Games

Best of 2009 | 08 |07 | 06 | 05
Advanced Search

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Need for Speed Nitro

EMAIL PRINT wii

7.7 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 40 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 24 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >

Game Info

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: EA Montreal

Genre(s): Racing, Driving

Players: Multi

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)

Release Date: November 2, 2009

Summary

Boasting support for the Wii Remote, Nunchuk, racing wheel, classic controller, GameCube controller and DS stylus, Need for Speed NITRO lets players decide exactly how they want to dominate the competition. For the ultimate bragging rights, gamers can’t just win the race, they must own it. With a nearly limitless visual customization system, gamers can design a unique art style to attach to their ride. As they edge out competitors in driving finesse, their art will overtake the world, vibrantly painting the story of racing supremacy. All this combined with fresh modes, tracks and exotic real world locations make Need for Speed NITRO one of the most exciting, heart-pounding arcade racers for the Wii and Nintendo DS. [Electronic Arts]

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

GamePro

Something else that blindsided me was the killer sense of speed. Dropping behind the wheel of a Charger or Cobra for a quick race was immediately satisfying and while NITRO definitely suffers from low-res car models and building textures, that doesn't stop the game from feeling frighteningly fast.

Read Full Review >

IGN

Nitro is a blast despite its faults, and brings some simply awesome concepts to the table. If you’re a racing fan, this is the first NFS experience that’s actually worth the cash on Wii.

Read Full Review >

Official Nintendo Magazine UK

A racing game with no frills but plenty of thrills. Well worth getting for solid arcade racing.

Read Full Review >

WonderwallWeb

An enjoyable, challenging and strong racing game for the Wii that sadly lacks online support.

Read Full Review >

Gamers' Temple

Need for Speed: Nitro is an arcade style racer that, while not too terribly deep, is worth a spin around the block.

Read Full Review >

NintendoWorldReport

Need for Speed: Nitro is, for the most part, a fantastic racing game for the Wii. The art style looks fantastic on the system, the varied control options are great, and the gameplay is fast-paced and entertaining. Sadly, it awkwardly straddles the line between zany arcade racing game and super-serious simulation game, wasting a lot of potential in the process with conservative items and unused 'boss' characters.

Read Full Review >

Armchair Empire

It’s great to see Electronic Arts put some effort into a platform specific release instead of the sub-standard ports the Wii often tends to get. Highly recommended for fans of the series, just bring your wheel to the party.

Read Full Review >

Multiplayer.it

Packed with cartoon-style graphics, drifting-based gameplay and plenty of nitro boosts, Need for Speed: Nitro for Nintendo Wii is a fun, addictive and spectacular racer.

Read Full Review >

Worth Playing

Overall, Need for Speed: Nitro does what it was set out to do and does it right. It doesn't feel like Shift, instead playing like something made for the Wii audience. It's got its flaws, but it also has a fast, easy-to-pick-up gameplay and just enough depth to be worth a purchase for a wide swath of Wii gamers.

Read Full Review >

3DJuegos

Need for Speed Nitro has an amazing sense of the speed with crazy but funny racers. It offers five different controls for any kind of player. The gameplay is challenging with fresh visual style perfect for the Wii. The game has more than 40 different licensed cars which can be customized. The most exciting arcade racing game for Wii in this year.

Read Full Review >

GameFocus

For the first Wii-specific racer by EA, Need for Speed Nitro is a step in the right direction. The only major factors that hold it back from absolute greatness are the repetitive career mode and lack of online play.

Read Full Review >

Da Gameboyz

In terms of Need for Speed Nitro, it is not perfect but it certainly is a base for EA Montreal to build upon to give Wii owners a truly compelling and unique racing game exclusive to Nintendo's home console.

Read Full Review >

NZGamer

Big splash in the grand scheme of quarter four 2009? No. Big splash on the Wii? For what it is, absolutely.

Read Full Review >

Gamer's Hell

NITRO's point-based structure and pick-up-and-play gameplay caters well to those looking for quick spurts of action, but it's unlikely to see an intense cross-pollination from those in need of in-depth racing sessions on the Wii.

Read Full Review >

Cheat Code Central

I'm not going to pretend that Need for Speed: Nitro can live up to the grandiosity of Shift. However, for an arcade-style racer, Nitro is a ton of fun. As a racer for the Wii, Nitro is phenomenal.

Read Full Review >

GameTrailers

Need for Speed Nitro's cartoony nature and zoned-off tracks take some of the edge out of street racing, but the fiery boosts and hectic police encounters make for a fast, simple arcade racer.

Read Full Review >

GamingXP

Need for Speed: Nitro entertains people who like arcade-racers. Core-gamers will be very disappointed.

Read Full Review >

SpazioGames

Need for Speed: NITRO is not a simulation racer but the controls make you feel like you are driving a fast car. The single player mode has good graphics. Detailed backgrounds, nice polygon models, good texturing and lighting and constant framerate. The game is fun and the one real downside is the fact that there is no online mode.

Read Full Review >

Nintendo Power

Still, racing around is enjoyable and can be challenging, even if the Career mode can feel repetitive due to the unfortunate lack of track variety. [Holiday 2009, p.87]

Gameplanet

A pared down, stylised version of previous NFS titles with a few new gimmicks. Best suited to younger gamers.

Read Full Review >

GameDaily

EA's latest Need For Speed effort on Wii would've benefited from online play and several more tracks and cars. As it stands, however, Nitro is an enthralling racing game, with plenty of rubber-burning action for you and your friends.

