Need for Speed: Most Wanted - A Criterion Game

 PC
User Score
4.5

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 1020 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 254 out of 1020
  2. Mixed: 249 out of 1020
  3. Negative: 517 out of 1020
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  1. DenizYAZICI
    Aug 17, 2023
    5
    1)oynanış/mekanikler 7
    2)yapay zeka 2
    3)grafikler 7
    4)müzikler 8
    5)atmosfer 1
    6)hikaye 3
    toplam puan 4,6
  2. erfunfazli
    Aug 8, 2023
    7
    It was a good experience and it was fun. I think this is not great but it's an acceptable open world racing game.
  3. FRIST_008
    Aug 4, 2023
    3
    Что это за хрень? Как вы могли так назвать эту гонку? Где тут хоть одна связь с серией nfs? Оно ещё и крашит вечно
  4. The_D4RknesS
    Nov 24, 2022
    2
    This game is a mediocre copy of the amazing BURNOUT PARADISE, I give it a 2 just because the gameplay is better than NFS 2010
  5. Taiark
    May 28, 2023
    8
    If youre expecting this game to be like the 2005 one, move on, this is not it. If youre looking for a decent NFS game, this is for you. Most of these reviews are because of its name, if the name wouldve been diffrent this game wouldve probably been positively rated.

    This game reminds me a lot of burnout, so if youre a fan of that, this is your game. I really like the game, ive played    If youre expecting this game to be like the 2005 one, move on, this is not it. If youre looking for a decent NFS game, this is for you. Most of these reviews are because of its name, if the name wouldve been diffrent this game wouldve probably been positively rated.

    This game reminds me a lot of burnout, so if youre a fan of that, this is your game. I really like the game, ive played every nfs from 2003 to 2022 and this one is one of the most enjoyable ones, atleast for me.

    Pros:
    Engine sounds
    Soundtrack
    Summer feeling (especially with the soundtrack)
    Car list (nice balance)
    Grapics
    Small detail but the realistic exhaust gasses are always nice to see when revving (which you will with those engine sounds)
    Cops, or most likely the heat system, 1 is easily escapeable, 6 is hell, but you wont get to 6 if you dont want to.
    Cutscenes, nice n epic, but can also be trippy.

    Mid:
    Dlcs, lots of dlcs.
    Story, let me describe. "Heres a list, get points by doing whatever, probably races because thats what gives the most, when you beat someone with points, race them, destroy thier car to own it, move on to the next guy."
    Handling, like it and dislike it.
    Performance custimisation
    "Found a car? You own it now"

    Bad:
    Copsystem, they give WAYYYY to little points for what youre doing with them
    Progression, just seems a bit dull and unfinished.
    Visual custimisation

    Thats all i could think of now, i genereally like this game, but theres defo better nfs titles. Defo worth a try if you have EA play.

    Have a great day!    … Expand
  6. DiyarAdo
    May 25, 2023
    10
    Very underrated title. Graphics, soundtrack, car selection, handling and the sense of speed are phenomal. The upgrading system is surprisingly fun and I like the open world very much, there are many shortcuts, jumps and diverse roads to take. Very much replay value.
  7. blimpsgo180
    Mar 27, 2023
    5
    Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012) features the most deplorable thing in this industry: micro-transactions. I have long warned people that micro-transactions can run up a bill that is anything but “micro,” and if you’re buying a game, buy it outright and full, not “freemium” or in other words “free now and pay later.” A NeoGAF message board user informed me that Need for Speed: Most WantedNeed for Speed: Most Wanted (2012) features the most deplorable thing in this industry: micro-transactions. I have long warned people that micro-transactions can run up a bill that is anything but “micro,” and if you’re buying a game, buy it outright and full, not “freemium” or in other words “free now and pay later.” A NeoGAF message board user informed me that Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012) was free years ago on Electronic Arts’ digital storefront, Origin, and I claimed my copy. Playing it now, years later, I have learned that Electronic Arts wants me to pay thirty dollars for all the content of this game, or spend five dollars here and there on the content I really want.

