I've never really been a huge race game fan, at least, outside of Mario Kart.
I've played Hydro Thunder, Cruisin USA, F-Zero GX, S.C.A.R.S and some Need for Speed games.
This Need For Speed aims to change how we experience Need For Speed with a heavy focus on online multiplayer in an open world.
The result?
Meh.....
Presentation
Need For Speed Rivals uses the Frostbite 3 Engine, the same engine used to power Battlefield 4.
The game looks really good in terms of visuals. Cars have a very good amount of detail and for anyone who enjoys the sight of fancy and shiny cars, it's pure eye candy.
Nothing is better to a car nut, than seeing sleek and smooth cars with the proper designs.
Environments are nice, but honestly, you're not really going to be paying attention to the world around you. You see some desert areas, massive forests, uptown locations and some country locations with a nice view of lakes or some gas stations lying around.
Gameplay
Where Need for Speed starts to dim is when it comes to the core gameplay.
There are two careers to play, one is where you play through the game as a racer and do racer based objectives like reaching a specific speed limit in a matter of seconds, taking down cops chasing you and finish in 1st place in races.
The Police career has you playing as an officer who is using the same cars the racers are using in order to catch the racers.
Each career will have their own game modes to play and their own car unlocks.
So how do you unlock cars and proceed through these careers?
The game will play in chapters, and in each chapter you have a choice of 3 objective sets to complete in order to proceed to the next chapter.
These are very small objectives to complete and although are varied, don't exactly get the blood pumping. Some of them do like challenges to take down cop cars
The Police career does actually do some work into getting the blood pumping with some objectives to capture racers or some time trials.
How do you capture racers or take down cops you may ask?
The new Pursuit Tech.
These are little offensive gadgets you can use with their own unique traits. Things like EMP lock-ons to slow down cars from 130 mph to 3 mph.
Shock-wave pulses that can send a car right into a wall or into another car to create your own car crash. Even things like mines to lay down right behind you to throw off your pursuer.
And a gadget that can electrify your car so that way when you bump into another car you shock them and they lose their handling of the car.
Honestly, these things don't really amaze me. They're cool and all, but nothing I would go "OH MY GOD THAT'S SO AWESOME!"
It's ok.
Finally, the open world multiplayer experience.
It would work....if there was actually something in the rest of the world.
These servers they have you on support a very small group of people. The world? Essentially empty, only one part of the world you race in has stuff in it like points to start races or other events to play.
Most of the time you won't be racing anyone, you'll be racing against the bots.
This world, aside from some buildings and other set pieces is completely empty.
The rest of the world is open ground to do nothing but just drive.
Which gets boring very quickly.
The Verdict
Need For Speed Rivals feels more like a tech demo instead of a full fledged game.
It doesn't really have anything that makes the experience all that exciting.
It does have a variety of missions and cars to chose from but this design is overshadowed by a massive empty world without players to occupy space in this online multiplayer focused racing game.
It's Killzone Shadowfall without the guns or the fun multiplayer.
Need For Speed Rivals gets an average 5 out of 10
Well I've reviewed the thing I said I would. Sorry about not keeping my word until now.
Up next: Deadpool.
I've played Hydro Thunder, Cruisin USA, F-Zero GX, S.C.A.R.S and some Need for Speed games.
This Need For Speed aims to change how we experience Need For Speed with a heavy focus on online multiplayer in an open world.
The result?
Meh.....
Presentation
Need For Speed Rivals uses the Frostbite 3 Engine, the same engine used to power Battlefield 4.
The game looks really good in terms of visuals. Cars have a very good amount of detail and for anyone who enjoys the sight of fancy and shiny cars, it's pure eye candy.
Nothing is better to a car nut, than seeing sleek and smooth cars with the proper designs.
Environments are nice, but honestly, you're not really going to be paying attention to the world around you. You see some desert areas, massive forests, uptown locations and some country locations with a nice view of lakes or some gas stations lying around.
Gameplay
Where Need for Speed starts to dim is when it comes to the core gameplay.
There are two careers to play, one is where you play through the game as a racer and do racer based objectives like reaching a specific speed limit in a matter of seconds, taking down cops chasing you and finish in 1st place in races.
The Police career has you playing as an officer who is using the same cars the racers are using in order to catch the racers.
Each career will have their own game modes to play and their own car unlocks.
So how do you unlock cars and proceed through these careers?
The game will play in chapters, and in each chapter you have a choice of 3 objective sets to complete in order to proceed to the next chapter.
These are very small objectives to complete and although are varied, don't exactly get the blood pumping. Some of them do like challenges to take down cop cars
The Police career does actually do some work into getting the blood pumping with some objectives to capture racers or some time trials.
How do you capture racers or take down cops you may ask?
The new Pursuit Tech.
These are little offensive gadgets you can use with their own unique traits. Things like EMP lock-ons to slow down cars from 130 mph to 3 mph.
Shock-wave pulses that can send a car right into a wall or into another car to create your own car crash. Even things like mines to lay down right behind you to throw off your pursuer.
And a gadget that can electrify your car so that way when you bump into another car you shock them and they lose their handling of the car.
Honestly, these things don't really amaze me. They're cool and all, but nothing I would go "OH MY GOD THAT'S SO AWESOME!"
It's ok.
Finally, the open world multiplayer experience.
It would work....if there was actually something in the rest of the world.
These servers they have you on support a very small group of people. The world? Essentially empty, only one part of the world you race in has stuff in it like points to start races or other events to play.
Most of the time you won't be racing anyone, you'll be racing against the bots.
This world, aside from some buildings and other set pieces is completely empty.
The rest of the world is open ground to do nothing but just drive.
Which gets boring very quickly.
The Verdict
Need For Speed Rivals feels more like a tech demo instead of a full fledged game.
It doesn't really have anything that makes the experience all that exciting.
It does have a variety of missions and cars to chose from but this design is overshadowed by a massive empty world without players to occupy space in this online multiplayer focused racing game.
It's Killzone Shadowfall without the guns or the fun multiplayer.
Need For Speed Rivals gets an average 5 out of 10
Well I've reviewed the thing I said I would. Sorry about not keeping my word until now.
Up next: Deadpool.
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