For gamers looking for action-packed street racing,Need for Speed Unboundis one of the best titles currently available. There are new features, such as cooldriving effects that makeUnboundmore aesthetically pleasing. It learns a lot from its predecessors, though it does not bring back pink slip races. This is a pity, as the chance to take a rival’s pink slip ups the stakes of races.
Additionally, winning a pink slip was a gamble in past races, as players have to pick between cards. Even if players don’t get the pink slip, there are guaranteed some great perks. AfterNeed for Speed Unbound, this feature should make a return to the series.
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The Pink Slips of Need for Speed
TheNeed for Speedfranchise has always been about being the best racer on the streets. To get better cars, players usually have to win races and save up money. This was a significant focus of2005’sNeed for Speed: Most Wantedwhich features a Blacklistthat players work their way up. Defeating the rival allows players to win their “pink slip” which essentially gives them ownership of their rival’s vehicle. This feature is reused inNeed for Speed: Carbonto great effect. Not only does it give players extra motivation to defeat their foes, but it also allows them to access a great ride that’s already been customized to tear up the streets.
The process of acquiring the pink slip isn’t straightforward, however. There is usually a selection of cards to pick, and with a little luck, players will pick the card containing the coveted pink slip. Selecting the other cards isn’t too much of a letdown either, as they give players great rewards. This includes extra impound strikes and cash. The addition of these little harmless gambling mechanics adds a little randomness to the game, and it ensures that no two playthroughs are identical.
Pink Slips Should Return to Need for Speed
InNeed for Speed Unbound, the series embraces street racing once again. Though there is no pink slip system as there is in past games likeMost WantedandCarbon, there is the opportunity to occasionally win a rival’s ride. This occurs, for instance, with therapper A$AP Rockywho has his heavily customized Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo. It’s not a bad ride to have, and it is worth the effort to acquire it.
Though the chance to win a rival’s ride is nice, it would be even better if a full-blown pink slip system would make a return. After defeating a rival, players should once again pick cards to potentially acquire their opponent’s car. Not only would this increase the excitement of races, but it would also give developers greater motivation to craft unique characters with cars that reflect their personalities. Best of all, when players are up against aparticularly infuriatingNeed for Speedrival, taking their beloved car away from them would make the victory all the sweeter.
Despite the lack of pink slipsNeed for Speed Unboundis still a greatarcade street racing game. It encourages players to intelligently use its day and night cycle. Furthermore, instead of letting players feel like racing superstars from the get-go, it has gamers working their way to the top slowly. For these reasons, it is still a title worth checking out for fans of the genre.
Need for Speed Unboundis available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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