amount of time to put it to good use after earning it, though. In addition, the longer you charge it, the higher the maximum speed will be that you can achieve. It’s a cool new wrinkle that gives races more depth and strategy.
It’s not a bad thing that the game’s career and gameplay paths are so reminiscent of Heat. Standard sprint and circuit races, time trial challenges, police chases, and a plethora of collectibles can be found all over the map, providing a healthy dose of variety. You can earn money and/or unlock new customization options for your character no matter what you do. Cash flow is also reasonably stable. You’ll have plenty to make improvements and keep your car competitive, but you’ll need to work for it. Unlike in some Forza Horizon games, you won’t find yourself so flush with cash and freebies that they lose some of their value.
This also touches on a couple other big improvements. One of them is the map itself. Lakeshore City is the new location, and like the previous city, it takes many cues from Chicago. This not-Chicago offers much better variety of roads and views with both winding country roads and dense, tight city courses. You can also take the “L” and explore the city’s upper and lower roads (seriously, this is just Chicago). Particularly, they can provide shelter from the police helicopters.
Hence, we arrive at the other major snafu: the police. The overbearing law enforcement in “Heat” was a major plot point that nearly derailed the action. They were seemingly capable of seeing through buildings, and were overly adept at keeping up with your car — even going monumentally fast speeds. Because I knew I couldn’t evade pursuits once the heat level hit two, I usually cashed out. The police force has become much more reasonable recently. You can easily outrun and outmanoeuvre slower units, and you don’t have to worry about getting unfairly pushed back by the spawn rate of new units if you decide to take them out when fast units arrive. However, they aren’t easy to intimidate. Level 4 and 5 heat chases are still challenging, but I’ve managed to get away from them a few times.
The only real downside to the cops is that their presence grows as the game progresses, making it more difficult to avoid initiating chases when you’d rather be wandering around. To prevent police from immediately giving chase, you should get the “radar jammer” upgrade.
That basically sums up all the adjustments. You can stop stressing over establishing your “reputation.” These days, cash is the only acceptable payment method. Furthermore, law enforcement is present at all hours of the day and night, and getting caught means forfeiting your money. Other than that, the game is largely unchanged, which is fantastic. Numerous models from Japan, Europe, and the United States are available on the list of automobiles. It’s possible to modify just about every aspect of your ride, from the exterior to the engine and suspension. To top it all off, the engine noises can be adjusted to your liking and are among the best I’ve heard in a racing game. The game also has fantastic visuals. It’s not a huge leap forward from “Heat,” but the improved performance will make you forget about that.
At long last, “Unbound” is a breath of fresh air. The entire single-player story mode can be experienced even if you don’t have an active internet connection. There isn’t any kind of wacky loot box system for unlocking upgrades or any other microtransaction items to worry about. The creators have even stated that more free DLC is planned for the game.
Despite the title, “Need for Speed: Unbound” does not represent a revolutionary step forward for the series. This game, however, fulfils the promise of previous Ghost Games projects. Criterion took the best parts of those games and improved upon the parts that needed it to create the best Need for Speed game in years. Starting this Friday, December 2nd, it can be purchased for the regular price of $69.99 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox One (both Series X and S). For an additional $79.99, you can purchase the “Palace Edition,” which includes more items for your character to wear, cars that have already been customised, and money to use in the online mode.
