Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012 video game)

Did You Know?

• The soundtrack includes two remixes of The Who songs originally from the album Who's Next.
• The menu music was composed by Vanesa Lorena Tate.

Gameplay

Need for Speed: Most Wanted is set in an open world environment and takes on the gameplay style of the first Most Wanted title, though it does not contain a story. Players select one car and compete in Sprint races, Circuit races, Speed runs, and Ambush races where the player starts surrounded by cops and must evade pursuit. Police are integrated into certain racing sessions, deploying vehicles and tactics to stop the player's car. The game features a Most Wanted List of 10 racers; defeating them adds their cars to the player's roster. The setting is a new city called Fairhaven, which includes a beach, an industrial district, and a main highway called I-92. Gameplay has been likened to the Burnout series, with checkpoints in races, destructible billboards and fences, and drive-through repair garages. The Autolog system from Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit plays a larger role, allowing players to earn Speed Points to boost their position on the Most Wanted list. A new social system called Cloudcompete strings together Most Wanted across all platforms, using one profile for all versions.

Development

In November 2011, a job posting showed Criterion Games was working on another Need for Speed title, seeking cinematic artists and promising intense car action, terrifying jumps, insane crashes, and epic chases. An earlier job ad from that year suggested the game would feature believable, open-world AI racing drivers. On 11 January 2012, British retailer Game stated that EA planned to release a new Need for Speed game that year, following a confidential presentation. On 23 January, Criterion's creative director Craig Sullivan tweeted that the studio had much to share in the coming months, calling the upcoming announcements "big." On 8 April, South African retailer BTGames listed a pre-order for Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2. On 7 May, EA confirmed a new Need for Speed would be out by March 2013, with a Q3 2012 release window. On 25 May, a Twitch booth schedule revealed EA would show Need for Speed: Most Wanted at E3. On 1 June, EA officially confirmed the Criterion-developed Need for Speed: Most Wanted as part of its E3 lineup.

Marketing and release

Before the game came out, a two-city UK event called the Most Wanted racing champion determined the country's top racer. That winner was crowned live on stage at the Golden Joysticks, taking home a special Need for Speed: Most Wanted Golden Joystick—one of the first such awards won by a member of the public—along with a Limited Edition copy of the game. The Limited Edition itself, available for pre-order at the standard price, added four hours of double Speed Points, custom liveries, pre-customized rollouts, and two cars: the Porsche 911 Carrera S and the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale. EA also partnered with various retailers worldwide, each offering one of three special edition extra packs—Speed Pack, Strike Pack, or Power Pack—depending on where you pre-ordered. A Facebook contest let users like a picture for a chance at a VIP kit containing an iPhone 4S, an iPad 3, a watch, Converse shoes, a "Get Wanted" cap, and copies of the game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. A single-player demo arrived on 13 November for Xbox Live Marketplace worldwide and PlayStation Network in North America, then on 15 November 2012 in Europe, featuring four vehicles with races, challenges, and unlockable mods. Speed Points earned in the demo carried over to the full game up to 50,000. On 21 November 2012, the Need for Speed Autolog iPhone app was updated with Most Wanted support, including in-game maps, Speed Point tallies, friend management, profile pictures, speed walls, and news. Finally, on 1 February 2016, the Windows version became free through Origin's On the House program.

Reception

Need for Speed: Most Wanted was well received by critics at E3 2012, awarded Best Racing Game and nominated for Best Online Multiplayer Game by Game Critics Awards. Previewers called it a spiritual successor to Burnout Paradise. The game received generally positive reviews, though not as acclaimed as Criterion's first entry in the franchise. Metacritic gave the Wii U version 86/100, PlayStation 3 version 84/100, PlayStation Vita version 79/100, Xbox 360 version 84/100, and PC version 78/100. Edge gave a 9/10, praising the handling, Autolog social features, and world map. IGN gave 9/10, calling it one of the year's most exhilarating experiences. Eurogamer gave 8/10, stating the sense of competition and joy of driving were not dimmed. PlayStation Official Magazine UK gave 8/10, praising the vicious racing experience and multiplayer. Official Xbox Magazine gave 8.5/10, calling it raucous entertainment.