Need for Speed Unbound launched with a low hum instead of a roaring engine. Developer Criterion are veterans of the racing genre and its return to the Need for Speed franchise should’ve been something worth celebrating. Instead, Unbound revels in its striking graffiti presentation and a bizarre mish-mash of the styles in gameplay, but falls short of being as memorable or finely tuned as its predecessors.
The story of Unbound is as basic as they come, meaning you’ve probably seen it before in countless other racing games including the Need for Speed series. It’s a revenge story about a friend who betrays you and takes your ride. You now have to start at the basics of starting your garage collection, competing in races and building your reputation again. It’s a formula that evidently works since it’s repeated so frequently, but the novelty wears thin when you’re going through the motions of the same tired narrative beats.
The first thing you’ll notice about Need for Speed Unbound is its style. Instead of going for the photorealism of games like Forza Horizon, it leans into a cartoonish aesthetic that gives it a very strong sense of identity. The style is, to the game’s benefit, unmistakable. While vehicles are detailed and gorgeous, it’s juxtaposed with graffiti-esque effects that pop up when drifting, hitting nitrous or pulling off big air-time jumps. It feels different enough from past titles to stand out – so much so that I wish Criterion committed a bit more to just going all-in on its over-the-top style.
The same can’t be said about Unbound‘s jarring character models, though. Characters are animated with a cel-shaded effect and you can often tell an NPC’s entire personality by just looking at their attire, but when placed next to the glossier and detailed world of the game, something just feels off. These styles, while unique on their own, clash far too often and pull you out of the experience. On the plus side, you can create your own character in the beginning and customise their appearance by purchasing cosmetics. It’s a nice touch that I hope future games expand upon.
It feels different enough from past titles to stand out.
Nitrous isn’t exactly a sure-fire way to close gaps and pass opponents, though...
Cops will demolish you in a slower car so it’s best not to get on their bad side too early in the game.
Writer. Enthusiast of all things geek. Legend has it he completed Final Fantasy VII without a memory card.
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Overview
Criterion Games
Electronic Arts
PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series
2 December 2022
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