Need for Speed: The Run

 Xbox 360
User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 194 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 96 out of 194
  2. Mixed: 44 out of 194
  3. Negative: 54 out of 194
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  1. hendryxx1
    Feb 11, 2023
    10
    This is one of the best Need For Speed ever, the history isn't something trivial, you can feel that you are the person behind the flywheel. The quick-time events are horrible, yes, we know that but there are just a few of them, and in exchange, we get a relatable history and the feeling that something is happening because of your actions, you are not just a weird guy on hist 30s trying toThis is one of the best Need For Speed ever, the history isn't something trivial, you can feel that you are the person behind the flywheel. The quick-time events are horrible, yes, we know that but there are just a few of them, and in exchange, we get a relatable history and the feeling that something is happening because of your actions, you are not just a weird guy on hist 30s trying to look great, you are in danger, you feel even more danger than in Most Wanted.

    The thing that I most like about this game is the feeling of the country, you feel the change between the USA, and I recall how much I was excited every time when I saw a region change.
    I really loved the night, I really felt the stress of the competition, in every race you have to be the first, you have to get the best times, and you have to change your car because of the new state, It was awesome, if you think in this game as a stand-alone game, you are going to love it, most people hate it because you can't personalize your cars or because of there are not many changes in the gameplay, but they have to admit that this game alone is one of the best (Maybe just behind Most Wanted) NFS games ever.    … Expand
  2. YokoHugo
    Aug 1, 2022
    8
    Kmomojoommkmomomomomomomojokomjomomomomomomokomojomomojomojomomomomkmomomkmkmkmkjknknkmkkjojojonjjjjj
  3. JJ2FAS4U
    Dec 28, 2021
    7
    Atmosphere: 8
    Enjoyment: 8
    Gameplay: 7
    Graphics: 8
    Music: 5
    Story: 6
    Total: 7.00
  4. Kostas101
    Oct 11, 2021
    5
    A very flawed racing game, car customization is almost nonexistent, controls are not that good, the handling is decent but clunky, and the story is bad, but to be honest, I did enjoy the game... well, kind of, it's just an average racing experience.
  5. CloudStrife05
    Aug 19, 2021
    8
    A game that truly split gamers in half lol. I enjoyed it for what it was. A quick, to the point chase from Coast to Coast.
  6. frederik1478
    Jul 5, 2020
    8
    Now my second favourite driving game of all time, 3 hour-long campaign is an amazing right when you are going for coast to coast in America and it's gonna be awesome
  7. Numerik
    Jun 20, 2020
    10
    The Last real need for speed game form EA Black Box those who brought the franchise to his apogee.
  8. lordvader0210
    Dec 19, 2019
    8
    Un muy buen juego, con bastante autos y con buena jugabilidad pero la historia se hace un poco corta y en dificultad difícil en algunas etapas es casi imposible pero en otras es muy fácil, bastante rara la fluctuación de dificultad... Igualmente hay lugares donde te reinicia el auto porque supuestamente salías de la zona de la carrera, eso es bastante molesto ya que si sales un poco de laUn muy buen juego, con bastante autos y con buena jugabilidad pero la historia se hace un poco corta y en dificultad difícil en algunas etapas es casi imposible pero en otras es muy fácil, bastante rara la fluctuación de dificultad... Igualmente hay lugares donde te reinicia el auto porque supuestamente salías de la zona de la carrera, eso es bastante molesto ya que si sales un poco de la pista te reinician la posición del auto… Expand
  9. gamingisgreat
    Sep 20, 2016
    7
    Need For Speed The Run is a good game.

    The gameplay is great,with solid,if at times cheap,AI.The physics are arcady but the cars still have a good amount of weight to them.The tracks are also well designed.There are some great helicopter escape sections,and racing through the rockies as rocks collapse onto the road just makes for excitement. The graphics are simply incredible,though    Need For Speed The Run is a good game.

