The Need for Speed series has been one of the top mobile performers for Electronic Arts. The latest, Need for Speed Most Wanted, pits you as an illegal street racer seeking to build up street racing cred. It has a similar plot-line to The Fast and the Furious, without the excessive sequels and bad acting.
I gave Need for Speed Most Wanted a thorough spin on an iPhone 4S and iPad. The experience was rather good, as you must not only defeat other racers but evade police and oncoming traffic. The controls are excellent, as you tilt to steer and swipe forward to activate a boost of nitrous. Brake or skis through turns with other simple gestures. If you prefer touch controls, activate them through the settings.
As with most racing games, you begin with a glorified clunker and then race your way to more winnings for auto upgrades. There is a good selection of cars to choose from, including some desirable, high-end brands like Tesla. Of course the carrot of upgrading with actual money is dangled in front of those who may be tempted by taking a monetary shortcut.
Racing takes place in a number of locations around the city of Fairhaven, which from the satellite map looks like a loose reconstruction of New York City. The soundtrack is matches this urban vibe, including many upbeat songs such as Breakin’ A Sweat from Skrillex and the Doors and Galvanize from The Chemical Brothers.
The police cars get increasingly agressive as you move through the racing circuit, deploying more officers to chase you down and securing roadblocks. Use your nitrous and other resources wisely. However, taking out a cop car will earn you rewards and reduce the number of those breathing down your neck.
In all, Need for Speed Most Wanted is a pretty solid game. It doesn’t break any new ground to make it a must-have given the large selection of racing games already out there. So if you are just looking for a good racing game, consider some of the older options from the Need for Speed or Asphalt series which will cost you less due to their longevity in the App Store and Google Play.
Download Need for Speed Wanted from the App Store ($6.99)
Download Need for Speed Wanted from Google Play ($6.99)
On Target:
- Great controls
- Customization options
Off the Mark:
- Some slow load times
- Annoying upgrades that cost real money
