Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 57 Ratings

  • Summary: Need for Speed: Most Wanted is an open world Racing game. The game is the 19th release in the long-running Need for Speed franchise, but hearkens back to the earliest games in the series as players compete in races with police unified against them. Races have a set beginning and end point, with the open world game design allowing players to complete each using whatever path they can find. Additional features include a unique blend of Simulation and Arcade gameplay, social play options through the Autolog 2 feature, exciting multiplayer support, and a large selection of performance vehicles. Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. 95
    It’s packed with content, and even in the later hours I was thrown into areas I had yet to discover. Whether you choose to explore, race, or compete with friends, there’s a home for you in Fairhaven.
  2. Apr 22, 2013
    91
    With the new (improved) control system and slight increase in visual quality, it would be safe to say that Wii U owners are getting the best experience out of Most Wanted - even if it is six months behind.
  3. Apr 21, 2013
    90
    This is a "racer" that beyond presenting a great identity, really messes with emotions and truly defines the illegal and fast racing. It is simply an essential game.
  4. Apr 16, 2013
    85
    Need for Speed: Most Wanted U is a must-have racing game for those who only own the Wii U.

See all 36 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 19
  2. Negative: 5 out of 19
  1. I had this for PS3 and Vita before I got a Wii U. The game looks noticeably better but the main thing going for this game or any Wii U game for that matter is playing it on the controller. It's on a different level then playing it on the Vita. Expand
  2. 8
    Very fun open world racing game although I feel like there are some issues with progression. I am continually rising in the ranks and progressing but i'm not sure why. This is a game that gives you very little direction in the open world that it provides you with. This version has some of the DLC from the other versions and has the best graphics out of the bunch. With the gamepad functionality, it is easily the best version of the game both functionally and visually. Expand
  3. This is the definitive version of the game. The reason you want this version, the best version, is for the co-op couch play. It is incredibly fun, makes it almost impossible to play it any other way.Having one person on the GamePad, acting as Co-Pilot, and the other on the Pro Controller, driving, and NFSMWU is an excellent experience that really shows the potential of the system. The REALITY of the GAME and the DOWNSIDE: Some will say this game looks better because they are able to use PC textures, and that sounds good in theory, but in practice not so much. Since the game isn't running at 1080p, the PC textures don't really add much to the look of the game. In fact, I have this on PS3 and running the WiiU version side by side on a 60" LED Samsung, the PS3 version is definitely a better looking game. And there is a major problem when trying to use the GamePad to Race, it is horrible, super laggy and unresponsive, like trying trying to drive a 5 ton brick when you're supposed to be driving a race car; the only way to really enjoy this, as the driver, is to use the Pro Controller. Expand
  4. PROS: Great Graphics Weird and sometimes hilarious Race Intros

    CONS: Race Intros can be downright ugly Steering is really poor, making
    it "NFS Happy Crash Land"(Unacceptable!) Going off road turns you into an uncontrollable bullet (Unacceptable!) Soundtrack is awful and you cannot turn any songs off individually You cannot tune the gamepad screen in gamma, and since the game is so dark, off tv play is impossible during daylight. Gamepad is very blurry with heavy compression artifacts most apparent on the reds, also seems to render at a different resolution and scale down without any sharpening, probably causing the blur... NO OFFLINE MULTIPLAYER (Unacceptable!) Very annoying Speed Camera Strobe Is this a race game, or is it a bullet hell game (so many obstacles! )

    What shocks me the most is that NFS Hot Persuit also made by Criterion was awesome and a throwback to the old NFS days. This just seems like Burnout Paradise in a new jacket. (Which was probably the worst Burnout by far) This game is flawed at its core, very disappointing gameplay makes me resell this game as quickly as possible.
    Expand

See all 19 User Reviews