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Need for Speed Most Wanted

EMAIL PRINT xbox360

7.8 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 54 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 47 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: EA Canada

Genre(s): Racing, Driving

Players: 2

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: November 15, 2005

Summary

Combining the thrill of illicit street racing and tuner customization with the intensity of strategic police pursuits that rivals any Hollywood-style chase scene, Need for Speed Most Wanted challenges players to become the most notorious and elusive street racer. Players instantly feel the thrill of the ride as they hit the streets in an open world environment where drivers can tune their cars to compete against any class of vehicles or use their wits to out-fox the law to satisfy their need for speed. Need for Speed Most Wanted delivers a unique, fast-paced and gripping ride in the racing genre as players build up their Rap Sheet and street cred to move their way up the Black List to become the most wanted racer on the streets. Players go head-to-head with the top drivers on the scene as well as strategically evade more than half dozen cops at any one time. Also included are a dynamic open world, new gameplay and customization as well as tuners, supercars, muscles and sports cars. [Electronic Arts]

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats

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...

100

Detroit Free Press

One of those rare racing titles that make you feel like you're driving 180 m.p.h., yet still in control of your ride. You soar through the streets, trade paint with rivals and blast over the finish line.

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XboxAddict

I am a proud owner of a sunlight silver RX-8 and the entire culture of street racing enthralls me so certain specifics of this game that really made me love playing may not strike the same cord with you but I promise you that if you give this game a chance it will prove to you that it is worth every penny.

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Talk Xbox

The cop AI is ingenious and will regularly outwit you without making you feel as if they are unfair.

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PGNx Media

The addition of the cops returns the series to its roots, while keeping the gameplay mechanics and large city of the Underground games will make it accessible to fans of those games. The Xbox 360 version is definitely recommended.

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Xbox Solution

The solid story, the twists, the great graphics and excellent audio make this still a solid game and one that will remain in my 360 collection forever.

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Gamezilla!

Everything from the fully licensed vehicles to the cracks in the road surface scream NEXT GENERATION!

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GameShark

The Xbox 360 makes NFS: MW an even better game and it should absolutely, positively be one of your first titles with the console.

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Game Chronicles

Whether you just like to tinker with a nice assortment of exotic sports cars or have a general distaste for law enforcement, there is something here to appeal to everyone including a clichéd story with campy acting and hot racing babes that are more suited to be on the hood of your car rather than driving their own.

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Official Xbox Magazine

This is exciting, well-designed racing - exactly what earned NFS its name in the first place. [Jan 2006, p.76]

Games Radar (in-house)

It's a shame that the multiplayer options don't include a cop pursuit mode, but that's a minor omission in a one-game-fits-all package.

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MS Xbox World

I have found that NFSMW is highly addictive and the return to the roots of the series with the pursuit mode is a more than a welcome inclusion over the recent underground titles.

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AtomicGamer

While Need for Speed: Most Wanted lacks a few key features that take it over the top, it's still a solid game and winds up being the best installment in the NFS series in years.

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Play Magazine

Driving through the alleyways and suburban sprawls...rain pouring down, thunder clapping, music up; this is (virtual) living. [Dec 2005, p.54]

Game Informer

I found myself endlessly creating bigger and bigger chases that went from one side of the city to the other and back again. [Jan 2006, p.146]

GamePro

An eclectic mix of rock and hip-hop tunes resonate well, but it's the authentic (and sometimes funny) banter between the dispatcher and other cops that really shifts your driving experience into high gear.

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IC-Games

There are some suitably impressive graphics on offer and the career mode is probably one of the most impressive seen in the series to date.

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DailyGame

The riotous cop chases and white-knuckle racing make for an enjoyable romp, even with the cheap catch-up system.

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Next Level Gaming

The Xbox 360 version is where the biggest jump should have been, but fell a bit short. In fact, even in 720p/1080i High Definition, there only thing you gain over the Xbox and PS2 games is the clarity of the in-game textures. And clarity isn't strong enough a word! Borderline photo-realistic is probably a better word to use.

