PS3 News: Need For Speed: Most Wanted Is An Open-World Racer - PS3 News

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Need For Speed: Most Wanted Is An Open-World Racer

Hey, how'd this sneak by?

EA announced a new Need for Speed: Most Wanted at E3 and while most racing fans were excited, they didn't realize something vital.

They did know that Burnout developer Criterion Games was working on the title and that makes sense, as Criterion also delivered Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit in 2010. But remember Burnout Paradise? The excellent open-world racer that was extremely well supported via downloadable content? The one that was totally bad-ass and very different from NFS installments due to its freedom?

Well, according to a new Joystiq preview, the Most Wanted revisiting is open-world as well...or "Burnout Paradise 2." Here's part of the preview:

"But just a few seconds with this game reveals a deeper truth: This is really a secret message from Criterion to its fans, funneled through EA's branding channels. Need for Speed: Most Wanted is an open-world racer in a beautiful city. It's full of various events, environmental features to find, and a social backend that's full of information and ways to connect and compete with fellow players.

In other words, it's Burnout Paradise 2."

Okay, now we're even more enthusiastic. We've been wondering when Criterion might do something like this and besides, we've been missing Burnout. Burnout Crash was fun and all, but it wasn't exactly the big-budget, over-the-top production for which the franchise is so well known.

Related Game(s): Need For Speed: Most Wanted

Tags: need for speed most wanted, most wanted 2, criterion, burnout paradise

6/11/2012 9:01:40 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (22 posts)

Highlightreel
Monday, June 11, 2012 @ 9:24:16 PM
Reply

SWEET! I still play Paradise now and then. Great game. Tons of stuff to do and easy to quick get online and mess around for awhile, let off some steam and get off.

Was waiting for some 'new' Burnout news, but this will do!

Stay classy PSX...

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CH1N00K
Monday, June 11, 2012 @ 9:44:21 PM
Reply

Yes! I was hoping they would do that...although I still wish that Criterion would work on another Burnout instead of NFS games. But I did love Most Wanted on the PS2, And I do like Criterion's work...so this game has definitely bumped up the watch list for me...
Last edited by CH1N00K on 6/11/2012 9:45:44 PM

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ART359
Monday, June 11, 2012 @ 9:51:37 PM
Reply

It looks like this reboot might redeem this franchise. I looking forward to this game. The multiplayer actually sounds fun because its a lot like Red Dead Redemption with respect to open world multiplayer. No more lobbies to race!! Woooo. Its also coming for the Vita. Now, if they play their cards right, then this game can be a HUGE success with PS3 and PS VITA correlation. Think of the possibilities. I'm so happy already.

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Simcoe
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 @ 4:57:39 AM

Burnout Paradise was like that too, no lobbies, you could seamlessly pop in and out of online play.

I'm not going to get my hopes up that the version for PSV will be the same as the PS3, but it would be great if there was cross play between PS3 and PSV.

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daus26
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 @ 2:10:12 PM

Yeah, Burnout Paradise's seamless offline to online play was sweet.

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LimitedVertigo
Monday, June 11, 2012 @ 10:17:53 PM
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Okay this is a game I'd be interesting in playing. I'm not big into racing games anymore but an open world car game sounds fun.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, June 11, 2012 @ 11:43:51 PM

It would be fun if I could hang a chainsaw out the window.

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I007spectre
Monday, June 11, 2012 @ 11:45:38 PM
Reply

As happy as I am for it on ps3, I am ecstatic for it on Vita. I love Wipeout but I want a deep regular racer.

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kraygen
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 @ 12:09:03 AM
Reply

The guy who announced it on stage said it was open world, he didn't make a big deal out of it, but he did mention it. I was super excited about this fact because the last most wanted game was probably my favorite racing game ever.

I spent hours upon hours, just being chased by cops and trying to see how long I could run from them and not get caught. I had a few marathons runs that lasted over 4 hours.

So I'm looking forward to this more than any other racer due to loving criterion's racing games and the fact that it's a most wanted game.

As long as I can go find cops and do stuff to tick them off so they chase, I'll love it. It's not quite as adrenaline pumping as in real life, but it sure is safer.

