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NFS Most Wanted (xBox)


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Decision Process

Well, I had been struggling on what my next xBox game should be. In addition to being a bit FPS'ed out, I was just hugely dissapointed by how the powers that be just pee'ed away the xBox in regards to GR:AW. Bah.

It came down to a toss up between Blazing Angels and Need For Speed - Most Wanted. The former had some merit because I hadn't owned a flying game yet for the system - in addition to some favorable reviews. In the end, having been an NFSer for a number of installments across two platforms, NFSMW won out - Black Edition, no less (25 duckets w/ Shattered Union trade-in).

In a word ... WOWZERS! shok.gif

5-0

The one thing that immediately stands out from the prior two installments are the cops. Mechanisms to incorporate "heat," evasion and even a "cool down" period are very well intgrated. Heat determines how wanted you are by the cops depicted by a little flame and a numerical rank. Evasion is basically that - get away from the line of sight of the cops. "Pursuit breakers" are marked on the map and trigger convincing events which stall or outright destroy cops - like plowing through a gasoline station and causing a massive explosion. :devil: Then there is the "cool down" period where you've effectively lost the cops and need to remain lost for some period of time.

All this evading-arrest-goodness is enhanced by listening through the police radio and hearing them calling out to each other and the command center. "All units, we've got reports of a reckless driver" "Details on the suspect" "White Volkgswagon driving eastbound on Rockport" ... SO COOL. They will try to box you in, lay down spikes, and if they catch you, you'll lose your ride! :(

I did have air support called on me at one time but have yet to see the helicopters nor the super souped up 5-0 ... I can't wait!

Driving

Driving is also very different from the prior two installments but an experienced NFS tuner will be able to pick it up quickly. The major addition is the "speed breaker" which is effectively "bullet time" adapted for a racing game ... and it is unbelievably cool and useful!! You can take on harder turns with this thing and apply e-brake slides with surgical precision. It is invaluable particularly in regards to using pursuit breakers and coming up with the perfect animation cinematic.

As an added bonus, the Deutschland was representin with the vDub GTI. :)

Storyline

By the way, there's also a much more involved story line in Most Wanted. Basically, you got conned out of your uber M3 BMW and now have to climb your way up the "Blacklist" - the tuners with the highest heat ranking mong the cops - in order to exact revenge.

What really makes this more involved is the liberal use of actual film footage interweaved with computer graphics ... it really gets you into the story line and puts a remarkable face on the people you are going up against.

Last and surely not least, the hottie in this installment is:

nfsmw_josie_maran.jpgohsnap.gif

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Well I'm taking my time with the blacklist having just knocked out #12 ... I ditched the GTI and started rollin in a souped up Audi A4. So far, I've been good about keeping it from getting too pimped out ... I want to be the discrete tuner ;)

I'm really diggin the driving mechanics in this iteration of NFS ... although the rubberband AI is worrisome ... #12 actually BRAKED at the finish line as I let loose on the nitrice and zoomed right by the mo fo. Although I've read in reviews that at one point the AI basically makes no mistakes ...

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Actually I never found that the AI became to amazing. I roll in a Subaru WRX STi with max out stats and even at the last race of the game I was still able to pull away, although not quite as fast. It also doesnt help as the races become longer and longer you pull away just about the same distance by the end of the race because of the length of the races, kinda takes the greatness out of it.

Great game though none the less, definitely my favor NFS game, a series I have followed since Hot Pursuit.

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