    The gameplay is great,with solid,if at times cheap,AI.The physics are arcady but the cars still have a good amount of weight to them.The tracks are also well designed.There are some great helicopter escape sections,and racing through the rockies as rocks collapse onto the road just makes for excitement.

    The graphics are simply incredible,though the framerate hitches occasionally.

    The sound design is good,with a decent soundtrack to back it up.

    The game is way too short however. The entire game can be completed in under 2 hours,which really holds The Run back.

    Overall,NFS The Run is a good game,but could have been great had it been a bit longer.    … Expand
  10. Carles
    Oct 11, 2015
    5
    Good idea, but poor implementation. It's a shame, because the idea is really good, but only 2 hours of game it's really poor. Graphics and textures are really bad, and the handling of the cars is not perfect. I give for that game 5 points because of the great idea.
  11. ASGaming21
    Feb 12, 2015
    7
    Well the game plays like a movie. I like the action, the graphics and the music, but it only took me 2 and a half hours to finish it. Also the QTE's are annoying. Sorry, but I'm going back to the NFS Underground era
  12. callumjsouth
    Dec 6, 2014
    5
    The game feels too much like an action move. It is over scripted and gives you little freedom if any to make your own decisions. The racing is up to scratch as you would expect but the weight of the game's let downs overshadows any positive aspects.
  13. AlphaBomb
    May 19, 2014
    8
    The handling is smooth and the drifting dosnt feel too easy. The game is short but is still fun online and the challenges. Some people complain about the costomisation but it is a million times better than hot pursuits only paint customisation. It is a fun game that you should get if you want a short burst of nfs. Oh and the crashing thing is dumb where you have to restart the last sectionThe handling is smooth and the drifting dosnt feel too easy. The game is short but is still fun online and the challenges. Some people complain about the costomisation but it is a million times better than hot pursuits only paint customisation. It is a fun game that you should get if you want a short burst of nfs. Oh and the crashing thing is dumb where you have to restart the last section but you would spend most time online where you don't have to worry about it.… Expand
  14. Razv
    May 17, 2014
    4
    Not the worst NFS game I've played, but still pretty bad.

    Let's start with the positives: - Very good graphics. The cars, the landscape, the effects, all combine well into this very complex visual experience. Top notch. - It has a story behind it. Even though a not very complex one, I love the fact that the game has a story behind it. And then the negatives: - Disgusting A.I. How    Not the worst NFS game I've played, but still pretty bad.

    Let's start with the positives:
    - Very good graphics. The cars, the landscape, the effects, all combine well into this very complex visual experience. Top notch.
    - It has a story behind it. Even though a not very complex one, I love the fact that the game has a story behind it.

    And then the negatives:
    - Disgusting A.I. How is it even possible to develop such terrible A.I. in a 21st century game is incredible to me. How did no one think that this is a bad idea.
    The opponents are poorly scripted and make the game a constant frustration. If you are behind, the opponents wait for you so you can catch up. If you are in front, they are flying. Constant frustration.

    - The driving feels poorly designed. I know it's Need For Speed so I'm not expecting simulator driving, however, let's at least hint in that direction. It's like you're driving a spaceship in a 90s game, not a modern day car.

    - Loading times. Wow. If I wanted to finish the race without using any resets and I had to restart the whole race every time I made a mistake, I had to wait about 2 minutes after every mistake. About 2 minutes! And if I choose to play hard, I will probably make some mistakes here and there.

    I'm not very picky when it comes to car games, but still, disappointing.    … Expand
  15. Chrisracer8903
    Dec 6, 2013
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game was disappointing. There are things you want to like about this game, but there's a lot of garbage you need to go through to come across the best moments.

    The campaign: It took me only 2 hours and 5 minutes! I can't replay my favorite races without replaying the entire "chapter". Each chapter has painfully short races with devastatingly long loading times. The resets add even MORE frustration to the momentum of racing. Example: I wait 2 minutes for the race to load, just to drive an inch off the shoulder lane, then to wait ANOTHER minute for the reset to place me 2 miles back to where I came from. This is a terrible and frustrating design that makes replaying favorite races too troublesome to even bother!

