Need for Speed Unbound Review: Just Shy of Greatness

gadgets.ndtv.com:

Need for Speed Unbound — now out on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X — sets itself apart from the competition by adopting a unique street art-inspired style, while continuing to offer the high-octane action that the NFS franchise is renowned for. We get police chases with real jeopardy, a racer AI that is happy to take you out, and a high-risk high-reward system that prevents the action from ever getting dull. There is also a classic underdog story on our hands in its ‘Story' mode. All these things come together to deliver an exhilarating arcade racing experience.

Set in the fictional city of Lakeshore, the NFS Unbound map is on the smaller side, considering the scale of most open-world games today. It still serves as an effective backdrop to the street races with various tracks and terrains. Petrol heads will be excited to see an assortment of some of the most iconic rides from the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche, and BMW. Overall, Need for Speed Unbound includes over 140 cars at launch. There are also specific body mods and extensive customisation options available for each vehicle. These are some of the most realistic-looking car models in an NFS game to date.

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Rather than asking you to take the perfect racing line, Need for Speed Unbound rewards players for taking a corner in the flashiest ways possible. Drifts, near-misses, drafting, and high jumps add to your two nitrous metres — one meant for a long blast, and the other intended for short bursts. Even at the start line, a perfectly timed acceleration can give you an instant boost. However, tip slightly over the edge or lag a bit short, and the engine will stall, leaving you