Need For Speed Most Wanted (T)

Exciting racer on wrong side of the law, teens up.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
4
Played the game? Review it
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details
  • Publisher: Electronic Arts
  • Genre: Video Games - Racing
  • Release Date: 02/17/2006
  • Online Enabled: Yes
  • ESRB Rating: T
  • Price: $39.99

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this game is about illegal street racing. This installment includes a new major game dynamic: smashing police pursuers and outrunning them. Other new feature: The game now has an online component, which Common Sense Media does not recommend for anyone under 12. In offline gameplay, players will encounter some light sexual innuendo as well as a fair amount of commercialism in the form of real-life cars and in-game ads.

Families can talk about the dangers of street racing and irresponsible driving. When a high speed car crash left a Canadian man dead, a police officer made the game partially to blame. Do you agree? Does playing a game like this make illegal actions seem more attractive in real life? Should game makers stop glamorizing destructive and illegal activities?

Message

Social Behavior:

The game celebrates illegal street racing. Races speed through city streets and over sidewalks. Players are rewarded for running from and smashing through police cars, and demolishing some structures.

Consumerism:

The cars in the game are all branded. In-game advertising in the form of billboards and stores dots the landscape. Licensed songs on the soundtrack are announced with a pop-up on-screen display.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Educational Value:

Violence

Lots of cars crash into buildings and other cars, but very little damage is depicted. Some crashes involve innocent traffic, but the streets are free of pedestrians.

Sex

Some car-related sexual innuendo equating cars and women, like "She's mine now and I'm going to ride her like you never could."

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Chris Jozefowicz

NEED FOR SPEED: MOST WANTED turns freeways and neighborhood streets into racetracks. The single-player game is dominated by a Career Mode, in which players challenge a collection of street racers known as the Blacklist 15. Players must complete a series of driving challenges before they can compete with each member of the Blacklist.

Players roam freely, selecting challenges as they encounter them, and they have the option to simply jump to a challenge from a safe-house garage. The challenges include an impressive variety of races, such as head-to-head contests against other drivers and beat-the-clock timed runs along highways. Tangling with the cops adds "heat" to a player's car, making future chases more difficult but also winning bounty points and improving the player's reputation.

Is it any good?

4

Need For Speed provides a nice variety of customizable cars that look and sound great. Many have noticeably different driving characteristics. The sense of speed ramps up accordingly, and the controls are generally responsive within the absurd allowances of arcade racing (due to very noticeable "rubber banding," challengers are usually never too far away, no matter how well players drive).

The Career Mode is quite lengthy and should provide at least 15 hours of gameplay. But if players tire of it, they can compete in Challenge Modes (things like creating the costliest damage possible) or take the racing online. Flying through back alleys and across sidewalks produces plenty of vicarious thrills in this excellent arcade racer, but the game does celebrate illegal and dangerous behavior. Parents may want to think carefully before giving this one the green light.

How to play

  • Playability: Good. Starts off easy but difficulty ramps up to very challenging.
  • Reading Required: Medium
  • Graphics: High. Light reflects off surfaces, detailed cars and backgrounds

Other choices

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 32 reviews.

4


Posted on 06/22/08 by guitar hero Kid contributor, age 11

The game is gud but i get prety pist off when i get busted i love the game but if u rily wunt a game with cops chasin u everywere get nfs hot pursuit 2. PEACE
4


Posted on 05/18/08 by expert_reviewer Kid contributor, age 13

KICK-BUTT-GAME-!

This game is a AWSOME addition to the NFS series. It's about running from the cops and the storyline is good but the game can be alittle iffy.
5


Posted on 12/18/07 by Caboose1l2 Kid contributor, age 16

Its worth it the game Rocks!!!

Now look, I played the game and I am guess what you would call an expert about the game. You don't have to hit the citizens of RockPort if anything I aim not to hit them, but the AI cops always do.
Age 13+
4


Posted on 12/07/07 by jimyred Adult contributor

Awesome Racing Experience

this game continues in the great NFS line by providing sweet rides, customization options (you can tune your ride on the fly) and a decent storyline. of course, the best part is racing the cars.
3


Posted on 11/20/07 by exodusthe3rd Kid contributor, age 13

Why is this rated teen?

I'm not quite sure as to wy this game is rated T, but i think that it is fine for people 6+
5


Posted on 08/28/07 by weaselman Kid contributor, age 13

the best of the series

this game is just about the best game ive played, you learn about cars, how they work and even stuff, you can see has consequeces, if i had kids id want em to play this game:p
5


Posted on 07/27/07 by DeagleD Kid contributor, age 12

Simply Perfect!

I do not agree with parents panicking over their 12 year olds seeing women in belly shirts and tight shorts or running away from cops and saying the word 'moran' (please).The game even made a vid that explains to keep it in the game. Any mature kid knows not to do this (they can't even drive) and teens doing this in reality are doing it because they're irrisponsible. The game is the best racer around. It isn't sexual, terribly violent, or profane. I ndon't see whats wrong with commercialism. 10+
5


Posted on 07/27/07 by Most_wanted Kid contributor, age 12

The Greatest Game

Hey idc if u think its bad its a cool fun game that givs u more options than games like mario cart it allows u 2 choos e wat u use ur money 4 like buyin a new car or makin the 1 u got better gr8 graphics i let my cuz whos 7 play he loves it
4


Posted on 07/27/07 by ds Kid contributor, age 13

its runing frome the cops
4


Posted on 07/25/07 by The-Edge Kid contributor, age 14

the most wanted game at the time

After "need for speed underground" EA had to fill th hole of what was mising from the street racing world, the answer was COPS!I have to admit the cops add a bit more addrenaline to the game but it can be a bit frustrating and annoying at times. The car costumising a bit empty, no neons, no costom headlights and taillights, no individule parts not just body kits and so on. The "Blacklist" idea was great, and the story was all good execpt for one glitch:when Razor takes your car, he get to the top of the blacklist in one day! And it must of taken me about 3 months! How'd that happen?! The selection of cars has gooten better if you ask me, more super cars! On the whole, not too bad, good game.