    The soundtrack is good, and the car sounds are good, but that's about it.

    The environments look good with good variety, however, the "races across the county" is a lie. The courses that they claim are somewhere like "Denver, Colorado" or "Rushville, Nebraska" are nothing more than open maps with events played as different courses within the same map to act as if you are traveling across the country when actually you are playing the same course BACKWARDS! Many of the events your going down the same road in different directions and routes while claiming you are in a new location when you are in the same place! How did Black Box/ EA think they were going to get away with that?! Half of the environments look great road-side, but lack depth (Mainly the Eastern-US MAPS) which I think is from the Frostbite engine. Except for the western locations, the courses don't give a sense of distance like it is seen in Hot Pursuit (2010).

    The car selection is good, but I cannot choose them (Outside of the gas station method), can't do quick races, can't choose courses/ weather, just not a lot of options outside of the career and challenge mode. Where are my options?!

    Overall, this game is one large step back in the series compared to the year prior (Hot Pursuit) and is nothing more than a glorified coin-op game, not worth $60, and the DLC doesn't improve the experience.

    Scoring 4: (2 for the locations and 2 for the soundtrack).    … Expand
  16. sammydeedge
    Apr 1, 2013
    4
    As a gamer, I have never truly been a racing fan, aside from the odd burnout game. The Run in some ways is a nice game as it can be forgiving when it needs to be, and can at time give the illusion of being good at driving. Whilst the campaign got me excited to see the mission through to the end, the novelty ended there. Repetitive missions (well it is a race game, but I would haveAs a gamer, I have never truly been a racing fan, aside from the odd burnout game. The Run in some ways is a nice game as it can be forgiving when it needs to be, and can at time give the illusion of being good at driving. Whilst the campaign got me excited to see the mission through to the end, the novelty ended there. Repetitive missions (well it is a race game, but I would have preferred more of the 'stunt' scenes), with QT events and pseudo plot showing off the pointless characters did nothing and might as well have been avoided. It's a nice way to burn an hour or two, but nothing spectacular.… Expand
  17. SuperNacho
    Nov 13, 2012
    10
    You feel like you're travelling in America, the car physics feels like arcade-simulator, and it's very awesome. How you can't like it?!
  18. agent101
    Nov 13, 2012
    10
    Best NFS ever with detailed world and things from Underground, cool music and atmosphere, also has good style-story on background.....................
  19. Jobadkins
    Apr 28, 2012
    10
    Plain and simple,perfection for a game that was made near the end of 2011.At this time and age for arcade racers there is nothing even close,This is the best arcade driving video game I have ever played and one that has strong legs for infinite replay value,just to beat your friends top score by a tenth of a second.Awesome stuff!10
  20. GidBix
    Apr 9, 2012
    8
    I think the most important thing to know about this game is that it is short. I completed the game on easy in 4 hours. Had I paid $60 for this game, I would have probably hated this game. Since I got it for $20 and knew it was short, I found the campaign to be fun. The cars really give you a visceral experience as you race across the country. Definitely more of a rental, but I still had aI think the most important thing to know about this game is that it is short. I completed the game on easy in 4 hours. Had I paid $60 for this game, I would have probably hated this game. Since I got it for $20 and knew it was short, I found the campaign to be fun. The cars really give you a visceral experience as you race across the country. Definitely more of a rental, but I still had a lot of fun with it.… Expand
  21. MegWhiteley
    Mar 13, 2012
    4
    The worst game of the saga, is horrible, and terrible, have much mistakes, the controls are okay, the graphics amazing, the music, gameplay is boring, this title is same that the other Need For Speed Titles.
  22. ADobbo
    Feb 17, 2012
    5
    I bought this game the day it came out. I payed the full price and I have to say it is not worth it. The characters are introduced to you and have a detailed background story which you would think would play apart, they do not. It is like me telling you the entire history of Peugeot and yet not even having Peugeot in the game, it is absolutely ridiculous. However, the race itself is funI bought this game the day it came out. I payed the full price and I have to say it is not worth it. The characters are introduced to you and have a detailed background story which you would think would play apart, they do not. It is like me telling you the entire history of Peugeot and yet not even having Peugeot in the game, it is absolutely ridiculous. However, the race itself is fun and going from back in the 200s and throughout the different regions of America that is good. The graphics are outstanding and probably the best I have seen in a racing game to date. The national parks are depicted just as they would look in real life. Unfortunately many big car brands such as Bugatti are left out of this game and you are left to pick from the rest. This game is just over 2 hours long for the main campaign which is quite humourous for a game of today. The challenge series is just something to do if you are in the boredest state of mind possible. The multiplayer is good fun and a big step up from Hot Pursuit in some areas such as the voting system. I also like the constant gap which you can see how far ahead and behind someone you are in seconds constantly throughout a single player or online race. Overall this game is defininitely worth a rent or a buy if it is cheap enough as the graphics are something which is incredible.… Expand
  23. P4YTNET
    Jan 23, 2012
    7
    Need For Speed: The Run is one of the first games to run on the Frostbite 2 engine, and from the very beginning you can tell it is different from any other Need For Speed game. In some ways that is a good things, and in other ways it is very, very bad.