    I did play the game Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012) start to finish, with the exception of downloadable content. It’s actually a pretty good driving game. It was developed by U.K. developer Criterion Games, who made their mark in the game biz with the Burnout series, where you crash cars for the thrill of it. Many would say Burnout Paradise was their peak game in terms of quality – Burnout Paradise Remastered is part of EA’s subscription program. Though I spent only a couple of hours with Burnout Paradise, I understood the idea. It’s a massive map filled with challenges for fictional cars. Some challenges ask that you crash your car as severely as possible. Some challenges ask that you win a race.

    What sets Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012) apart is we now have licensed cars. You can get a Maserati, a Ford, a Dodge, a Chevy, a Porsche, a Lamborghini, and more. And true to Criterion’s signature style, you can crash cars and watch the replay. For those interested in history, this is significant. As far back as I’m aware, the game Gran Turismo had many makes of real licensed cars, but there was a catch. No car company wanted to see damage to their vehicles. You could drive straight into a wall, and the car would simply stop. It was a very powerful move from a very powerful auto industry. Most Wanted (2012) upended this tradition.

    Yes, you do get the replay, but no car crash is an objective in the game, with the exception of the “Most Wanted” cars. To earn a Most Wanted car, you have to beat that car in a race, and after the race, run the car off the road by bumping into it. After that, you’re free to drive it. There are ten Most Wanted cars, including your own. That said, there are cars everywhere in the game, with the logo of the car’s maker floating above the car. It’s usually parked in a visible area off of the main road.

    When you own a car, you can enter it into races, of which there are eight. I really have to give Criterion credit: the races are hard. Races are ranked Easy, Medium, and Hard, and even the easy races are still hard. This is polar opposite to a series like Forza Motorsport, where every race is stupidly easy. If you place first or second in a race, you get one to two upgrades for the car. You have to suspend disbelief. The police might set spike strips to slow you down, and a common upgrade is tires that automatically re-inflate after going flat.

    The police are a big part of this game. Often, one of your challenges is to evade the police. If you ever drive so fast and maneuver so deftly that you aren’t in the police’s line of sight, you enter a cool-down period, until they just give up looking for you. I’m not one to run from police, and always felt a little uncomfortable in these moments. It’s worth saying Criterion put a lot of work into cinematic scenes before the start of a race, like playing with the color of a city and its skyline, or watching your opponents levitate before racing. It can be silly, but it’s touches like this that give the game a little personality.

    Again, if you beat the other nine cars on the Most Wanted list, you win the game. The credits roll, and it’s a lot of credits. The soundtrack, which has ample space in the credit roll, was largely forgettable. Of course, the game never really ends. You can keep finding new cars, racing them, and upgrading them until there are no more upgrades. The real problem, is the game gets formulaic. That is the exact process: get a car, upgrade it in every possible way, and get a new car. There’s a multiplayer aspect where you can challenge your friends, but my friends don’t have this game. Also, there’s that thirty dollars’ worth of downloadable content (DLC), but after seventeen hours of a simple formula, I know all I need to know about this one.    … Expand
  8. Thanuja
    Mar 11, 2023
    9
    Although it’s not up to its predecessor in story-wise, it had a fun gameplay. Graphics are generally good for the time. Also, car list and map is good. It’s a solid game if you don’t compare it to its predecessor.
  9. xcale
    Mar 6, 2023
    6
    Somewhat playable or let's say worth to spend some time but definitely nowhere near as a lock you in front of the screen like before.
  10. k1erx
    Feb 27, 2023
    9
    игра прикольная оптимизация есть не понравилось то что быстро проходиться но такого как сюжет там и нет и это очень хорошо вышло
  11. DonldTrump_45Th
    Jan 26, 2023
    5
    Hello, this is a default review because i'm forced to use 75 characters. I'll edit this review in the future talking about the game, don't worry ;)