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GameZone

Easily the most fun racing game currently available on Xbox 360.

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Worth Playing

For those of you who are looking for a racing game that does not require Skip Barber's Driving School to understand, MW will prove to be a good fit.

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1UP

It's fast, good looking, boasts a great car list, and gives you plenty of game for the money. You get about 15 hours of gameplay from the main career mode, plus there are 68 additional challenges that will take you a fair few hours to get through, as well as online play.

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Planet Xbox 360

The graphics, sound effects, and controls are only a bonus to everything else that makes up a quality racing title. For a first attempt on new hardware I have to commend EA for a job well done.

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Game Power Australia

The police chases add a great deal to the game, and it’s refreshing to be racing in the daylight for a change. If you’re looking for a fast, high adrenaline racer and you like the idea of running from the cops, Most Wanted might be the game for you.

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Xbox World Australia

As a whole, however, Need for Speed: Most Wanted comes across as extremely polished and very fun.

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Extreme Gamer

This street racing franchise still has lots of life, and Most Wanted is provides some invigorating racing for all levels of gamers.

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Xbox Evolved

Need for Speed Most Wanted is definitely the best in the series yet. The only problem with it is you may get bored with the pattern of "races, outrun the cops, Blacklist rival, repeat."

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eToychest

It really is surprising that so many divergent elements were all thrown together and still produced a solid, sound racing experience.

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XGP Gaming

Do you want a near-perfect combination of both, and the game that takes on almost all the qualities of a successful launch title? Do you want this reviewer’s most enjoyed game on the Xbox 360? Get Need for Speed. Be the most wanted.

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GameSpot

Its high-speed races and police chases make for an extremely exciting game, which is further enhanced by the game's terrific graphics. This is one of those games that makes the previous generation of hardware look older than it actually is.

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TeamXbox

Responsive, realistic and loads of fun to play. The variety of events and challenges will keep you busy for hours and the police pursuits give players more than enough reasons to check it out. Lack of more creative online modes chips away at a higher score.

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Game Revolution

I’m loving Need For Speed: Most Wanted. It’s a great combination of "Underground" and "Hot Pursuit," and it’s just one hell of a lot of fun.

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Gaming Target

There’s a challenging and lengthy career mode based around “street cred,” a decent online experience, and some good customizability on the game’s many speed machines.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

The lack of variety in the actual races and subsequently online doesn’t do much to justify the £50 price tag, but once you have a fast car and experience some of those intense police chases in glorious HD, you’ll be grinning from ear to ear.

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Armchair Empire

The story started to grate on me after beating the first few Blacklist opponents.

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Gamer 2.0

A great game. Sure, the AI can be annoying, the online may be a little lacking in modes, but overall, Most Wanted is still a very solid game.

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Eurogamer

Unlike a lot of arcade racing games we've played over the years, Most Wanted is one of the few games that's destined to provide a lasting challenge, despite the inherent repetition at its core.

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GameSpy

It's got more than enough fast-paced action to give gamers their adrenaline fix, and it does it with all sorts of visual style.

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G4 TV

The game is a beefy excursion that pleases all your senses, and for that, it will be taking plenty of pink slips from other Xbox 360 launch games.

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GamerFeed

The gameplay feels fine, the numerous modes are a blast, the graphics are mostly smoothed over, and pursuit is as good as it gets.

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Yahoo! Games

Along with the AI issues, the handling between autos is a little suspect. Despite the fact that the game is loaded with exotic cars -- 36 to be exact -- they all seem to handle very much like one another. If there are differences, they're extremely subtle.

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Cheat Code Central

The sheer variety of racing styles coupled with the thoroughly entertaining storyline, made this Need For Speed one of my Most Wanted. I'm sure no matter which system you play it on, you'll find NFSMW a real winner.

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IGN

The sense of speed never reaches Burnout levels, but it's damn good in everything from a souped-up Volkswagon GTI to a stock RX-8. And while it should be a given, the Lamborghinis, Porsches and other high-end cars really rip. The 360 version is easily the best version of the bunch.

