Need for Speed: Most Wanted (Vita) Review - VisceralBishop's Blog

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Need for Speed: Most Wanted (Vita) Review Stuck

Posted on November 9, 2012 at 07:43 PM.

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Our review of Need for Speed: Most Wanted for home consoles is already live, but what about the PlayStation Vita version? It was handled internally by Criterion Games, and they promised a console-quality game. We get that ... to an extent. That same core multiplayer experience is there, albeit with four players in this version. However, there are a few technical issues that hold back Most Wanted from being a great handheld racing game.

Gameplay

First off, you're getting the same experience you would get on the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version, but on-the-go. That same open-world gameplay is there for you, including the speed points, most wanted list, and no menus or lobbies (via what they call "EasyDrive"). Not only that, but exclusive races are also waiting for you. Those exclusive races are just more of the same checkpoint and street races, but it's nice that they give them to you.

Your main goal remains the same, make your way up the Most Wanted list to become THE top driver. The single player, since it's the same, is still not all that exciting to play. The fact that there is less traffic does make the game less frustrating since crashes are more infrequent, but the structure is still odd and uninspiring. Criterion did try something different with the way progression is handled. Instead of you unlocking cars after completing races, you unlock them by finding "jackspots" throughout the city of Fairhaven, which in turn gives you more events to compete in. The way you are given cars could have something to do with why the single player is so ho-hum, but even if you unlocked new car(s) after each event, it still would not be anything special.

As previously mentioned, traffic density is nowhere near the same as it is on the home consoles, which is both good and bad. Expect less headaches during races since there are less civilian cars to crash into, but also get used to the city of Fairhaven looking like a ghost town. When in races you'll see less traffic, but that won't stop the fuzz from trying to wreck you. The cops are still a pain, and they are just as aggressive as ever.

Autolog and the social aspect of Most Wanted has not changed one bit with the Vita version, and that's terrific. Beating a friends time in a specific event is there with the "Autolog Recommends." Not only that, but all the billboards, security gates, and speed cameras are there waiting for you to speed through them.

It's nothing game breaking, but the city is drawn in a lot of the times, and it's really noticeable on certain roads. Driving around a corner and seeing the world just magically show up is unappealing. Add that to the blocky headlights when you actually see any traffic, and you can clearly see the technical limitations the Vita has. The upside is that we didn't come across any frame rate issues like we did the 360 / PS3 versions.

Even with the draw in issues, the gameplay is identical to its console counterpart. The fewer civilian cars become a bright spot after spending some time with the game. Being able to actually compete in a race without having to worry about traffic is fantastic and, yes, it does make the races easier. It's a shame the gameplay is surrounded by the stale single player story.

Multiplayer:

The main difference in the Vita version is that online play is only four players, not eight like 360/PS3 or 12 like on PC. We do wish for more players online, but the multiplayer is just as fun on-the-go. Those same speedlists that feature co-op challenges, speedtest, and races are all here -- and you still have to drive to the meet up before it starts.

Speed points, which dictates when you unlock the next Most Wanted race, carries over to and from the PS3 version. So if you just barely miss unlocking the next race, you can take your Vita with you and continue your climb up the list. Those speed points also determine what your online rank is, and said online rank is how you unlock more cars for use in the multiplayer.

The low player count makes it less chaotic, and that is exactly what makes the online in Criterion games so much fun. Online is still enjoyable and entertaining, no doubt about it, but it is missing the straight bedlam that is featured in every other version of the game.

Final Thoughts:

All in all, Need for Speed: Most Wanted on the PlayStation Vita is a solid port, minus a few technical bugs. The ability to transfer your speed points to the Vita is a nice touch and that same grounded gameplay is included, along with all the new bells and whistles. Even though the multiplayer is still entertaining, we can't get pass the four player limit. If it had at least six players for online, this game would rival WipEout 2048 as the best racing game the PlayStation Vita has to offer. With just four players allowed online, though, Most Wanted is simply above average.

Control Scheme: Pretty easy controls to get the hang of and very familiar to fans of racing games. Drifting is as simple as tapping the brake. If you are new to the genre, Most Wanted does a good job at introducing you to the controls when you first start the game. Not only that, but front / rear touch controls, and the ability to take a picture of yourself with the front facing camera for use in the autolog and multiplayer features are all in the full package.

Visuals: The City is drawn in and is very noticeable. Car models look good, not great. The traffic that you do see has blocky headlights that are distracting. You also don't see the race intros on the Vita version. Overall, it's not an ugly game, but you can clearly see the Vita's limitations.

Audio: Same great soundtrack and the cars still sound great. Audio design is something that is top-notch, no matter what console Most Wanted is on.

Customization: The same features are included in the Vita version: After winning a race you unlock new mods for your car, from new tires to a new transmission. Each one helps make your car a little faster or handle better. You can also change the color of your car by simply driving through a repair shop.

Value: Although it's easier to recommend the full game at a lower price point ($40), the less-than-inspiring single player is a hard sell. Luckily, the well-made multiplayer is intact and something that can easily be worth the entry price...but just barely due to the four player limit.

Bottom Line: Most Wanted, even with its technical flaws, is still a fun multiplayer racing game. Solid gameplay is featured, but that dull single player brings the game down a lot.

+ Same experience as the 360/PS3; Ability to transfer speed points across PS3/Vita; No menus or lobbies

- City is drawn in at times; Same monotonous single player; Only 4-player multiplayer

Score: 6.0