Read Full Review >

Kombo

As far as arcade racers on the Wii go, Need for Speed: Nitro isn't a bad experience.

Read Full Review >

XGN

With Need for Speed Nitro EA proves it can deliver a good arcade race game. However if you are a die hard racefan, you can forget this game. It isn't a Ferrari but you may proudly call it a Volkswagen.

Read Full Review >

Gamervision

Need for Speed: Nitro does a good job of washing the taste of the last few entries of the franchise out of your mouth, but it doesn’t really do anything to establish a new status quo. The racing is fun, and the customization is cool, but outside of that, there’s not a whole lot going on here.

Read Full Review >

GameSpot

Need for Speed: Nitro gets off to a fast start, but lacks enough variety to make it into the winner's circle.

Read Full Review >

Nintendo Life

While not a knockout in all regards, Nitro is still worth spending some time with, especially if you've got a few buddies to thwomp. High five for now, Nitro, but we know you can do a lot better.

Read Full Review >

Zentendo

Had Nitro been given online capabilities the score would have been higher just on merit. But the lack of it, coupled with the “meh” presentation and production values makes this Need for Speed a hot rod with nothing impressive under the hood.

Read Full Review >

Vandal Online

Overall we've liked Need for Speed Nitro, but we feel it could have been much more.

Read Full Review >

1UP

Unfortunately, the "shallow" moniker does apply in some respects, as the single-player Career mode is quite brief and represents the bulk of the game; plus, the absence of online play does nothing to help this. Given the slim pickings for racing fans on the Wii, though, it's easy to recommend NFS: Nitro, as it brings a solid (if however spartan) arcade racing experience to a system that clearly should have had one a long time ago.

Read Full Review >

GamesNation

It is very frustrating when you have the chance to enjoy a game so much, but it all ends way too soon… Need for Speed: Nitro is just this: great gameplay, awfully short.

Read Full Review >

Gaming Nexus

Nitro is age appropriate for the pre-teen Wii player, but will not hold the attention of the older folks in the house. The graphics are fun and attractive but won't be mistaken for the nearly photo realistic graphics available on the higher-end consoles.

Read Full Review >

Gaming Age

There's not enough content here to keep me satisfied, and the difficulty is far too light for my current tastes. It might hold over the younger gamers out there, but for those of us in our 20's and so on, you'll quickly realize that Nitro is a little too light on content to keep you entertained for long.

Read Full Review >

NGamer UK

It might look like a Burnout for kids but it doesn't play that way. [Christmas 2009, p.50]

Game Informer

Make no mistake about it: Need for Speed: Nitro’s competitive advantage shouldn’t be the motion controls – it should be the series’ penchant for arcade racing, supercharged cop chases, and edge-of-your-seat racing. Unfortunately It doesn’t even come close to delivering on these fronts. But, by all means, have some motion controls.

Read Full Review >

VideoGamer

Nitro's problem is that the game struggles to keep you interested.

Read Full Review >

Level7.nu

An appealing arcade concept that doesn’t reach all the way.

Read Full Review >

Eurogamer Spain

NFS: Nitro tries to do things well, but fails in almost everything.

Read Full Review >

Eurogamer

Even the distinction between car classes fails to develop the gameplay, and within the first half an hour you feel like you've seen pretty much everything the game has to offer. It might scream 'excitement' at the top of its tiny lungs, then, but Need For Speed: Nitro's initially endearing zest quickly degenerates into repetitive strain.

Read Full Review >

Teletext GameCentral

It pales next to other classic arcade racers, but at least this Need For Speed makes an effort.

Read Full Review >

Gameplayer Sweden

It shows that this game is specifically made for the Wii and they try hard at making it look like a kid for the younger crowd. But basically it all just falls flat down on the ground with only a few things that make you want to play the game longer than 15 minutes.

Read Full Review >

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.7 (out of 10) based on 24 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Colin B.B. gave it an8:
I agree with the previous comments that the graphics are not that great even though the game is quite enjoyable on multiple aspects. As a rendering engineer I feel the art direction could have been more focus and synergestic with the rest of the gameplay. Still the fact that they support up to five control schemes make this game great.

Jules P gave it a9:
Definitely the best part of this game is the driving physics. It's so smooth and innovative! Actually, other driving games should learn from nitro! A masterpiece of car handling and simulation. Too bad the graphics are not so great... which is why I give it a 9 (and not a 10 - physics only deserve a 10).

CorZ D gave it an8:
A refreshingly different approach to the racing genre. The graphical style is exciting, the sound of the cars is impressive as is the ability to customize them. The only thing I would like to see in a sequel would be mechanical upgrades, control customization and a choice of cockpit view or behind the car while racing view. Overall this game could be the basis for a whole new series as it has a lot of potential!

james c gave it an8:
The 2 player career mode is an entertaining addition, with speed being retained. (I haven't ried it with 4 simultaneous players but the option is there). In single player it's inevitably limited but there's plenty of entertainment here in multiplayer.

Jules S gave it a9:
Great game, physic's spot on and the graphics are fantastic. Well worth the 50$ I paid unlike ODST which is nothing but a cheap expansion made my 2 designers and 2 programmers.

Steve W gave it a10:
finally they focused on reliable gameplay. but I know the wii can do better graphics than this, so I'm a little disappointed. I still like the last one the best in the entire series, although too bad it glitches occasionally. With Nitro they got the engine solid as a rock, and it feels really fast which is great!

Games

Sony

Microsoft

Nintendo

Other Platforms

Upcoming &Recent Releases

Need for Speed Nitro

Game Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases