VGDomain: Why I Hate Need For Speed

After seeing the Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit trailer again yesterday, I started thinking about why I cannot stand the older NFS games. I decided to sum up my distaste with the series in a quick article. I am very optimistic that Criterion will whip this franchise back in place, because it has been resting on its laurels for too long.

[Glorshnob]

I just hope by getting criterion on the project it doesnt become even more arcadelike

[nix]

i just hope they bring back the magic that Most Wanted series had. and offline mp too...

[KozmoOchez]

...it will be arcadelike again, or so I hope, but Burnout Paradise was awesome so I don't see a big issue with that

[deepmovievoice]

i still prefer burnout's arcade style to need for speed's. NFS tried to be serious and arcade-y, and it never really worked, hence, Black Box got pulled from developing it

[comp_ali]

Until shift , NFS games were always te same , they just replace the blonde in each game.

[KozmoOchez]

Because the old NFS games are nothing like the ones that came out on ps3 and 360 lately..or ps2 for that matter. Go look at the original Need For Speed games on ps1 and pc. Look at the old hot pursuit games, porche unleashed - those play differently than those newer ones.

Underground was great when it came out and underground 2 was a bit more meh. Then there was most wanted which was a bit better...then came carbon, and it went downhill from there until Shift. But the newer ones since underground are not the same as those old NFS games.

I feel NFS: Hot Pursuit will do well, but I won't go crazy over it until I see more gameplay and possibly get my hands on a demo

[deepmovievoice]

Thats because in 2001 EA Black box started making them. Thats why. Now that they have changed developers, maybe the game could suck less

[MyUS_ARMY_CPTRespect]

I love nfs underground 2 is better than 2004-2010 failed race suck.
I remember all game failed may Pull lose money and play ugly game: Pro Race, Shift,
and undercover. I not really Undercover where no drift :(.
My favorite Underground 2 one. Fk EA will fail again.

[lzim]

what would have been better then NFS Paradise? or NFS Underground 3 (forcing Criterion to make a real sandbox racing game with first person elements).

[deepmovievoice]

I think burnout paradise was a better sandbox than anything Black box had done

[R6ex]

Shift is the only NFS racer with any meaning to people who drive real cars.

Hate the unrealistic arcades.

[GMWPS3]

NFS 1 was the best. I believe it was called "Road & Track presents: The Need for Speed".

It was fun thanks for its simple yet alluring offering.

The fun started with some cool video of some cool sports cars spinning, speeding and basically what you imagine a sports car to do. This was further followed with more detailed info of each car and a car specific video of the said car showing it in motion, going sideways, or handling well etc. This all set the tempo for the excitement of your race to follow.

It had a selection of some of the better known sports cars and super cars of that time.
Mazda RX7, Honda NSX, Porsche 911, Toyota Supra Twin turbo, Corvette ZR1, Ferrari Testarossa, Lamborghini Diablo etc.
There were some stereo typical tracks: Proving grounds (to test high speed), Autumn Valley (to test handling), Alpine track (twisting roads going up and down like you were in the Alps with a bit of snow thrown in for good measure), a ocean side road, and one set in the desert (grand canyon setting).

So basically the cars were supposed to handle as close to reality yet remain arcade like in ease of control. You could switch traction control on or off (which I tested in the Alpine course where you could barely accelerate up a snow covered grassy hill with one wheel in the snow and one on the tarmac unless the Traction control was on.

Then there were police cars on certain stretches of road, so you either had to slow down to the speed limit as you passed them then speed up again or keep the pedal to the metal and hope you can reach the finish line before they can catch you. Catching you involved showing you a ticket or even a video of you being taken to jail. This added a good small dose of strategy and adrenaline pumping fun. All cool stuff.

I really wish they would go back to this game's format and just tune it for the current gen of consoles and retain the magic that made that first game so nice. Maybe they should work with Road and Track again? This would provide some nice, fun, arcade like driving without be so unrealistic in the handling department.

I would have a car list from the current sports cars & super cars as follows: (No normal family cars! GT5 - I love you but I'm looking at you!)

Mercedes-Benz C63, BMW M3, BMW M5, MB E63, Audi RS6, Audi RS5, Subaru Imprezza STI WRX, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, Ferrari Italia, MB SLS, Lamborghini LP 670 SV, Buggati Veyron, Koeniggsegg xxx,etc

Then upgraded tracks in the same theme as the original ones with mainly point to point races and a few tracks.

Dynamic weather, and Day/night would top it all off.

They shouldn't forget the police nor the cool videos of each individual car!!

I'd buy this to complement GT5!!

It was all simple and fun.

[Jamaicangmr]

I can never really say i hate N4S as the case is each year it's a different game. There is no certainty that the sequel to the N4S you played this year will be even remotely similar to the one you will be getting next year.

I thought Shift was a good game and thought they where gonna continue with that formula instead we are getting HP2. Am not complaining however as i loved N4S:HP1 but my point is one can only dislike the series on a per game basis as they are constantly changing it.

Much like Final Fantasy but the changes are way more drastic.

[deepmovievoice]

I didnt even like shift! and launching at the same time as forza it was a no brainer. They even gave you both demos to compare

[Gran Touring]

I've been playing NFS:Shift for PC and really enjoying it. It's not quite the simulator but still a lot of fun to play. I haven't really played any other recent titles since the old hot pursuit games.

[Glorshnob]

I just havent really liked NFS lately, they just do not compare to the other games in the racing genre, especially this console generation. NFS was great way back when, and helped open the market for the arcade driving sim, but I feel that their competitors are more compitent these days and their games bring more.

[GodsHand]

I always loved NFS: Porche Unleased on the PC. Don't know if it ever cam eout on a console, but was pretty awesome drving game to play. I still like Underground for the consoles. But I can't say I ever played the new stuff, maybe when I get the time, I will pick up the news most wanted game coming out.