Need for Speed Unbound’s single-player story centers on a betrayal and subsequent rise up of the city’s underground racing scene. These each present exciting challenges, but my favorite event is Takeover, which puts you in a tight course and rewards you for drifting, boosting, hitting ramps, and smashing targets. You can take part in linear races, lap-based circuits, head-to-head contests, and drifting events – not to mention the various collectibles and challenges scattered throughout the city.

I appreciated the neon-colored smoke during a tight corner, but the tag that pops up when your boost is full sometimes blocked my view during critical points in the race.Īs you take to the open streets of the fictional city of Lakeshore, you have a bevy of events from which to choose. Unbound further leans into stylization by adding street-art-inspired flourishes to the car as you drift, boost, and jump off ramps. These two contrasting styles sound like they should clash, but they work in tandem to create a refreshing amalgamation. Though the city and vehicles maintain their photorealistic looks from past games, the characters are cel-shaded cartoons. Actions like drifting and drafting fill your boost gauge, creating a satisfying rhythm in the moment-to-moment racing as you flow from one move to the next.ĭistinct visual effects permeate nearly every moment of Need for Speed Unbound, making it one of the most stylish racing games I’ve played.

Blasting down a straightaway in a McLaren delivers a remarkable sense of speed but nailing a corner drift in a Mitsubishi feels just as good. Sliding into the driver seat of the nearly 150 cars in Need for Speed Unbound feels terrific. Need for Speed Unbound feels like the ultimate realization of that philosophy, creating one of the franchise’s best in years.

Since its inception nearly three decades ago, Need for Speed’s best entries have combined style and substance to produce thrilling homages to the street racing scene.

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