As we put the pedal to the metal in our Need for Speed: The Run review, it didn’t take us long to realize that EA’s NFS series has surely suffered an unfathomable blow owing to the various gripes that we’ll be talking about in this article. Black Box has been kind enough in the past to lavish us with some acclaimed racing games. If Hot Pursuit 2 had players stepping into the shoes of cops, the Underground series gave a whole new meaning to car customization. And then, 2005 brought with it the robust Most Wanted that instilled in us some splendid racing memories. Black Box’s Carbon, Pro Street, Undercover and World didn’t manage to get as much attention as MW, but they still performed well in set pieces. And that brings us to the developer’s latest offering, Need for Speed: The Run which for more reasons than one, has not gone down well with us.
While racing from San Francisco to New York City in this game’s substandard campaign, the situations that you’re put through are monotonous and repetitive to say the least. All you do throughout this game is drive. Now we understand that this is exactly what a racing title is meant to let you do, but the lack of cutscenes and customization options make for an absolutely tedious racing experience. Sure, car modification was a no show in last year’s Hot Pursuit too, but developer Criterion Games managed to capitalize on other significant aspects, which is not the case with NFS: The Run. And when it comes to this game’s cutscenes, you’ll be literally left yearning for them. Each and every stage you complete brings in a hope of getting a chance to watch something rather than just keep racing. But seldom does that happen. However, the limited cutscenes that thankfully do make their way into this game contain quick-response sequences that breathe some life into it.
During these small amounts of sequences, you’ll be controlling a character named Jack, whose stereotype racer attitude totally fails to impress right from the onset. Escaping from a crime outfit he owes a large sum of money to, he must complete a race called The Run which happens to be a 3000 mile journey across the U.S., so as to earn enough money to pay the mob back. This is more or less all that there is to the story of this title. For starters, the developer could have added a few subplots or just explained what the protagonist has done to owe the high amount of money to mob. But the whole game thrives on this very narrative, occasionally kicking in a few chases wherein the mob goes all-out to stop Jack from winning the race. And while they’re using their machine guns and helicopters to stop our protagonist in his tracks, you are again left wondering what Jack could have done to invoke such ire form this mysterious gang.
Autolog integration is one of the few high points this game manages to offer. Each and every statistic of yours is traced and recorded to compare with friends and other players all over the world. Now with the Autolog in its kitty, the developer has been so dependent on this feature that it has seemingly forgotten to add vital elements that need to be part of any racing game. In this case, a solid and flexible vehicle control scheme could have been a nice addition, as the one in Need for Speed: The Run might make you feel as if you’re the worst driver in the world. Steering your car seems like a tedious job with these controls, while the weird braking system is frustrating enough to force you to slow down the vehicle a considerable amount before performing turns. Different cars – classic as well as modern, are offered from time to time and what’s interesting is that they can be changed during races by pulling into petrol stations spread all over the tracks. But sadly enough, that’s the only way you can switch your cars. So if you miss one, you can forget about changing your wheels for the whole race.
Opponent AI is one more department that is at its aggravating best in Need for Speed: The Run. We say this because all throughout the game, we were bothered by such factors as rival racers moving extra-quickly when not in view or just swooping past us with uncompetitive cars. Another one of the few aspects that make this title bearable is its environments. The finely designed milieus that include all major regions between San Francisco to New York are simply a treat to watch. DICE’s Frostbite 2 has proved its worth once again by rendering some enthralling graphics. But hidden beneath this overcoat of polished visuals are racing tracks that are almost the same all over the U.S. According to us, given the scope that the setting provides, major varieties of roads could have been possible. The game’s audio quality definitely manages to complement its visual appeal. From engine roars, tire screeches, high intensity crashes to cars approaching from behind, the sounds have been brilliantly captured. The soundtrack too offers a large number of songs during races.
When you’re not racing in The Run, you can compete in the overtly repetitive tracks from the Challenge Series or go online to further explore the Autolog. These two additional modes can be used as devices to unlock cars and driver abilities. However in these modes, we failed to see anything other than the same tracks fitted into identical races. The online feature allows you to set up a playlist of your favorite challenges and call upon your friends to compete on them using the Autolog. Like we said, this feature is a godsend element for those who enjoy online play.
Final Word: After all that hard work in the campaign, as you’re about to complete the 3000 mile journey of The Run, you’d at least expect the final race to be a thrilling one. But you soon realize that you’re driving skills have very little to do with your performance in this race, as no matter how ahead or behind you are, the interfering cut-scenes somehow manage to bring your opponent right by your side. The only reason we explained this, is to drive home the point that even towards its end, Need for Speed: The Run manages to be at its frustrating best. Fans of the series might be compelled to buy this one, but other gamers can clearly give this one a miss.
Sounds: 8/10
Environments: 8/10
Gameplay: 5/10
Replay Value: 6/10
Overall (not an average): 6.5/10