    The premise of the game is that your character, Jack, is on "the run" from a large crime organization as well as the police for offenses    Need For Speed: The Run is one of the first games to run on the Frostbite 2 engine, and from the very beginning you can tell it is different from any other Need For Speed game. In some ways that is a good things, and in other ways it is very, very bad.

    The premise of the game is that your character, Jack, is on "the run" from a large crime organization as well as the police for offenses that are never fully explained. After some button-mashing and a frustrating chase scene, you actually start driving on the open road. Everything is fun and great, until all of a sudden it's not. Unlike previous Need For Speed games, The Run has a Rewind feature which enables you to restart from the previous checkpoint if you wreck your car or run off the road. The problem is the circumstances that cause you to restart are extremely inconsistent. On some tracks you can cut corners and overcorrect if you run drive a little off the track, on others it will reset you if you run half a foot off the road.

    It is not all bad, however, as the graphics on the game are among the best of any racing game out there. Overall, the gameplay compares with the best Need For Speed games such as Most Wanted and Hot Pursuit, but it is not quite there. It is very straightforward with no kind of "Free Roam" option, and while the multiplayer is fun for awhile, there is only so much utility you can get out of it, especially after you earn all the achievements.

    Although the game was relatively short at two and a half hours, I did enjoy it while it lasted, and I plan to pick it up again soon and try to earn the rest of the achievements. If nothing else, this game will help you make friends to compare your times on your Speed Wall!

    More reviews at P4YT.net    … Expand
  24. DarrkHawk
    Jan 14, 2012
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Could someone possibly explain this game to me? I understand that you have to drive from San Francisco to New York but why? I somehow feel like the Need for Speed franchise is going backwards. I would much rather play the Need for Speed Underground on PS2 than this. At least in that game you can customize your cars to your desire instead of using pre-sets.
    I appreciate what EA have tried to accomplish in this game but what they have actually done is made the game worse. Instead of having the game take place in an open world environment, they create a "cross country race" which is just basically different variations of the classic Sprint events. The only real goal in this game seems to be in a certain position when you get to specific states. Even with that it cannot be failed as you HAVE to finish first in each event to proceed commonly gaining 10 positions a time. I am sorry but this does not make a racing game. EA should just have made the game a 2,500 mile sprint and it would sell just as well (and would probably be more entertaining) or even just call the game "Need for Speed GumBall".

