Need for Speed Payback

 Xbox One
User Score
4.1

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 281 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 88 out of 281
  2. Mixed: 29 out of 281
  3. Negative: 164 out of 281
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  1. Xbox_Alive
    Jan 2, 2018
    7
    The Need for Speed series has been up and down over the last few years and this has definitely put a few people off. I’ve always liked the Need for Speed series but there has been too many problems in the last few game’s, which in turn harmed the overall package. The problems are still evident in this instalment, but most of the core ideas have paid off and in the end Need for SpeedThe Need for Speed series has been up and down over the last few years and this has definitely put a few people off. I’ve always liked the Need for Speed series but there has been too many problems in the last few game’s, which in turn harmed the overall package. The problems are still evident in this instalment, but most of the core ideas have paid off and in the end Need for Speed Payback was pretty enjoyable. The racing in the game feels better than ever and I was very impressed by how fluid and responsive it remained throughout. I was also impressed with the story in the game, and whilst it may not be everybody’s cup a tea I found it to be quite engaging. There is a great deal of variety in Need for Speed Payback and that’s evident when it comes to the different driving styles and races. I must admit though that the game did frustrate me quite a few times and that was mainly down to the AI and the high difficulty curve the cheating AI brought with it. If you like customisation then this game has plenty for you to sink your teeth into. There is one problem with this though and that’s the micro-transactions that are present in the game, and unfortunately if you’re not prepared to pay for certain items then you will spend a lot of time grinding to get them. The presentation side of the game is pretty good, but I can’t help feeling that it could have been a little better. Visually the game can look stunning at times, but unfortunately the sound design is not as good and is lacking in certain areas. At the end of the day fans of the Need for Speed series will definitely enjoy what’s on offer here, but I don’t think this new addition will bring many new fans to the table. Don’t get me wrong it gets a lot of things right and it can be very fun at times, but the added micro-transactions and little niggling problems here and there will make some people stay away, which is a shame because the core ideas are well done and these ideas just do enough for me to recommend the game to you.… Expand
  2. HelpMePls
    Nov 15, 2017
    7
    I know this is going to get downvoted to death, but here it is anyway. Let me start by explaining that the loot boxes aren't pay to win by any means. Last time I checked, neons and horns don't make your car faster. Not to mention the fact that you get a box every time you level up (a la Overwatch, which happened to get GOTY last year). The game itself is pretty good. The car list isI know this is going to get downvoted to death, but here it is anyway. Let me start by explaining that the loot boxes aren't pay to win by any means. Last time I checked, neons and horns don't make your car faster. Not to mention the fact that you get a box every time you level up (a la Overwatch, which happened to get GOTY last year). The game itself is pretty good. The car list is decent, and every car has a lot of customization options on it. The story is ok, but I don't know anyone that expects the stories in any NFS game to be groundbreaking. There are some very interesting missions in the game that are almost reminiscent of heists in GTA which I like and they spice up the gameplay a bit. You can also replay these missions anytime after you unlock them, so they're not a one time only thing.

    The most glaring issues with this game is the lack of online free roam and the strange car upgrade system. The game isn't anywhere near as grindy as Destiny 2, especially if you know what you're doing, the best way to get better parts is to play races and trade in parts for part tokens. Money should never be an issue as the game hands out $10-$20 thousand per race late game.
    The open world is large and contains a large desert, a Las Vegas inspired city, a mountain/forest, and some canyons. There are no cops in free roam which can be considered a good thing if you don't like to be bothered, but for most people its disappointing and makes the world less interesting. You can still get into pursuits, although they have been limited to random locations around the world and missions.

