Parents' Guide to Need for Speed No Limits

This fast-paced racer may be a slick-looking vehicle, but under the hood, there's very little horsepower to keep players on the virtual racetrack for long. With Need for Speed No Limits, the latest mobile entry in the popular franchise, virtual drivers can take their souped-up street racing, well, to the streets. For more than 20 years now, gamers have drifted, drafted, boosted, braked, and sped across the finish line to scratch that racing itch. Unfortunately, while No Limits has a lot of high-octane flash and style, from a gameplay perspective, its gas tank is running a bit low.

There's no denying that Need for Speed No Limits looks great. The library of licensed cars is highly detailed, with plenty of customization options for a personalized touch. The environments look fantastic, and in motion, everything is fluid, giving a real sense of speed to the races. There's also a ridiculous amount of content to unlock. The problem lies in the game's simplified arcade-style gameplay. You never really feel like you're in a racing game. You've got no control over the gas or brakes, so all you're ever really doing is dodging obstacles. And despite the focus on collecting and upgrading cars, the only difference they ever make is in how fast you run the course. Need for Speed No Limits winds up feeling like a run-of-the-mill engine hiding behind a hot rod paint job.