    My final rate is: 5
  12. VeuxVIP
    Jan 25, 2023
    0
    The worst nfs without a doubt, they decided to throw away the whole concept of the game they had just before E3, and decided to take burnout paradise, make it sh*t in its entirety with the worst possible gamplay offered and put an nfs skin on top of it. And to conclude it has a horrible fanbase and the online is bullsh*t.
  13. Giero
    Jan 4, 2023
    4
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  14. bar0yka
    Dec 5, 2022
    2
    tam bir hayal kırıklığı çocukken ne düşüncelerle almıştım aw me çıkmıştı yine sinirim bozuldu 3 verecektim ama 2 veriyorum aminakoyum
  15. Tibetskiy
    Dec 3, 2022
    6
    It would be a false advertising to name this game after original NFS most wanted. There is no story, no customisation. The police chases are fun, but no where near the level of chaos of 2005 blackbox game. Graphics are beautiful. Great variety of cars. Crash cam is cancer, that make faster cars undrivable. Overall game isn't that bad, it plays more like a burnout, than need for speed. IfIt would be a false advertising to name this game after original NFS most wanted. There is no story, no customisation. The police chases are fun, but no where near the level of chaos of 2005 blackbox game. Graphics are beautiful. Great variety of cars. Crash cam is cancer, that make faster cars undrivable. Overall game isn't that bad, it plays more like a burnout, than need for speed. If you aren't expecting direct sequel to 2005 most wanted, than you'll get yourself quite decent racing game. Not without flaws of course, but still a fun experience .… Expand
  16. Soullex
    Nov 15, 2022
    4
    Neden böyle bir oyun var ki....................................................
  17. Alpha10
    Oct 20, 2022
    7
    Good racing game with superb graphics but lack of story makes it boring but can be played if you are car lover.
  18. UI-4054
    Jul 15, 2022
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is the feeling when the developers of the once-perfect demolition-racing Burnout Paradise managed to collaborate with the idiotic NSF line since 2010, where you drift along the track with drift and the speed only increases. Sandbox does nothing to save this game from a low score, sadly… Expand
  19. Nnrej
    Jul 11, 2022
    6
    many bugs and slow framerates made this game not as enjoyable as it could have been
  20. Username4102
    Jun 27, 2022
    8
    This game is great, but the customization and upgrade system is terrible. As for the customization, there is only the color and upgrades that you get only in races. Players can't spend cash, only collect it after stunts and chases. Cars can be found randomly rather than brought in. The developers have created great cars. In fact, I think they could have improved the game, and this gameThis game is great, but the customization and upgrade system is terrible. As for the customization, there is only the color and upgrades that you get only in races. Players can't spend cash, only collect it after stunts and chases. Cars can be found randomly rather than brought in. The developers have created great cars. In fact, I think they could have improved the game, and this game would have become one of the best games in history.… Expand
  21. hydroquaqua
    Mar 19, 2022
    10
    _не понимаю людей которые ровняют игру с асфальтом, тратя уйму времени в игре, ради отрицательного отзыва, чего вы ожидаете? в жанре! нет сюжета, тюнинга нет - плохо! Need for Speed Most Wanted 2012 г., это вызов стать первым, со своей задачей игра справляется на 100%

    _i don't understand people who equate the game with asphalt, spending a lot of time in the game, for the sake of a    _не понимаю людей которые ровняют игру с асфальтом, тратя уйму времени в игре, ради отрицательного отзыва, чего вы ожидаете? в жанре! нет сюжета, тюнинга нет - плохо! Need for Speed Most Wanted 2012 г., это вызов стать первым, со своей задачей игра справляется на 100%

    _i don't understand people who equate the game with asphalt, spending a lot of time in the game, for the sake of a negative review, what do you expect? in the genre! no plot, no tuning - bad! Need for Speed Most Wanted 2012, this is a challenge to become the first, the game copes with its task by 100%    … Expand
  22. DKRedDragon
    Feb 21, 2022
    0
    By far the WORST NFS that I have ever played in the total history of NFS. this was a bare bones and pathetic attempt at producing a NFS game. The Steering Mechanics/Latency was/is so bad that I just quit playing after an hour or two. Seriously pissed off that I spent money on EA again releasing some non-AAA game with a AAA Label on on it. The only thing that can be said about this game inBy far the WORST NFS that I have ever played in the total history of NFS. this was a bare bones and pathetic attempt at producing a NFS game. The Steering Mechanics/Latency was/is so bad that I just quit playing after an hour or two. Seriously pissed off that I spent money on EA again releasing some non-AAA game with a AAA Label on on it. The only thing that can be said about this game in a positive note is: that the visual graphics are clearly "upgraded" for the time period that it came out, guess that's where all the money went............. and 10 years later, much like todays games.
    Big Label Triple A Games like this Clearly don't care about Honor or Integrity anymore.

