Need for Speed Unbound Reviews
The best Need for Speed title in a long time, Unbound has such a fun gameplay loop and funky style that it's hard to put down. It has a hard difficulty and slightly odd game feel, but most players of racing games will have a blast here and probably fall in love with the chaotic and frantic police chases. Pick this up!
A decent effort but one that doesn't offer anything new or novel. The developer might have changed but the game is still living under the shadow cast by them.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
EA, this ain’t how you move units. This series need to take a cue from the unique styling of the visuals and either needs to revamp the feeling of playing NFS in the next one, or someone needs to put this damn thing down behind the barn like Old Yeller and let Criterion get back to making Burnout games (which is really what we all want anyway.)
While the latest entry in the Need for Speed franchise is capable of presenting some great arcade racing thrills, NFS Unbound is an uneven experience that can often leave players feeling disappointed. Some may be able to overlook its flaws and enjoy what the game does well, but it still lives in the shadows of the best entries in the series. This paints a worrying picture for a franchise that already has been struggling to reclaim its glory days for years now.
Need For Speed has found its identity, and while a few concepts require some finetuning, it’s the best episode in a long while and one of the most stylish and generally finest racers of the generation thus far.
After several years, Criterion Games has successfully restored the Need for Speed franchise to its former glory, bringing renewed excitement to long-time fans and a promising future for this well-established series.
Review in Persian | Read full review
NFS Unbound feels fresh thanks to the urban hip-hop blend of graphical style and soundtrack. If you enjoy your driving games then it is one to pick up and have a play with. Customisation options are off the scale which gives you the ability to feel unique as you drive around
Need for Speed Unbound is a beautiful street racing game that features a cool soundtrack and welcome cross-platform play, but frustrating car physics and CPU drivers sully the experience.
It is very hard to stand out in this much crowded racing genre, but Need For Speed Unbound pulls it off. The title is easily the best entry in years and sets a foundation that can easily be built upon. After many years of having an identity crisis, I can see the game evolving from here. With a consistent 4K resolution and 60fps framerate NFS Unbound showcases what could be the future of the series.
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
Unbound is one of the best games in the franchise. Although that might seem a compliment, it also shows how much NFS have been relegated in the last years. The new art direction is fantastic and really make it seem different from other games but some of its ideas aren't quite well implemented and might feel a little tedious.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
For a game with very little fanfare and seemingly no confidence on EA’s behalf, Need for Speed: Unbound is actually an excellent surprise.
The bar raised with the Heat has reached the next level with Unbound. If the next NFS game manages to surpass Unbound, we can finally have that special NFS experience we expect.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Need for Speed Unbound is a solid comeback for the series, provided you can deal with some potential annoyances. The risk/reward system functions well in creating tension during all parts of a race, but the grind is an annoyance until you get better cars or parts for your initial ride. The presence of elements borrowed from other racing titles is done well enough, but the story can be a chore to sit through if you aren't already using this slang every day. Overall, Unbound is a solid racing title that should hopefully start bringing the series back to prominence.
Need for Speed Unbound isn't flawless, but it's close to the standard set by the best games in the series. Criterion Games has differentiated itself from other studios by providing a unique creative approach. Regrettably, Heat's irritating framework, rigorous day-night changes, and the presence of too violent cops make it a bit less fun. Modifying the game's difficulty might just make things better for the newcomers.
While the game is not without its faults, held back by a lackluster story and characters, it’s hard to call a racing game bad when it does the racing so well. The style of Need For Speed Unbound is enough to keep me hitting the streets over and over, chasing bigger fame and a bigger payday each time I hit that virtual ignition.
Those looking for an arcade racer with some attitude should check out Unbound, as it wins far more than it loses, and looks great doing it.
Need for Speed Unbound manages to reinvigorate a long-lived franchise that still manages to stand out, even after almost 30 years of existence. The aesthetics and atmosphere of the game refer to the golden times of NFS Underground and NFS Hot Pursuit with elements that make the experience modern and fun. It's a title that could be the starting point for a new generation of the series after many years of ups and downs.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It seems clear that Need for Speed is in safe hands now that it has been passed back to Criterion Games. The British studio has taken what Ghost Games achieved with Heat, and improved on it in numerous ways. The refined handling model and tighter economy make for some of the most tense and exciting racing around, and it helps that the game is rock-solid on the technical side. Need for Speed Unbound is a surprisingly excellent racer, and one which will hopefully continue to improve in the months to come.
Need for Speed Unbound is a finely crafted ride that's great when running well.