    My final verdict as of now is a 7, as the game for the most part is good, but there are some issues here and there. Keep in mind that Ghost (the developer) will provide free updates and hopefully improve upon the game in the coming months. In my opinion, the loot crates don't ruin the game because you get tons of them just by playing the game, and they give you cosmetic items that don't affect the gameplay at all. If you're considering buying this game, I would wait for a sale unless you're a die hard NFS fan. If you aren't into the series I suggest you consider buying if this goes on sale for $40. Thanks for taking the time to read the wall of text that is my review, I hope it helps.    … Expand
  3. SKSK
    Jul 25, 2018
    7
    The game itself is good. The car list is pretty decent, such as the storyline (for a racing game).
  4. bearcosta
    Nov 14, 2017
    5
    I'm a couple hours into the game... The last nfs games I really liked were underground 2, carbon, and undercover. This is okay.. the first (it felt like hours but probably hour or less) is just finding out who you are and the story. Now that the cinematic entrance racing is over I can finally upgrade the car some and get a starter car. It's not the starter cars I'm used too... they areI'm a couple hours into the game... The last nfs games I really liked were underground 2, carbon, and undercover. This is okay.. the first (it felt like hours but probably hour or less) is just finding out who you are and the story. Now that the cinematic entrance racing is over I can finally upgrade the car some and get a starter car. It's not the starter cars I'm used too... they are fairly fast to start with. I like starting with a popular car that is cheap and making it a contender. Not happening here.. you get a decent car and upgrade it with cards that can be purchased or won in races. You can only use them on one car, so choose wisely or grind away to win another card. You can save them for later if you want. When I read about the game I read about large amounts of customization... I was assuming the old dyno tuning setup or something like that would come back. I haven't seen it yet, I will update this if it's there, but it's looking like just collecting cards for upgrades. The racing is ok, it could be worse. This gets a mixed review from me. I'm disappointed... I guess what I want is an underground 2, or carbon with modern graphics and sounds (the sounds actually were not that bad at the time for those games I thought) maybe some new maps, keep the maps about the size of underground 2. I would like the opportunity for some car damage.. this isn't supposed to be burnout, maybe an on/off switch to keep people happy or make it like others with off, light, heavy, full, etc. There is not much penalty at all for hitting things (they don't slow you down much). Just remake an old series with modern updates and stop trying to re-invent the wheel. oh .. and yeah... STOP it with the microtransactions. nba2k, southpark tfbw, this is not a good trend for console games. (or pc games) If you are desperate for a new nfs game you could try this. I only paid as much as I did because I had $35 dollars off from Microsoft rewards. Was it worth it? No. Wait awhile.. it will go on sale and drop quick like nfs 2015 did. I value it at around $20.. in 2 years, maybe $8. (deals with gold) I still have my copies of nfs carbon and underground/undercover. I'm not getting rid of them yet, they are just plain fun. Sucks that there isn't a good need for speed xbox one game out yet, keep your pc running.… Expand
  5. SuperkenGaming
    Dec 22, 2017
    6
    Need for Speed: Payback
    Feels more like running errands than racing
    Need for Speed is an 18 hour long Arcade Racer where you play as 3 different characters in a story where theyre betrayed during a heist and youll never guess what these characters want… Did you guess yet? You were wrong.. they want payback Need for Speed Payback is probably the weakest need for speed game ive ever    Need for Speed: Payback
    Feels more like running errands than racing
    Need for Speed is an 18 hour long Arcade Racer where you play as 3 different characters in a story where theyre betrayed during a heist and youll never guess what these characters want…
    Did you guess yet? You were wrong.. they want payback
    Need for Speed Payback is probably the weakest need for speed game ive ever played
    This game follows the formula of 2015s need for speed that tried to capture the magic of underground 2… which isn’t a bad thing…
    They actually listened to feedback from that game and improved its offerings by adding drag races and cars feel much more customizable…
    However this game is lesser in every other aspect
    The story mode here is completely throwaway, it tries desperately to go the fast and the furious route, but the characters and missions just aren’t interesting enough… besides one really cool heist mission…
    But that one mission is the only fun this 18hrs offers…
