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[SIZE="4"]Main Site:[/SIZE] Need for Speed World - Home
[SIZE="3"]Download:[/SIZE] Login - Need for Speed World
[SIZE="3"]Forums:[/SIZE] Need for Speed World Forum: EA Forums
[video=youtube;H7_rYGpGXs4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7_rYGpGXs4[/video]
[Image: http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/ae153/bradstrt_2010/nsfw1.png]
Need for Speed World is the adrenaline rush fans loved in the NFS franchise all in one giant MMOG. I'd put MMORPG but I don't think people will want to role-play as cars unless they like being high maintenance... meh. Need for Speed World is an online adaption in which you race your car throughout this giant world and fight for the lead. Not a big racer? Don't care for the competition? You have the option of playing against computer AI's that are based around your skill level, or you can waste the tax payers money by crashing into a cop car and start a wild pursuit that is sewn throughout the world. This fast paced, action-y, racing game is a free to play game (with a starter pack if you feel like paying, and cash shop)
[Image: http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/ae153/bradstrt_2010/nsfw3.png]
[video=youtube;XIFFnt8QA7w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIFFnt8QA7w[/video]
Within races/pursuits you gain rep and gold, both of which are used to rise to the top of the charts. Rep is used as EXP essentially. As you gain Rep and level up you unlock skills, faster cars, and more customization. You earn Rep through races (single player or multiplayer), and by evading the cops. You can have several driver profiles though, which keep track of your wins, losses, and pursuit statistics. If you have OCD and want to be the best (there ever was~) then you can make a new profile and show off your skills against newbs, or anyone.
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Skills are divided up into races, pursuits, and exploration. Skills come in the form of power-ups. Power-ups are earned at the end of races, pursuits, and in a card draw. Somewhat like DFO. Be wary though, all your powerups can be used up in each category. THEY ARE NOT SEPARATED! So be careful not to use up all your powerups exploring.
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You are able to talk to anyone on the same server and channel as you in free roam/exploration. This is the general mode in which you start out in. No restrictions (hardly) and free to roam. You can also join into groups aka parties, to compete/roam with friends or strangers. Something unique about the social aspect in NSFW is that there is a News Feed about all your friends. It tells you who is the fastest, what level they are, and how many pursuits (and how it ended). Adds a sense of competition between your friends.
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The safehouse is the HQ to everything on your driver profile. You can swap to a different profile, buy upgrades and rent stock cars which are better versions of the regular version. Limited to a time limit though. It's a cheap way to try out a new car and decide if you want to purchase it later in the future. As you progress in the game you will unlock more options for your car, as well as newer cars. Which all of the time are better then the choices you get in the first tier. Your car will show damage as you play the game and battle other players, going to your safehouse will automatically repair any damage (only visual anyway).
Example:
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In your safehouse you can customize your car to your liking. You can paint almost every part on the car, choose decals, paint, shine, and rims.
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In NSFW you can crash into police cars to start a pursuit. All race markers will dissapear off the map as you zoom around avoiding capture. If you are captured you will not be rewarded and will lose gold. If you avoid capture you get rewarded with Rep, Gold, and get to pick a card from the lucky draw. Throughout the chase there is a progressing tally of how many cop cars are after you, how many you destroyed and the additional cost to the state. To increase the cost to the state run into cars, breakable objects, and destroy cop cars. The more you destroy the better, so BE DESTRUCTIVE!
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Racing is a major factor in this game, I mean its pretty obvious. You can team up with friends, fight against strangers, or go head to head against computer AI's. Either way you will earn Rep, Gold, and if skilled enough to make the top 3 get to pick a card from the lucky draw. In each race there is a set of destructible objects which you can run into to slow down those behind you. If timed right, you will have pissed off quite a few people.
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[SIZE="4"]World Map[/SIZE]
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That is a snapshot of part of the world map, some places are blocked off for future release but for the most part you are able to drive everywhere you see the blue highlighted roads. You can use the world map to jump to races/events by using the various icons strewn throughout it. This is a quick way to find friends, or jump into a race.
[SIZE="4"]Demand on computer[/SIZE]
NSFW is not extremely demanding with its high graphics, yes having an up to date computer will allow for more visually pleasing graphics but I can enjoy a slightly less quality (but pretty dam high, mind you) graphics setting that is still appealing and beautiful. The scenery in NSFW can be very pretty when driving through the back country.
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[SIZE="5"]Conclusion[/SIZE]
Although this game is in open beta, it has very few....if any.... prominent bugs/issues, and is extremely fun. You are getting pay to play quality wrapped up into a free to play game both graphic wise, and gameplay. I thoroughly enjoy exploring around and taking the cops on a wild chase instead of racing. But that is just personal preference. See you on the road~