Need For Speed

(Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows)

NEED for Speed has skidded off the tracks in recent years.

The franchise has become stale and lost its crown as the driving game in pole position to Forza, while even newcomers like The Crew have muscled their way in and stolen a march.

This title marks a much-needed reset and the pure racing element of the game is very enjoyable and it comes into its element when you’re bombing down the highway at 130mph.

Its graphics are also fairly decent and its car customisation possibilities and second to none, but all is not well in Need for Speed land.

In its story mode all the cut scenes are done with live action video and the standard of acting is nauseatingly awful, while its insistence on presenting game information in the form of tweets just doesn’t work and looks like an embarrassing attempt to be down with the kids.

The game world is unimaginative, repetitive and pretty small in size – especially in comparison to that of The Crew, which featured a scaled down version of the whole of the USA with each region having its own distinctive characteristics.

Need for Speed certainly has enjoyable elements but its faults will leave you banging your head against the wall and pining for the halcyon days of Most Wanted and Underground 2.

In terms of gameplay it would give Forza a run for its money but other aspects of the game have come close to spoiling the whole thing and pushed it into a distant fourth or fifth place.

RATING: 5.5/10

ADAM EVERETT