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daus26
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 @ 2:42:48 AM
Reply

I don't see how being open world would make this game into a Burnout Paradise-like sequel. Plus, the original MW was free roam anyway, so this better be. If their approach is to make Most Wanted like Burnout Paradise, that's a bit of a disappointment for me. I was specifically bothered when a simple hard ram made the opponent flip into a takedown scene early in the preview. Ridiculous.

Criterion is never known for customization on the cars, so I'm worried about that too. They better not be responsible for any possible NFS Underground revival in the future, unless they prove me wrong with this game.

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Jed
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 @ 2:48:20 AM
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Burnout Paradise was a D1P for me. And as long as I don't hear of something going devistatingly wrong with NFS:MW, it will be a D1P too.

I don't know how much time I spent crusin' around paradise city, but it was a LOT of time. I really loved it. I can't wait to see how this new NFS turns out.

CRITERION FTW!

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Simcoe
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 @ 4:45:30 AM
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After my initial disappointment of hearing that Criterion was doing another NFS title, I finally had chance to view the trailer (most importantly in HD) and noticed all the Burnout Paradise nuances. That coupled with finding multiplayer gameplay clip left me with very little doubt.

All I need to see now are some barrel rolls and flat spins!!!

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___________
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 @ 6:40:22 AM
Reply

really?
dident you watch the trailers?
seriously, it was pretty obvious this was a open world racer!
id much rather them just do another burnout game, but eh i guess this will do.
i just wish publishers would stop taking names of beloved franchises and tacking them onto totally different games!
this has NOTHING to do with NFS most wanted, so why does it carry its name?
for sales thats why!
just pathetic!!!!!!!!

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Beamboom
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 @ 10:00:17 AM
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Burnout Paradise was the best arcade racing game I have ever played. Yup, ever, across all generations and platforms. It was *fantastic* fun. And ever since those good days with Paradise I've been waiting for a sequel. Hopefully this is it.

There's ONE question that remains: Will there be coop challenges a'la Paradise? That's the last missing piece of info I need before I let the champagne corks pop.

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Simcoe
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 @ 1:57:50 PM

There has been mention of a "Playlist of competitive events" which sounds a lot like the freeburn challenges of BP. The developers know that was a big part of the appeal of BP, so I'm guessing they would want to include them!

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Beamboom
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 @ 1:58:53 PM

Man I hope you are right, Simcoe. It'll be a dream come true.

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daus26
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 @ 2:04:47 PM

Most Wanted was one of the best arcade racing game I've played on the PS2. It may be good for Paradise fans, but some fans of Most Wanted will be a bit bothered that it's going to be like Paradise. If this game turns out to be about "takedowns," stunts, boosts from stunts, no customization, and hard crashes turning into scenes, it'll be a joke to the original.

Like the quote said, this may be a good way to reach out into Paradise and Criterion fans, but not necessarily fans of the original MW. I'm not sure how that's fair.

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Beamboom
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 @ 8:36:50 AM

Most Wanted was great too, indeed. But I don't recall the gameplay being *that* different? It was much about taking down the chasing police cars too, wasn't it? Or was it just dodging them and get off their radars?

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Beamboom
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 @ 8:36:57 AM

Most Wanted was great too, indeed. But I don't recall the gameplay being *that* different? It was much about taking down the chasing police cars too, wasn't it? Or was it just dodging them and get off their radars?

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Beamboom
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 @ 8:37:04 AM

Most Wanted was great too, indeed. But I don't recall the gameplay being *that* different? It was much about taking down the chasing police cars too, wasn't it? Or was it just dodging them and get off their radars?

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Beamboom
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 @ 8:37:09 AM

Most Wanted was great too, indeed. But I don't recall the gameplay being *that* different? It was much about taking down the chasing police cars too, wasn't it? Or was it just dodging them and get off their radars?

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Simcoe
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 @ 10:29:19 AM

@Beamboom - Just do a search for some E3 interview clips, there were three Criterion guys giving interviews and showing off game play to various gaming media outlets. Some reveal more than others about what's in and gone into the game.

@daus26 - Just like with Hot Pursuit, Criterion isn't trying to make a sequel to Most Wanted, just there own take on it. A true sequel would have to come from EA Black Box.

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