See all 32 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 9 reviews.

Age 13+
4


Posted on 12/07/07 by jimyred Adult contributor

Awesome Racing Experience

this game continues in the great NFS line by providing sweet rides, customization options (you can tune your ride on the fly) and a decent storyline. of course, the best part is racing the cars.
Age 11+
5

Posted on 07/10/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 17+
5


Posted on 03/30/07 by Commando Adult contributor

Age 11+
5


Posted on 05/22/06 by tridogg27 Adult contributor

Age 11+
5


Posted on 05/10/06 by algebramagician Adult contributor

E is not the best choice in the world

what if you're child is 5 or 6? They would learn from this. BUT ANYWAY this game is awesome. It has the best graphics.
Age 13+
5


Posted on 05/04/06 by kill330 Adult contributor

Age 11+
4


Posted on 04/08/06 by aecdoglover Adult contributor

Fun

Fun but may not be appropriate with kids who can't tell between fantasy and real life. Cool cars, lots of options and designs for your car, good music. Only thing negative is that you are supposed to get away from the police and be "Most Wanted".
Age 13+
4


Posted on 03/19/06 by AnAdult Adult contributor

Oh come on.

Come on AllStarMom, you are so naive. Your kids are old enough to play this game. (Actually I would prefer to let my 10 year old play this game over my 16 year old who has his driver permit). You cannot go around with this negative behavior stuff. I dont have the coordination to play it, but I watch my kids play it all the time and I have nothing I object to. At the rate you are going, you will be forcing your kids to play Dora the Explorer when they are 15 and 17.
Age 17+
1


Posted on 03/03/06 by AllStarMom Adult contributor

Negative, Violent, Sexual, Attrocious game!

I caught my 10 and 12 year old children playing this at their cousins house and I immediately told them to shut off the game or leave the room. The girls dressed in inappropriate clothing. And on top of that, it teaches kids to run from cops and worse: crash through them! On top of that, the police say the word Moron all the time. I dont want my children exposed to these negative behaviours, and I suggest that you do not let your child(ren) buy this game. I believe that this is the reason there are so many people that run from the law. Lets stop buying these games and fight for what is descent!
See all 9 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 23 reviews.

4


Posted on 06/22/08 by guitar hero Kid contributor, age 11

The game is gud but i get prety pist off when i get busted i love the game but if u rily wunt a game with cops chasin u everywere get nfs hot pursuit 2. PEACE
4


Posted on 05/18/08 by expert_reviewer Kid contributor, age 13

KICK-BUTT-GAME-!

This game is a AWSOME addition to the NFS series. It's about running from the cops and the storyline is good but the game can be alittle iffy.
5


Posted on 12/18/07 by Caboose1l2 Kid contributor, age 16

Its worth it the game Rocks!!!

Now look, I played the game and I am guess what you would call an expert about the game. You don't have to hit the citizens of RockPort if anything I aim not to hit them, but the AI cops always do.
3


Posted on 11/20/07 by exodusthe3rd Kid contributor, age 13

Why is this rated teen?

I'm not quite sure as to wy this game is rated T, but i think that it is fine for people 6+
5


Posted on 08/28/07 by weaselman Kid contributor, age 13

the best of the series

this game is just about the best game ive played, you learn about cars, how they work and even stuff, you can see has consequeces, if i had kids id want em to play this game:p
5


Posted on 07/27/07 by DeagleD Kid contributor, age 12

Simply Perfect!

I do not agree with parents panicking over their 12 year olds seeing women in belly shirts and tight shorts or running away from cops and saying the word 'moran' (please).The game even made a vid that explains to keep it in the game. Any mature kid knows not to do this (they can't even drive) and teens doing this in reality are doing it because they're irrisponsible. The game is the best racer around. It isn't sexual, terribly violent, or profane. I ndon't see whats wrong with commercialism. 10+
5


Posted on 07/27/07 by Most_wanted Kid contributor, age 12

The Greatest Game

Hey idc if u think its bad its a cool fun game that givs u more options than games like mario cart it allows u 2 choos e wat u use ur money 4 like buyin a new car or makin the 1 u got better gr8 graphics i let my cuz whos 7 play he loves it
4


Posted on 07/27/07 by ds Kid contributor, age 13

its runing frome the cops
4


Posted on 07/25/07 by The-Edge Kid contributor, age 14

the most wanted game at the time

After "need for speed underground" EA had to fill th hole of what was mising from the street racing world, the answer was COPS!I have to admit the cops add a bit more addrenaline to the game but it can be a bit frustrating and annoying at times. The car costumising a bit empty, no neons, no costom headlights and taillights, no individule parts not just body kits and so on. The "Blacklist" idea was great, and the story was all good execpt for one glitch:when Razor takes your car, he get to the top of the blacklist in one day! And it must of taken me about 3 months! How'd that happen?! The selection of cars has gooten better if you ask me, more super cars! On the whole, not too bad, good game.
4

Posted on 06/22/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

Sweet car game.

See all 23 kids reviews >
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