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Need for Speed Most Wanted
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 18 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 9 votes
Read user comments
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Game Info
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada
Genre(s): Racing, Driving
Players: Multi
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: November 15, 2005
Summary
Combining the thrill of illicit street racing and tuner customization with the intensity of strategic police pursuits that rivals any Hollywood-style chase scene, Need for Speed Most Wanted challenges players to become the most notorious and elusive street racer. Players instantly feel the thrill of the ride as they hit the streets in an open world environment where drivers can tune their cars to compete against any class of vehicles or use their wits to out-fox the law to satisfy their need for speed. Need for Speed Most Wanted delivers a unique, fast-paced and gripping ride in the racing genre as players build up their Rap Sheet and street cred to move their way up the Black List to become the most wanted racer on the streets. Players go head-to-head with the top drivers on the scene as well as strategically evade more than half dozen cops at any one time. Also included are a dynamic open world, new gameplay and customization as well as tuners, supercars, muscles and sports cars. [Electronic Arts]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Need for Speed Underground Need for Speed Underground 2 Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Game Chronicles
It's nice to see a slew of exotics alongside sport compacts. The newest Need for Speed may be the most wanted of the season, being one of the best racing games for now.
Read Full Review >Stuff
Making a name for youself by climbing the game's Black List, aka series of bad-ass mo-fos you must beat, is good fun.
Read Full Review >The New York Times
Wanted's story won't win any awards, and the game would still be tremendous fun without it, but it gives your racing added significance.
Read Full Review >Game Over Online
It’s been missing for a while, but the simple inclusion of the police catapults Most Wanted into one of the best racers in recent history.
Read Full Review >IGN
The stylistic presentation and graphic sensibilities are impressive, and they're complemented by excellent engine sound effects and smart cop chatter.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
While I yearned for a little more in a few areas (difficulty curve and graphical polish in particular), the overall experience lies somewhere between the first "Underground" and the second...meaning it's easy fun, but not genre-defining. [Dec 2005, p.148]
GameSpot
The actual racing hasn't changed too much, but the ever-present police make this game a whole lot more interesting.
Read Full Review >Gamer 2.0
Most Wanted brings the police back in force, and the game benefits greatly from it.
Read Full Review >N-Europe
Another solid addition to the Need For Speed franchise, even if it does have a few annoying flaws here and there.
Read Full Review >Sydney Morning Herald
The addition of smart and relentless police pursuers has reinvigorated this popular driving series.
Read Full Review >Nintendo Power
This may be one of the smoothest racers ever, and definitely a most-wanted on my list. [Jan 2006, p.115]
Kombo
I’m personally glad to have crawled out from "Underground" and to have started something fresh, even if it is a rehashed concept.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
With three dozen licensed cars ranging from the new Mustang to the perennial street racing favorite Subaru STi, a meaty 15-20 hour story mode and loads of optional challenges beyond that, Most Wanted is one game you're going to be playing into the wee hours.
Read Full Review >Ferrago
The only thing stopping it achieving a better score are the aforementioned niggles coupled with some below par AI. Their computer-controlled abilities switch from laughably amateur to 'one mistake and its race over' Terminator-style brutality in a matter of moments which seems more than a little unfair.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
A solid, fun racer, but its repetitive single-player events and limp four-player online multi (Xbox only) sap its power. [Jan 2006, p.120]
Read Full Review >Total Video Games
The story mode does provide a challenge and will last most around the 15 hour mark, however once that’s past the game has very little to offer largely because of the fundamental online options.
Read Full Review >NintendoWorldReport
It seems obvious, now, that this game is for the hardcore Need for Speed fan. If you love the series, get it; it’s a marked improvement.
Read Full Review >games(TM)
It’s a nice, clean package that delivers enough hi-octane chases and enjoyment to warrant a purchase. [Christmas 2005, p.121]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 9.3 (out of 10) based on 9 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Tom D. gave it a9:
The best racer on Gamecube by far- the cops make it fun- unlike Underground 2 where it was just boring. WE LOVE THE COPS!
Rolando D. gave it a9:
The best game i played ever, but needs more car customization.
RobbmaC gave it an8:
My score is 8.5. For what it is, this is a solid racer. The best part of it is the cop chases and radio chatter. Customizing vehicles is pretty well done if you're into that. I couldn't give a 10 because the controls are a little loose IMO, but you can customize the control sensitivity to suit your driving style somewhat. It's an arcade racer, so the physics are sometimes inaccurate. That became painfully apparent when I successfully rammed a cement truck head on and kept going during a cop chase. IN A MAZDA RX8 LOL!!! My other deduction for lack or online on the GameCube, but no surprises there.
