I also bought this (PS3).
One of the better racing games i've played. Definitely the best NFS game i've played since like... Hot Pursuit 2.
The only thing is, I didn't read the fine print. There isn't any split screen multiplayer mode. When i found out after trying to play it with my bro i was devastated lol. What kind of racing game doesn't have normal multiplayer? >_<.
Ah well though, its still alot of fun, especially with the in car views.
Review for all the undecided!!
Driving.
It is being marketed as a sim game.If you have this mind set, it will screw you over. It's no sim. I kept finishing last until I drove like the usual NFS games. The typical cornering techniques don't work lol. Brake late, let the back end slide, point your car to the apex and smash the throttle. During races, the AI in front of you will always be slightly faster then you. Once you pass them, they are clocking 4 secs/ lap slower which is weird. Anyways, point is LOADS of fun as an arcade game not a sim.
Graphics.
Well, for those on PC, be sure to have 2X the min. requirements. I have a classmate running an i7. Barely gets 30fps. I'm in 800X600 mode windowed so it's all cool.
Aside from the demanding graphics, it's beautiful. The smoke, the dust, the special effects, makes it all that more "realistic". The damage, some flying parts, is nicely done. The best part is the interior. Sure, it doesn't have the look left/right functions other sims has but moving hands/fingers is quite something.
The gameplay:
The rims, the bodykits, the engine sound, is epic. Wheel fitment is epic. Bodykits are awesome. (e xcept the 135i, S2000, which imo failed) The works package may look extreme to the uneducated, but they have recreated the Super GT/ JGTC/ LeMans aero packages quite accurately.
Upgrading the car is easy, and you can choose what to upgrade. I.e. you can make a AE86 a touge monster. Little engine mods and maxed out handling mods. It will give some versatility when entering a race on Willow Spring or Ebisu which are killer for your high power Viper SRT10 for example.
The Career mode is well designed. It's not linear. You can do other type of events before coming back to the races you might have lost. T'lhe invitations are loads of fun. At one point, you'll be driving a 1001hp Veryon on the Ring. I had a handful on a E92 M3... The Veryon was beyond insane even though I know the Ring by memory from other games. Drifting: very fun. Not easy but it's so rewarding once you start linking corners.
Overall, it's a very nicely done game. It may have some issues but I'm sure patches will resolve them.
problem1: very demanding. I don't have a super computer, but a classmate has a Quad extreme and the barely makes 40fps. That's intense...
problem2: in career mode, it crashed the game. The only solution was to start a new career. Which sucked balls for me because I was at tier 2 when it happened. But since then, I haven't had a problem.
Verdict?
I'm sure this game will be successful for the car enthusiasts. It's far from the Underground rice shit. The bodykits for example on the S13 is a very close adaption of the Koguchi Power widebody seen on 100's of D1 and D1SL cars. Fitment is epic, the rims chosen are sick. Once your car is completed, it's hellaflush with some intense offset/ dish.
And did I miss anything or the Supra isn't in there?
JZX fanboys won't be happy. As for I, C10 Hakosuka, R34 Skyline, R35 GTR, R35 SpecV, I'm spoiled.
8.5/10
-0.5 because I had to restart when the game crashed.
? I know some models has the ATI dedicated graphics with the SU9400 processor xD or was your bundle with the SSD for $800?
