There are a few gaming franchises that are known for a single entry, and every other title fails to make the same impact. In some ways,Need for Speedsuffers from the same fate, as it is mostly known forNeed for SpeedMost Wanted. ThoughNeed for Speed Unboundis a phenomenal game, it remains both influenced byMost Wantedand compared to it.
This is a nearly inescapable fate for theNeed for Speedfranchise, and it is both a blessing and a curse. Being known for a genre-defining game likeMost Wantedis an honor most franchises could only dream of. However, asNeed for Speed Unbounddemonstrates, it also brings with it a couple of hurdles to overcome.
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Need for Speed Most Wanted - the Franchise’s Magnum Opus
TheNeed for Speedfranchise has been around for a while, and it has taken a few forms.Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed, as the name suggests, decides to focus on Porsches whileNeed for Speed ProStreetsets its sights on legal racing. For most long-time fans, the series hit its stride with theUndergroundseries, and it finally reached its zenith with 2005’sMost Wanted. Taking place in the industrial city of Rockport,Most Wantedhas players racing their way through the Blacklist, collecting pink slips, and getting on the nerves of local law enforcement.
There are a few reasons whyMost Wantedsticks its landing so well with gamers. Its plot isn’t anything to write home about, but it is engaging enough to give players a reason to want to race and eventually seek justice for the double-crossing they’ve been subjected to. Most importantly, the gameplay is just relentlessly fun. Whether it’s racing against rivals, engaging in drifting events, or just roaming around Rockport and knocking down donut signs, there’s always something exciting to do. SinceMost Wanted,Need for Speedhas never received the same kind of overwhelming reception from fans.Unboundis the closest the series has come, thanks to the fact that it gets so much right. However, it also proves that theNeed for Speedfranchisestill lives inMost Wanted’s large shadow.
Unbound Can’t Escape Most Wanted
Unboundis a great game and a triumphant return for the series, but it cannot be ignored that its success story involves the franchise crafting a game that, in many ways, reverts to the tried and tested mechanics ofMost Wanted. With its urban street racing and intense cop chases, it does seem like it learns many of its lessons from the classic arcade racer. This shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, as the game was developed byCriterion Games, the same team responsible forMost Wanted(2012). Criterion is clearly a team that recognizes what a peak the game was for the franchise and has been desperately attempting to replicate it with its following releases. This is not to say thatUnboundis a carbon copy ofMost Wanted, as it manages to include several innovations that make it feel unique, including character customization, driving effects, and an important day and night cycle. Still, the similarities are clear.
Ultimately, it is inescapable thatNeed for Speedgameswill always be compared toMost Wanted. It is the pinnacle of the series, and it holds a special place not just in the franchise but in gaming history as a whole. Thanks to the power of nostalgia, the game only gets better with every passing year. The only way the franchise can hope to escapeMost Wanted’s massive shadow would be to release a game that manages to exceed its greatness, but that would be incredibly difficult to do in today’s gaming landscape where arcade racers are far less appreciated.
Need for Speed Unboundis available on PC, PS4, and PS5.