    This open world which ads off roading.. another improvement.. just isn’t fun to drive through… its bland and because of that every race is bland…
    Again there are 3 different characters but there are 5 different race modes
    Theres circuit racing and drag racing which is handled by tyler
    Drifting and offroad which is handled by mac
    and finally there are run missions handled by jess
    And you need 1 car for each mission type and as you clear missions new cars will unlock for later chapters
    I didn’t mind most of these missions.. they just feel like busy work.. you never feel like youre some awesome crew taking over the area.. you just feel like youre doing a job the whole time… and this feeling smacks you the hardest when you play as jess…
    The run missions are just awful..
    Youre either running to different spots on the map before a timer runs out or youre running from annoying cops trying to make it from checkpoint to checkpoint…
    racing itself though feels just okay…
    The soundtrack here is probably one of the worst licensed soundtracks to ever exist in a game…
    And this isn’t a genre problem, I love all genres of music, and there wasn’t one song here that was fun to listen or race to,
    But the games biggest flaw is that to me literally every single car in this game feels identical
    I understand this is arcade and not a simulation racer… but I should still be able to feel the difference between lambo and Camaro, but i couldn’t
    I drive bumper cam and a lot of the time I don’t even remember what im driving…
    you only get a sense of your car being underpowered when you try to do a race that’s too high of a level…
    That’s right theres a leveling system for both you and your car… and the leveling system for your car is tied to speed cards…
    My feeling on this is up and down.. on the positive.. youre rewarded a speed card at the end of every race… this is basically a random part to upgrade your car with which then upgrades its level.. you can also just flat out buy cards at shops that refresh every 10 minutes..
    And if you get a card you don’t like you can sell it or trade it in for a part token and then trade 3 part tokens for a spin at a new random card but you get to pick the part…
    There is also a loot box system with cash, part tokens and cosmetics…
    On the negative.. .everything is random.. you don’t get to choose what improves and what doesn’t.. you don’t have a true feel of your current cars potential..
    You don’t know if you have to buy a new car every chapter which is what I did.. or if you can go out into the world and grind to bring your starter car up to the level of a super car…
    And I feel this system is exactly why every car feels exactly the same…
    even when youre upgraded you don’t feel more powerful… your opponents just aren’t pulling ahead of you as much..
    and because of this the racing just feels empty and again like busy work..
    There are plenty of challenges like speed traps and drifting around this boring world and collectables, but This is just a very forgettable racing experience…
    Its not bad but its not good either.. its very much just okay
    I give Need for Speed Payback
    a 6/10    … Expand
  6. DavidG185
    Jan 5, 2019
    5
    Need For Speed is one of the few racing franchises that I like prior to playing the Forza Horizon games with my favorite NFS game is the original Need For Speed Most Wanted made in 2005. For over 20 years of NFS and many many of those games, the current developers, Ghost Games and Electronic Arts release Need For Speed Payback back in 2017. I played it a year later, and oh boy. This isNeed For Speed is one of the few racing franchises that I like prior to playing the Forza Horizon games with my favorite NFS game is the original Need For Speed Most Wanted made in 2005. For over 20 years of NFS and many many of those games, the current developers, Ghost Games and Electronic Arts release Need For Speed Payback back in 2017. I played it a year later, and oh boy. This is what I call an average Need For Speed title. Need For Speed Payback is an improvement of their previous game, which is just titled Need For Speed back in 2015. Payback has a single player story campaign where you play as your crew with the three members Ty, Mac and Jess which apparently each of them are focused on the different concepts of what makes a Need For Speed game. Ty and Mac focuses on races with Ty focusing on Drag and Street races, and Mac focuses on Off-road and Drift respectfully. Jess however focuses mainly on the cop chases which is apparently both the good and the bad thing I like in this game. Good because I like to smash cop cars and trying to escape from their site, but bad because it sometimes has to be done with checkpoints. Also unlike my favorite NFS game, you can't start cop races in freeroam, and is only done when you have to collect... (sigh) a crate and make your way to that place with checkpoints to extend time. The races are pretty good and I can see myself doing them again if I'm bored doing the freeroam just to get the better time.

