Is Unbound worth it?

Need for Speed Unbound is the latest installment in the long-running Need for Speed racing game franchise. The game was developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts, releasing on December 2nd, 2022 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Windows. Unbound introduces a new stylized visual direction for the series with cel-shaded graphics and graffiti art aesthetics. But is this new direction and entry in the franchise worth your time and money? Let‘s take a deeper look.

Gameplay

Unbound features similar arcade-style racing gameplay to previous Need for Speed titles, with an emphasis on speed, drifting, outrunning cops, and customizing your dream car. The core driving feels great, with tight controls and responsive handling. The drift mechanics have been refined since previous games, making going sideways around corners feel more controllable and rewarding.

The singleplayer campaign focuses on intense street races, police chases, time trials and other events to earn money to customize your cars. There‘s a risk/reward system where building up your nitrous boost by driving aggressively will make you go faster, but crash and you‘ll lose everything. The multiplayer allows up to 16 players online with playlists and team racing modes.

Overall the core racing gameplay is solid, but can feel repetitive at times doing the same event types across similar urban and highway tracks. The campaign also forces you to frequently buy new cars to enter events, rather than upgrading one ride throughout.

Customization

One of Unbound‘s biggest strengths lies in its visual customization. There are over 143 vehicles from top manufacturers to choose from and make your own, with deep cosmetic modifications available like widebody kits, neon lighting, colored smoke, massive spoilers and more.

The new style also allows for changing your car‘s graffiti decals and effects. You can design unique looks ranging from slick designs to off-the-wall creations. The community wraps and designs are a highlight, where you can download other players’ custom rides.

Story and Setting

Unbound sees players take on the role of a rookie racer looking to build their reputation in Lakeshore City‘s street racing scene. You‘ll encounter colorful characters and rivals throughout the campaign. The overall plot is fairly barebones, but provides enough framework to keep pushing through events and upgrading rides.

The city itself looks great, modeled after Chicago with diverse neighborhoods connected by highways. But the setting doesn‘t quite have the atmosphere or personality that stands out compared to previous Need for Speed locations. You also can‘t manually explore it outside races.

Graphics

The cel-shaded art direction is a bold new style for Need for Speed. Your highly-customized cars stand out vividly, especially when topped with neon lighting and graffiti. Reflections, textures, smoke and weather effects all look fantastic too. However, some environmental details can look fuzzy or basic in spots.

Performance aims for 60fps on new consoles, but can occasionally dip during events. Load times are generally fast to restart races though. The visuals may not be for everyone, but overall the stylized aesthetic works well showcasing your tricked out cars.

Verdict

Need for Speed Unbound brings a vibrant new style to the long-running franchise, with plenty of customization options to design your dream rides. The driving and core racing mechanics feel great. But the repetitive event types in singleplayer and lack of open world interaction hold it back from being an excellent entry.

If you’re looking for an arcade racer focused on customization, Unbound delivers a fun experience. But those seeking more variety or simulation handling may be left wanting. Unbound had potential to be an amazing open world street racing game, but doesn’t fully get there.

It retails for $69.99 USD which feels a bit steep. Wait for a sale or follow updates to see if more content gets added post-launch before jumping in. Overall Unbound brings new style and solid mechanics to the franchise, but needs more substance to match its initial vision and reach its full potential.