Criterion Games hasn't given a Nintendo format any love since Burnout 2 on the GameCube. That title was by far the best version of publisher Acclaim's high-octane city racer and it launched a good eight months after the PlayStation 2 version with improved framerate, textures, particle effects and controls. Since then continents have shifted (possibly) and lifestyles have changed (definitely) but Criterion's relationship with Nintendo hardware is eerily similar. We're all set to get a jacked up version of the nitrous-fuelled racer that came out on other consoles six months ago.
Need For Speed: Most Wanted is a re-imagining of EA's 2005 multiformat release, but while it borrows liberally from the main gameplay themes, everything else is brand new. The city of Fairhaven is a mixture of downtown grids and interstate freeways leading out into hilly mountain passes and looping back through giant industrial parks. It's a cleverly designed city that will always hold secrets, no matter how long you spend tearing round its streets.
When hooked up to the internet Fairhaven is always plugged in and ready to roll. By which we mean you're constantly being compared to every other racer out there. Every power slide, near miss, slam, takedown, jump, billboard smash and security gate demolition earns you 'SP' and is immediately added to your total.
Your score is uploaded and available for all to see as part of Criterion's Autolog 2 system. If you pass a speed camera it'll have a big banner above telling you who holds the speed record. If you hit a ramp you'll be reminded who grabbed the most air. It's a sneaky and irresistible play on human nature, because you just know you'll want to smash your friends' scores. Being unable to extract enough speed from your ride gives you the impetus to upgrade, which can be done in one of two ways: Jack Points and Takedowns.
Within 15 minutes of exploration you'll have enjoyed the nippy mischief of the McLaren F1, the brutish roar of the Bugatti Veyron and the wyvern-like rage of the Lamborghini Aventador, leaving you free to experience the game as it was meant to be: at high speed.
This begs a question though: if access to these kinds of motors is granted at such an early stage, why try harder? The answer is simply because even these high end supercars just aren't good enough by themselves to make you the most wanted racer. You'll be set an open challenge very early on: defeat the Hennessey Venom GT and one of the best cars available is yours, but in a cruel, Ridge Racer-esque tease, it's way out of your league, streaking ahead into the sunset.
Really really looking forward to this,I'm kinda edging towards getting this instead of Monster Hunter this weekend.
Well since I've played the PSV version to death, and the fact that the PSV is getting no love with the DLC, if I had a WiiU, this would be one of the first games I get for it.
However, you say the Police are annoying, I've already managed to break them in two different places so that they become useless and unresponsive. And no backup will be called for at least ten minutes after. However, they did get their revenge by crashing into me than arresting me.
All in all, a good game worthy of a purchase, no matter how unfair some of the challengess might seem.
Counting the days to it's release
Still going to get MH3U as it was the sole reason for my ownership of a Wii U, but this will be my next purchase for the system.
However, I am quite concerned with the lack of analogue triggers on the GamePad, so I might go and use the Wii Remote for this one.
It's in the post, hopefully I'll be playing it tomorrow!
I have it on PS3. It's definitely not essential, but still really enjoyable.
THANK YOU TOM OR WHOEVER UPLOADED THIS! Right, I'll read the review now!
Nice review Chandra. The game, as you've described it, sounds exactly how I thought and hoped it would be! Definetley gotta pick this up at some point, I enjoy racing games to be fair (from MK and F-Zero, to Forza, F1 and, of course, NFS) Criterion Games sound like an awesome dev team though!
Oh you'd be amazed at what Criterion have produced.
I have it preordered, and I'm glad it seems (so far at least) to be the best version... But I want to know why the online is now only 6 players and not 8 like on other consoles.
I find it somewhat funny that multiplatform sites doesnt mention with a word the graphical or performance enhancements in the WiiU version in their reviews. While in games like Batman (which did have some minor performance issues) they made sure none could miss that fact.
The final score and verdict surprised me.
I tried to buy this today in the metro center as in your magazine 21st of march was the release date in game thay didn't even no this was coming oout untill thay checked their book and then when thay realised it was told me thay weren't stocking it same with h.m.v and granger games
sounds great! loved burnout 2. any idea when the demo is out for it?
its quite obvious these major game sites are owed or heavily influenced by competitors!
Excellent!!! Now this is what we need to see. Games that show the amazing potential of the Wii U whilst improving on the original versions. Now let's see more of this.
Fantastic racer, one of the best I ever played, and amazing, smooth graphics! Recommended 100%!!!
As had this on Ps3 I knew this would be great, however Criterion deserve a lot of credit, this is Not just a port, its a New Version on WiiU, and the best, not just graphically.
Also liked the fact my speed points, over 8 million of them and my freinds from the ps3 version got imported via origin.
Ive heard (on miiverse actually) that this game is really hard to come by in retail shops that is so I'll try to find this online
ONM need to investigate but I heard there been some sort of distribution problem.
However the eStore DL is £45 for the 7gb download or shopto has copies in stock for £40
http://shopto.net/videogames/wiiu/WIIUN ... ost-wanted
I hope Wii U owners pick up this game - they've been moaning about have no good games and now there finally IS one.
It will prove to publishers that the Wii U is viable for 3rd parties as long as the game quality is excellent and considering this is the best arcade racing game on a Nintendo platform since Burnout 2 and F Zero GX - it should sell like HOTCAKES.
Certainly as a Nintendo fan I have felt deprived of decent racing games since the SNES - which is disgraceful.
If this title bombs I can see EA withdrawing even more support for Wii U releases - and you know what? They would be totally right.
I read quite a few that mentioned the graphical improvements.
Luckily enough Nintendo had the sense to put in 1GB of graphics memory which allows for more hi res textures and lighting FX than rivals. This is actually the only area Wii U can command a lead on the Xbox and PS3 as they all seem to share similar polygon performance - with the ps3 easily the most capable in the best hands.
But at the end of the day it's still 720p and while it is impressive for the current gen games consoles - the Wii U will look so outdated when the next gen arrive.
Must- have game on Wiiu for fans of racing games.Bit tough,but graphically superb,good use of gamepad.This release so early in WiiUs life promises a lot for the future.Wiiu gives us On-gamepad play,backwards compatibility,Ninty only titles,both boxed and online games,graphics that are plenty good enough thankyou,online apps.A superb future for Ninty and Ninty supporters.
I assume this is a shortened version of the magazine's review, and in the mag you mention the handling model and how good/bad it is under the thumb, as I can't seem to see any mention of it in the text on here.
If I missed it, I apologise and will of course book myself in for an eye test with Specsavers.
Anyway, 45 quid on the eShop is quite reasonable. I got Burnout Paradise for 43 spondooli second hand not long after its release on the 360, and I'm still playing that. Sooo... I might just invest...
Couldn't decide between getting this or Lego City Undercover, i went with Lego City....needless to say i made a mistake, Lego City is BORING!!!
I have nfs most wanted for xbox and it is great, no doubt will it be better on wii u
Nintimdo...Are you Mad lol.Lego laughs at "boring".