    Anybody waiting for NFS 2022 Shouldn't Hold Their Breath, Considering the unethical practices that have been implemented into their games let alone the firings, the poor state that EA willingly decides to leave games in and the compulsive lying for for what they offer in the purchase of their game.    … Expand
  23. vova22379
    Dec 18, 2021
    0
    ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
  24. Benden
    Dec 17, 2021
    4
    Bad game. Played the 2005 one and I loved it.
    Got this one for free and I'm disappointed : I confirm it sucks.
  25. heisenberg_88
    Nov 24, 2021
    10
    Played this game a lot , but it gets boring over the time .
    Cars look beautiful . Environment is beautiful .
    soundtrack is amazing .
  26. Gorbunov2004
    Aug 10, 2021
    2
    Эта игра настолько убога что она просит настроить геймпад хотя в игре он функционирует нормально, но играть мешает огромное табло в котором написано что геймпад не настроен почти во весь экран. А как я тогда езжу дебил это делал. Геймпад то оригинальный за 4 тысячи деревянных так в чём проблема! И ещё что интересно А что касается игра это хлам, почему чему хлам потому что здесь нетЭта игра настолько убога что она просит настроить геймпад хотя в игре он функционирует нормально, но играть мешает огромное табло в котором написано что геймпад не настроен почти во весь экран. А как я тогда езжу дебил это делал. Геймпад то оригинальный за 4 тысячи деревянных так в чём проблема! И ещё что интересно А что касается игра это хлам, почему чему хлам потому что здесь нет тюнинга, машины теперь покупать даже не надо просто ищи по всей карте. Мотивации проходить игру нет вообще так как это было в оригинальной
    NEED FOR SPEED: MOST WANTED и там и правда было желание вернуть машину и отомстить Рэйзеру.    … Expand
  27. nari_kutti
    Jul 2, 2021
    0
    please for the love of god don't buy this game, its that bad. This is not a nfs game and this is not similar to the original most wanted.
  28. Resul_Emre
    Jun 30, 2021
    0
    The controls suck. The mission schedule is terrible . The only good thing about the game is that it has a Nissan in it . Graphics are good . But instead of playing it, play NFS 2 Underground.
  29. karcael
    Jun 11, 2021
    5
    Oyun pek iyi değildi. Düzgün çalışmadığı çok zaman oldu. Hikayesi herhalde o kadar kötüydü ki hatırlamıyorum bile. Bu oyunda hikaye var mıydı?! Grafikleri fena değil, oynanışı kötünün iyisi.
  30. TheFlameBoy4
    Jun 1, 2021
    1
    This game has the WORST CAR HANDLING EVER. It's literally unplayable because of that. When I played it, I wanted to throw my PC out of the window and jump myself. I just hate it so much.
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Awards & Rankings

63
#63 Best PC Game of 2012
28
#28 Most Discussed PC Game of 2012
22
#22 Most Shared PC Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Nov 30, 2012
    60
    Just pick one of the beautiful cars, hop in and drive. But do not want anything else. NFS: Most Wanted is average fun for all car lovers. [Dec 2012]
  2. CD-Action
    Nov 29, 2012
    70
    Most Wanted works best when you treat it like mobile games – switch it on for 15 minutes, do a random race with a random car and then turn it off. It's a good arcade racing title closely resembling Burnout: Paradise but it's not exceptional. [CD-Action 13/2012, p.52]
  3. Worth Playing
    Nov 25, 2012
    92
    Most Wanted's biggest strength is that it feels like a cohesive whole, rather than some amalgamation of a reboot tacked on to another game's engine. The gameplay emphasizes as little downtime as possible, which is a good thing as it's an absolute blast whether or not cops are involved. It's not a reboot as much as it is a reimagining of the original game, taking the bits that worked and wrapping them in a completely new package. Surprisingly enough, it does so in a way that works, and the new Most Wanted ranks up there with the original.
    Read full review
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