Need for Speed™

If you're going into this Need for Speed expecting an experience like Most Wanted (2005), Underground 1, Underground 2, or even Carbon, you're probably going to hate this game. This was actually the first time I seriously played this NFS. I tried it when it first released, but after about an hour I couldn't continue. Now, 10 years later, I finally decided to give it another chance. My mission is to beat the game, and I will. Overall, I'd rate the game below average. The gameplay is rough, and the car handling is honestly terrible. I understand that it's supposed to be an arcade racer, but this just feels like a mess. Mini spoiler alert --> I just finished all 15 stages of Eddie's Challenge, and I ran into so many frustrating issues, mostly with the AI. Then there's the final race against Eddie. There's no way you can play that race at full speed and tell me you have complete control of your car. The handling feels inconsistent, and it really shows during that race. the game has its own unique arcade driving style that you have to adapt to but it's bad. It just isn't fun. The graphics are amazing and have held up incredibly well after 10 years. It still looks like a game that was released just a few years ago. In fact, I think the graphics in this Need for Speed look better than Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown 2024, even though that game was released only two years ago. The car customization is also amazing. I really enjoyed it, and it's easily one of the best parts of the game. In the end, the only reason this isn't getting a thumbs down from me is because I bought it for just $3 on sale. At full price, my recommendation would be very different. Another downside is the lack of an offline mode. Games shouldn't become unplayable just because the servers are shut down. If EA ever decides to pull the plug, players who purchased the game should still be able to play it from their library.