The future of Need for Speed

[johnnybleu]

So earlier this year, EA and Ghost Games said there would be no NFS game in 2014, and that they would take this opportunity to speak with fans about what the series means, and where it should go. This got me thinking, since this is something that had been on my mind for a number of years now.

The short of it is that personally I'd like to see them go way back to the roots. I remember when NFS used to be about whipping around gorgeous locations in exotic dream cars, and I really miss it. Lately, I find myself playing Most Wanted (the new one), just doing laps on the freeway, dreaming of the game that could be. I've played a ton of NFS games over the years, and there has been some very strong entries, but I'd really love it if they brought back to the days-- showcases and all.

I think the biggest problem is that modern NFS games are just amalgamations of different titles, and so instead of getting several games to choose from, we're stuck with one that tries to appeal to a wider fan-base. It's pretty hard to distinguish modern NFS games from Burnout titles, for example, and I personally don't much care for them (have yet to pick up Rivals). There's just something about the constant crashing, bashing, takedowns, and "ZOMG!!1! epic cop chase!" that doesn't do it for me. Don't get me wrong- I loves me some Burnout- but I'd rather keep my black-forest cake and poutine separate.

In a perfect world, EA would split the series again-- have the main NFS line, which would be closer to NFS2 and High Stakes. Bring out Underground for the open-world and customization shenanigans. And finally, make Burnout it's own series again. Heck, you could even bring back the Shift line for those looking for more of a sim vibe. Stagger the releases so we always have something awesome to play, and keep them distinct so I can cruise in an Aston Martin without getting in a 20 minute Michael Bay car chase.

What about other NFS fans? What would be your dream game? Where would you like to see the series go in 2015?

P.S. It also seems like PS4's Drive Club is pretty much the game I'm looking for, but it's locked at 30fps and I'm a dirty, dirty fps whore.

 

[K9]

I think declining to release a new Need for Speed this year could end up being a step in the right direction. Racing used to be one of my, if not my favorite video game genre. I've been disillusioned with the genre's output for a long time now. It really all feels the same. There have only been a few really good ones in the last five years or so. I remember one year Project Gothan Racing 2 and Need for Speed Underground came out, then Burnout Takedown and Need for Speed Underground 2 came out the next year. That was a great era for racing titles. I'd like to see NFS concentrate on quality, good maps and online play that's fun and competitive over gimmicks and silly in-game mechanics.

 

[asdfen]

NFS games released on PS3/XBOX were epic fail and that is coming from someone who loved almost every one of NFS games on PC/PS2 released before. Until they stop releasing total horrible junk I dont see any future for NFS. All resecently released NFS games have all or some game braking for me issues such as horrid driving mechanics even for arcade game - lack of tuning options (we are talking about street racing here)- terrible ruberbanding AI - horrid cookie cutter racing missions some of them using the same track more than once just copy pasting pieces of it together in different order making it very very confusing and not enjoyable to race on

 

[SSJBlastoise]

I think they need to make a new Underground game, NFSU 1 and 2 were and probably still are my favourite racing games. They weren't just about making your car go faster like most racing games now, they allowed you to actually change the look of your car.

I know recent games do but most of the wheels are too similar so you basically only get racing type rims. The body kits in modern racing games consist of minor changes, no hood scoops or wild spoilers.

I basically just want a decent racing game with a good focus on car mods.

 

[johnnybleu]

I think they need to make a new Underground game, NFSU 1 and 2 were and probably still are my favourite racing games. They weren't just about making your car go faster like most racing games now, they allowed you to actually change the look of your car.

I know recent games do but most of the wheels are too similar so you basically only get racing type rims. The body kits in modern racing games consist of minor changes, no hood scoops or wild spoilers.

I basically just want a decent racing game with a good focus on car mods.

I agree that Underground were some of my favourite NFS titles, even if I'd prefer they kept it as a spin-off series, alongside the "main" line.

As for a lack of "tuner" racers in recent years, I think it's simply because the fad died down. When Underground came out, tuner culture was at it's peak (in fact, it's the entire reason Underground exists at all). Fast and Furious movies were all the rave, magazine stands were packed with a dozen street-racing and tuner mags, every civic on the streets had a fartcan and underglow. You get the idea.

Like all trends, the tuner scene just went away, and only the diehards remained-- which is a considerably smaller market. That's not to say that NFS Underground 3 wouldn't be a solid idea. It just wouldn't have the mass-appeal it would have had back in the day.

All that said, I still agree that ANY racing game benefits from visual car customization options in my book. More than just changing the rims, anyway.

 

[J Tyran]

Maybe, I think I would rather see more Midnight Club games instead though. Bikes and car races with separate classes and open free for all races where you could bring whatever for fun and the ability to customise them all as wildly or as subtly as you liked, Midnight Club 2 was my favourite over the NFS of the same era.

I do like Hot Pursuit and Rivals for the novelty of being a cop, Bugatti Veyron police cars are pretty funny (although there are police forces in the world that do have some supercars.

 

[kilenem]

One thing I don't understand if you look at the money the Underground series is the series that sold the most. Why hasn't that gotten another iteration.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

I don't remember NFS games ever being about dream cars in exotic locales. The series has always been about street racing imports, tuners and muscle cars. Forza and Test Drive are more about dream cars.

On topic, racing games are mainly about four things: a good roster of cars, a good selection of circuits, the quality of gameplay/car physics/AI and, perhaps bizarrely, their soundtrack.

That's not to say that ambience, progression, "story" or the rest don't make a difference (they do, at least to give a game it's personality and distinctiveness), just that the game can still be good even if these secondary characteristics are lacking.

So a good racing game needs cars that are fun to drive, circuits that are fun and challenging to race on and a pumping soundtrack to complement it. NFS in particular should focus on the "fast and furious"style underground scene, hot tuners, customising cars' looks and performance and have a progressive SP campaign.

IMO, the series should forget the Most Wanted stuff and each title could be a new city. For example NFS: Paris, NFS: London, NFS: Tokyo, NFS: Moscow, Madrid, LA, Toronto, Berlin, Rome, etc. Each game would have loads of street circuits set in those cities and it gives a chance to add a different flavour/car selection/soundtrack to each game as it lines up with different cultures and groups of people.

I think this would please a lot of international fans (who wouldn't want to race fast cars on their home turf?), give the series a unique, international flavour, take us to some amazing places, exotic places and never-before-considered places. There could be a game every couple of years with a "best of", collecting the Most popular circuits together for a "continental" competition. I'd love to see something like that.