    Not an AWFUL game but extremely poorly designed.    … Expand
  25. unabatedshagie
    Dec 21, 2011
    4
    After playing Hot Pursuit I was excited when I heard this was being released. I wish I had waited for the reviews before I purchased. Only good thing is I didn't pay full price for it.
  26. SpartanEdge
    Dec 18, 2011
    9
    Despite the fact that The Run is by the same makers of the abysimal Need for Speed-Undercover,I was looking forward to this game before release.It suprised me however by being one of my favourate games of the year,which is saying alot considering how good this year has been for games.This is basically the game i was hoping the disappointing Need for Speed-Most Wanted would be,but wasnt.InDespite the fact that The Run is by the same makers of the abysimal Need for Speed-Undercover,I was looking forward to this game before release.It suprised me however by being one of my favourate games of the year,which is saying alot considering how good this year has been for games.This is basically the game i was hoping the disappointing Need for Speed-Most Wanted would be,but wasnt.In fact its the closest game to coming back to the roots of the early great NFS games,such as The very first on the NFS on the 3DO,Saturn & PS1,Road Challenge & Most Wanted 2.The very over arcadey handling & pace of Most Wanted didnt sit well with me,& not very 'Need for Speed' at all in my books,it was more a cross between Burnout & Outrun.So i was glad to see the The Run has much more technical handling than Most Wanted.Dont get me wrong,the handlings not up to Forza's handling(mores the pity),but it requires more skill than Most Wanted,requiring a good approach & exit to corners,throttle control & proper braking for corners.It may be more technical & realistic than Most Wanted,but that doesnt mean the game isnt as exciting,in fact it blows away not just Most Wanted,but any game this gen for excitment.Its genuinely the most exciting racing experience i've had for years!.. The reported 2 hour campaign is not entirely accurate either.I can understand why people may say that,as the in-game timer says it a bit over 2 hours,but in actuallality i timed the story literally by stopwatch,which revealed that the ingame timer doesnt take many things into account.So much so,that my recorded time(credits not included)lasted 6 hours & 17 minutes! So dont worry about story length,& that doesnt even take into account re-plays to improve your times against your friends on Autolog & just for the fun of it(& this game is a hell of alot of fun),The challenge modes,& multiplayer,So theres definately ALOT of entertainments to be had with this game.Some people have criticised the use of QTE events in the story.I have no problem with it at all,& is all part of the story.Besides would you rather just watch a cutscene,or take part in it? i know which i'd rather do.If anything,i'd have liked more of them..
    Now to the negatives.No split screen play is unforgivable in a racing game,Tut Tut black Box! Also the multiplayer,while fun with having traffic to negotiate with items also to unlock,is very limited however,in that all you can really do is multiplayer matchmaking,be it with friends in your group or not.It would've been nice to be able to do a private race with friends,& one on one races would've been exciting.
    All in all,i like what Black Box have done in this game.Great,exciting open-road racing against other racers & traffic on long & varied public roads,with decent semi-realistic handling & highly exciting gameplay.But EA/Black Box,if you do a sequel(& i hope you do)please put in Split Screen,The Ability to do private races,& how about this? The option to do the story with friend,both of you trying to win The Run against the other racers,& each other.On OR offline.Now imagine THAT!...If this game had those things,it would have been a 9.5 or 10 for sure.    … Expand
  27. baddeadtaste
    Dec 16, 2011
    9
    I originally gave this game an 8 on the PS3 version which I also own but I have to give it a 9 here for the online play alone!! I had not spent as much time with the PS3 version online hence the score of an 8. This game is fantastic online. Tons...I mean tons of cars to unlock, challenges to complete and stuff to earn! The tracks are great and varied. The campaign is a little short andI originally gave this game an 8 on the PS3 version which I also own but I have to give it a 9 here for the online play alone!! I had not spent as much time with the PS3 version online hence the score of an 8. This game is fantastic online. Tons...I mean tons of cars to unlock, challenges to complete and stuff to earn! The tracks are great and varied. The campaign is a little short and boring otherwise it would get a perfect 10 from me. If you enjoy racing online DO NOT MISS THIS GAME!!!… Expand
  28. DANDEIN
    Dec 14, 2011
    8
    Very good game. I was expecting something like this. If you like arcade racing games similar to Burnout or cruisin- usa series, this is a very good choice. I was tired of the same racing simulators with beautiful cars but not fun to play (I´m not a fan of GT or Forza) This game despite its simplicity delivers great old school racing fun. furthermore, NFS -R has a smallVery good game. I was expecting something like this. If you like arcade racing games similar to Burnout or cruisin- usa series, this is a very good choice. I was tired of the same racing simulators with beautiful cars but not fun to play (I´m not a fan of GT or Forza) This game despite its simplicity delivers great old school racing fun. furthermore, NFS -R has a small storyline, a much better and simpler rewind mode that works more like a "continue", also there are no boring circuit tracks, and you can select a fairly decent amount of cars.
    Hope to se a NFS-R 2 in the future. I would like to see some tuning options by then.    … Expand
  29. toujours
    Dec 1, 2011
    10
    Absolutely superb game. i have played almost every racer out there and this one is right at the top. if you want proper good fun and a great sensation of fast driving and beautiful graphics YOU MUST GET THIS GAME!!
  30. TheDiscoBison
    Nov 27, 2011
    3
    Have I been playing the same game as the majority of you lot?

