I don't think that the people who created Most Wanted created this game - Assessing Need for Speed from 2 perspectives..
The game says at the beginning that its taking racing off the streets - and the next thing you know you are in a circuit - that basically dropped the bomb for me -
I suddenly felt confined - like I was being controlled - in jail. You know how you also feel after realising that this is only a circuit racing game - you feel like a child on Christmas with the wrong gift. You know...you were sure that you were going to get the a gameboy or a PS2 or a Nintendo - but upon opening the box, you discovered it was a nicely knitted jersey or a t-shirt or some other crap.
The game needs to be assessed from two different perspectives AND you must choose the perspective which is applicable to you and then see how you feel.
If you have not yet seriously played a previous Need for Speed game and have not yet played Need for Speed: Most Wanted. If this is you then you would partly enjoy this game not knowing that there is better out there. You'd enjoy the fact that you can win races (yeah!) and buy new cars (yeah!) and use NOs (yeah!) and other things. The game is ALRIGHT for a car game – that's it.
Now, if you have seriously played previous Need for Speed titles and you have played Most Wanted – then this game will just make you sick. After playing about 5 mins you'll seriously feel like your girlfriend just dumped you. This game does not represent all that makes Need for Speed great. As far as I am concerned, this game is not need for speed! I wanted to buy it – likely I didn't and borrowed it from a friend (He just gave it to me – he didn't even ask for a swap – he didn't care – that was 3 months ago – he hasn't asked the game back!! WTF?!)
Anyway – features: When you press NOs – the screening as the car takes off with almost uncontrollable and a sudden input of power is more realistic and feels better than the NOs effect on Most Wanted (common guys!! You know that's the truth!) Also, you get a much better variety of vinyls and decals and other customisation stuff.
You are also able to do much more technical things with your cars' performance. The drifting competition is a good idea! but controlling the drift is crappy - possible to do correctly but crappy!
I've heard that the newest NFS - Undercover - isn't that great either - apart from other things - that game's graphics are crap.
What the hell is going on at EA??
Bottom line: Choose a perspective - that will make the choice easy for you. If you can't then, know this, you are bound to get bored with the game within the first 10 hours of playing it. oh oh oh...the steering is crap! I know that EA wanted to make it more realistic this time - screw that!! We enjoyed the only steering system - that is why we play the game - cos its fun to be able to take sharp corners with skill!
One word to describe the game: Disappointing
Agree or disagree, doesn't matter, the game's crap – it's not "Need for Speed".