    The stuntman ones, often known as Time Trials requires you to do the missions with your crew by doing certain things like trying to stop The House while trying to get the truck to stop. It might seems frantic at first but once cutscenes comes in, it already removes the novelty of the mission and the game itself. At least the cop chases has a hint of Burnout which is another racing franchise that I like before playing Forza Horizon games but are bland now due to the fact that I would play the Horizon games more than those two combined. With that, I would rather play Ridge Racer: Unbounded than NFS Payback which is another disappointment since I played Unbounded back on the X-Box 360. The race crews, yeah. Can I have the option where I can make a unique logo for my crew too. They would say nah! Your crew is not popular enough for this game to even have team customization. And seriously, these crews you have to fight against are much more important than this game! And that is intentionally an insult. My bad but no. This game is bad for the lack of customization for your team.

    Car classes which I mostly discussed I can handle that easily, car customizations no. I can't do that. The individual parts you can customized for your vehicles can only be unlocked by doing tasks out in the world. Doing challenges is OK but with the billboards, Turn 10 Games might need to have a word with Ghost Games with why that concept is used. I don't see myself smashing those billboards anytime soon. And a second biggie is the Speed Cards which is where performance upgrades are use on that specific car. I do not like that. That is this way of saying that we have to gamble our real money to get crates just to get speed cards, other unique options like underlights, horns etc. I don't like that either. And at the end of races if you win, you get a (drum roll beat) a random speed card which you don't know until you find out what it is. Oh I got a 6 Gearbox?! But I already have an 8 Gearbox card! Holding onto it until I know how to trade it in. Yawn! The AI is also ridiculous in races and spank you when you are using a car that is below only the suggested car level. Really.

    And then there is Online Multiplayer. Where can I start? Being able to just make point to point races for anyone and you to race on only just for that time is pointless because this game doesn't come with a race creator. And yes, the only point is just trying to beat friends times on tracks. That is something Ghost Games should include in their next NFS game which apparently it is Need For Speed Edge. OK. Other than that with the DLC's which you get some if you bought the Premium/Ultimate Edition and the Speedrun which is a different story all together and different events and I have to say, this is not the best Need For Speed game I played so far. Even Need For Speed Rivals is a much better game than that and that is Ghost Games' second NFS game that I would rate better than this game. I'm going to guess that Ghost Games is going to need to learn to do better in their next one just by learning the reviews of the others. And that is all I can give with this game. The world is great, I like the antagonist Navarro and some of the crews, but the multiplayer, racing, car customization aspects are very much bad. I would play a bit more of when I feel like the need for speed. I hope that is not a movie quote from the Need For Speed Movie which I haven't watch.    … Expand
  7. JJ2FAS4U
    Dec 29, 2021
    5
    Atmosphere: 7
    Enjoyment: 5
    Gameplay: 5
    Graphics: 5
    Music: 5
    Story: 4
    Total: 5.17

Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2017
39
#39 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
61

Mixed or average reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 32
  3. Negative: 6 out of 32
  1. CD-Action
    Feb 8, 2018
    40
    For me Need for Speed is dead and buried as a franchise. Yes, Payback offers a large and varied open world and 70 licensed cars, but the driving model is decent at best, microtransactions system resembles free-to-play games, randomized upgrades force you to grind and the story (along with the dialogues) is simply embarrassing. [01/2018, p.44]
  2. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Jan 5, 2018
    40
    Turns out that fighting the machine has rarely been this dull. [Jan 2018, p.78]
  3. Xbox Tavern
    Dec 16, 2017
    83
    The gameplay is tight, responsive and surprisingly accessible whilst remaining challenging throughout. The story may well indeed be basic in its delivery, but the plot does prove to be energetic and exhilarating nevertheless, however it is sadly held back slightly by a poorly voiced cast of forgettable characters.
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