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Gaming Illustrated

But if you don't see the awesome graphics and sound, you will definitely be a sorrier person for it whether you know it or not.

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3DAvenue

EA has succeeded in taking the game back to its roots, but in other ways not as far as some may have liked.

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Adrenaline Vault

If this would have been released sans the law enforcement and Pursuit inspired aspects of the game, it would have been titles Need for Speed: Underground 3, because really that is powering it.

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AceGamez

Awesome ambient effects provide the glue for stunning visuals, sound effects almost drown out pumping beats and remarkably adept police chats, while the gameplay challenges are enough to keep you on the edge of your leather upholstered bucket seats.

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TotalGames.net

The trouble is, with the likes of "Project Gotham Racing 3" and "Test Drive Unlimited" looking pretty awesome - that level of expectation is very high - and this latest Need For Speed adventure doesn't quite have the weight to match it.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

Aside from the high-shine gloss, though, a few extra pursuers in the cop chases are about all that differentiates this version from the current-gen game. My main beefs--the repetitive race events and not-very-challenging cop chases (especially earlier in the game)--are still here.

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Total Video Games

The story mode does provide a challenge and will last most around the 15 hour mark, however once that’s past the game has very little to offer largely because of the fundamental online options.

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Computer and Video Games

Half loose arcade racer, half tight tuner epic, Need For Speed Most Wanted gets caught in a rolling roadblock between "PGR3"'s graceful racing and "Burnout"'s burning intensity, neither of which it can begin to match. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

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Gamenikki

Because it’s not a terrible game, especially on a currently under-served platform, there are no really strong arguments I can give to avoid the game.

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PALGN

Still an incredibly addictive game but there are a lot of racing games out there for the launch and this is just a port.

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360 Gamer Magazine UK

At best it's supreme fun and at worst it's still worth a spin. [Issue #2]

Gaming Age

Need for Speed: Most Wanted takes Underground’s control scheme and slaps it into the Hot Pursuit series, which in the end, does not work.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 47 User Votes

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

Fred S. gave it a10:
I love this game!!! the graphics rock, the way you can custimize your car is awesome, the slow-mo of jumps is soooo sweet, and the entire game Rocks My Socks.

Mikko P. gave it a9:
Normally, I would hate driving games. Nothing is more boring than a driving game, well, maybe a golf game. But NFS Most Wanted is different from ALL driving games I've tested. It's not so god damn serious, I love it. Escaping the cops in totally open enviroment is totally mindblowingly fun! Graphics are better than they usually get credit for, especially the lighting effects, no framerate issues. I have PGR3 and Burnout Revenge, but I hardly ever play them ´cos this is simply more fun! For me, PGR is too serious and Burnout is too tongue-in-cheek. I hope they release a sequel or work on the idea of running from cops more, there is a lot potential in that.

Job A. gave it a9:
A terrific game! The cop chases are awesome and I really have alot of fun with this game - I give it a 9.2

Sam M. gave it a0:
Worst game I have ever played on xbox 360 and possibly the worst driving game ever created in my opinion why would anyone buy this game when they could easily just buy burnout revenge or pgr3 which are much better than this sad attempt to make a racing game trust me its bad.

Ciaran G. gave it a6:
Nothing special at all. Not hugely exciting and gets repetitive. If you already have the likes of Need for Speed: Underground 1 or 2, the only real addition is nicer graphics and police chases. Although, the game stutters quite a bit at different times. You'd be better off buying the Underground series for much cheaper. The police chases are fun but get long and boring. However, car customization and variety and type of cars is great.

Tim B. gave it a9:
This is one of the best games i have in my game library, and believe you me, thats big, and even after i'd completed it i still cant stop playing!

Jeff B. gave it an8:
Pretty descent game. definately worth the money and the time playing. It has great grahpics and an interesting storyline to keep things moving smoothly. I would definately recommend this game as it is fun and keeps you coming back for more.

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Need for Speed Most Wanted

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