Need for Speed: Unbound – a new visual to a successful formula

Unbound is probably the best entry in the long-lasting series of Need for Speed in the last couple of years, but also, it’s one of the least hyped and advertised games that EA has ever released. Although Need for Speed: Unbound is still miles away from the entries that basically made the racing genre popular, it’s a game that definitely deserves your attention, especially if you have missed most of the recent racing titles.

Criterion, a talented studio which is best known for its super entertaining Burnout series and some of the most appreciated Need for Speed titles, has managed to continue something that I believe was started with the previous game, Need for Speed Heat, while also succeeding in improving it enormously.

Need for Speed: Unbound brings a coherent and welcoming new art style

When the first trailers of the game were published, you could clearly see the fanbase became little divided and lots of people were frustrated with this new art direction that the Criterion had chosen for the game. I must admit, I was one of those people. But it’s almost impossible to play the game and not fall in love with this refreshing art style. There is just something really good about it. It’s coherent, it matches the theme of the story and it’s just pleasant to the eyes. After so many years, it’s the first time you feel that there was actually an art direction behind the scenes of the game’s development.

Focusing on a proven formula

Whether you hate or love Need for Speed Heat, one just cannot simply deny that the Day/Night cycle was a great idea. After years of struggling with choosing a correct theme for the atmosphere of a street racing game, Heat managed to solve this problem with an added bonus of rewarding challenge. You have those legal easy races in the daytime where you can make some hard-earned money and then you have those illegal mad races when the sun sets and that’s when you really shine. The reward is better but also the stakes are higher. The good news is Need for Speed: Unbound continues using this formula and it just makes sense.

And then there is the bad news

Reading the review to this part, you might wonder why I don’t hear people calling Unbound the great game you describe. Part of the problem is due to the poor advertising, which honestly doesn’t make any sense. Criterion managed to make the best recent Need for Speed and then at the same time EA decided to somehow give up on the series. Apart from that, Unbound also suffers from some of the problems we have seen from the modern Need for Speed games. Poor and rigid handling, a lack of variety in the events and races and just an unreasonable emphasis on the story.

Undiscovered potential

While racing games are not among the most popular games for streaming, Need for Speed: Unbound has the potential to alter the situation and start a new trend. The multiplayer part of the game itself is entertaining enough for attracting people especially car enthusiastics. Also the most crucial part of a successful stream which separates itself from the other formats of content, is the real time engagement between the content creators and their audience. Different sections of the game such as the tuning and customization offers a good opportunity for a better bond between the streamer and his or her viewers.

Nevertheless, I believe Need for Speed: Unbound is still the best entry in the series after so many years and it deserves way more attention. Additionally, there is an online mode that is almost enjoyable which, yes you might get pretty annoyed from all the dirty racing, but it can also be fun especially with a group of friends.

Pedram Bahadori