Need for Speed: Most Wanted

Need For Speed: Most Wanted for PS Vita is absolutely amazing. It is the full console experience on the Vita, with just about everything intact.

The graphics in this game are absolutely stellar. Maybe not as good as its console brethren, but it is mighty close. The intro video seemed to have a couple of graphical hitches to it, so I figure it was the transition to a smaller screen and resolution. With the exception of that, and the noticeably HORRIBLE lights of oncoming cars (I noticed fire in Uncharted: Golden Abyss had the same problem), as well as the low resolution shadows (also another reoccurring problem), the graphics in this game are without a doubt, some of the best on the system. Every detail is there, and clearly visible and defined. The sparks from a blown tire or collision, the reflection of the sun off the car, the smoke from the tires as they spin. The environments are absolutely stunning as well. The buildings aren’t just some low resolution texture, they’re actually there, and look great. The environment is destructible, so as you’re careening through a billboard, you’re going to see it splinter and break. Everything is there, and it looks amazing.

The gameplay is absolutely amazing. As I said, it is the same exact game that is on the consoles. The cars feel great and controllable, realistic physics, great handling, and like I said, beautiful detail. There is no start up menu, which is actually a good thing. You can get right into the action, which you’re going to very much want to do so. The menus are easy to navigate, and again, touch controls for menus are not necessary, and I don’t even know if they’re an option, that’s how much I hate to use them. But anyways, gameplay is solid, if not better.

It is quite obvious this game is nothing but a blatant port however, there are some things that need to be worked on. Like I said before, during the transition to a smaller screen and resolution, some things were not taken into account, such as the bad quality of the intro video. However, the HUD too, was not changed, and some things are much too small. The map should be remade for the Vita, because it is too small and too much crammed into that small square in the quarter. And in an open world racing game like this, the map is an essential part of the gameplay. As well as the menu on the top right, it is too small to really be able to use it while driving, like is intended. Instead, you have to stop the car, and squint at the small letters and stats that are also so pivotal in the gameplay. Other than that, the whole game is there in a nice package, and well worth it.

The muliplayer is where its at in this game. The multiplayer is not toned down whatsoever for this game, except the player count. Consoles can have up to 8 players, while a lobby on Vita has only 4. Which isn’t a big deal, I had such a blast with only 3 other people, I think if there was more, it might get too crazy and take away from the fun of it all. The multiplayer is open world, players can go wherever they want to, until the next race starts, and you have to race your way there. So really, there’s a race in a race… you earn speed points and for the 6 set races or so, you rack up points by placing, taking down opponents, and other objectives. Very fun, very addicting.

Autolog is a big part of this game’s selling point. “The most socially connected racing game ever”. And they’re right. It is, and its a big part of the game. Unfortunately, all my friends on PSN are stupid and have not picked up this game, or ACIII: L yet, so I have no way of judging if it is any good or not. But if the Autolog features are as strong as the rest of the game, especially multiplayer, if you have friends with the game, you’re going to have even more fun, and the game will have an even higher value to you.

There are trophies with this game, and not really anything special to report, but I did get 7 in my first 20 minutes or so of playing… I’m hoping it won’t be as easy as Resistance: Burning Skies or Skyrim…

I’m pretty disappointed that there was no Cross-Buy deal, or even any Cross-Play. The games are essentially the same, it would be nice if you could save your data on the PS3 and pick up where you left off on the Vita. But I guess you can’t have everything…

So there it is, the best racing game on the system, thus far. I’ve been waiting since launch for a decent, long lasting game, and I think here it is. We’ll see, but for now I’ve got my hands full with this game.

this Game is awesome a must have for the vita!!!! best racing game so far and the grapics are stunning, not perfect but defenitely very good! it seems that finally EA did work on this title…. there some minor problems though 1- the lights from the uncoming traffic seems pixalated but nothing that is that bad it doent alter your gaming experience at all and 2- there are some glitches but it seems they fixed them because there is an UPDATE already… other than that awesome game.

I’m an old man in the video game world. When I started playing this game, I whispered under my breath…”this game is sick”. I realized at that point, how awesome it was. It had contorted my vernacular into that of a pimply faced teenager…I was transported to the first time I played whatever ground breaking game I was playing in the mid 90’s.

I seriously can’t go into much detail, but to say that this is the greatest handheld racing/driving game ever. For the record, Wipeout 2048 is a very close second.

When you fire this up the first time, the graphics and the speed of those graphics will blow you away. It’s simply beautiful. The open world feel really works on a handheld, because I can spend five minutes just driving around finding new stuff. When I have to do that on a console, I feel like I’m wasting my time. But here, exploration is rewarded. I will just sit down and start driving without a concern for progression, get into a few battles with the cops, and be done, and feel completely satisfied.

Controls are tight. I use wheel and peddles pretty much exclusively for consoles, so getting used to the stick was a challenge. It can be a little too tight at times. But after about 20 minutes you start to figure out what’s what.

The AI racers are brilliant. Both the cops and the competitors really don’t seem to like you very much…which adds to the ambiance.

I am having a hard time coming up with a bad thing to say. I’ve played everything on the vita so far, and this is my favorite game yet.

Yet another reason to buy a vita.