    A 2 hour single player campaign with a limited collection of are until the last two levels really doesn't float my boat. The off t rack reset is one of the harshest I've seen in some places and in others allows you to cut whole sections off the race. I finished the game, but only because I like to finish something I've    Have I been playing the same game as the majority of you lot?

    A 2 hour single player campaign with a limited collection of are until the last two levels really doesn't float my boat. The off t rack reset is one of the harshest I've seen in some places and in others allows you to cut whole sections off the race. I finished the game, but only because I like to finish something I've started unless it's so awful I'd rather hammer nails into my eyes.

    Whoever described the story as something to look forward and of a "Michael Bay" style isn't having much in their life at the moment and I'd warrant hasn't seen a MIchael Bay film. On second thoughts, they probably have.

    Yes, the Frostbite engine looks lovely, the lighting effects are stunning, but looking pretty doesn't make a game.

    This is the worst NFS game of the series, and as far away from Hot Pursuit as two games about racing could be. Save yourself money and time and walk away.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2011
87
#87 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 65 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 65
  2. Mixed: 35 out of 65
  3. Negative: 2 out of 65
  1. DailyGame
    Feb 12, 2012
    83
    As I said, I've been a fan of the Need for Speed franchise for quite some time, but even I've been rubbed a bit raw by some of the franchise's evolution over the years. It's not like EA and Black Box were struggling to find an identity, but they seemed to always be looking to switch things up just for the sake of switching. With Need for Speed: The Run, it seems like EA finally found the right mix of action and challenge, and the sporadic out-of-the-car sequences give just enough of a break to keep you pushing forward.
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  2. GamingTrend
    Jan 24, 2012
    78
    Need for Speed The Run is a game that has just enough issues to make it an average game. It is filled with potential, and it eventually could have made a really great game. The cross-country race is a great story-telling mechanic and the cutscenes are well done. The progression of the Driver Level to gain more bonuses could have been given out more consistently and some of the cars could have handled better. If you don't mind driving for a while to unlock cars and abilities, then you should find a satisfying experience.
    Read full review
  3. Armchair Empire
    Jan 18, 2012
    80
    Although the single-player adventure runs out of fuel way too soon, the intensity of the racing while driving beautifully rendered "dream" autos makes up for the brevity, and a few replayable modes (Challenge and online) greatly increases Need for Speed: The Run's gameplay driving distance.
    Read full review
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