Need for Speed™ Rivals Review Summary

Outstanding graphics and visuals: The game's graphics are frequently commended for being beautiful, impressive, and high-quality. Many players appreciate the visual effects, lighting, and how well the graphics have aged.

Intense and exciting cop chases: The game features intense and decisive cop chases that are described as exciting, aggressive, and cinematic. These chases add a layer of chaos and thrill to the gameplay.

Dual role as cop and racer: Players appreciate the ability to play as both a cop and a racer, offering a unique dual campaign experience. This feature adds variety and depth to the gameplay.

Combination of Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted elements: Players note that the game successfully mixes elements from Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted, creating a unique and enjoyable experience that feels like a spiritual successor to these titles.

Variety in gameplay and weapons: The game provides a variety of weapons, power-ups, and game modes, adding to the overall excitement and challenge. This variety keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.

Server shutdown issues: The closure of online servers has been a significant issue, affecting online play and access to DLC content.

30 FPS cap frustration: Players are consistently frustrated by the game's 30 FPS cap, which limits the frame rate and affects the gaming experience.

Bugs affecting gameplay: Numerous bugs have been reported, ranging from minor annoyances to game-breaking issues, significantly impacting the player experience.

Weak storyline and controls: The game's story is criticized for being poorly told and unengaging. Additionally, the controls are considered poor by many players.

Performance and optimization issues: Players report very bad performance and poor optimization, leading to a subpar gaming experience.

Cop chases and police gameplay: The game features intense and challenging police chases, allowing players to engage in high-speed pursuits either as a cop or a racer. This includes mechanics like increasing heat levels and using various pursuit technologies.

Open-world environment: The game offers an open-world format with diverse terrains, allowing for free-roaming and exploration. This open-world setting enhances the overall gaming experience.

Online and multiplayer modes: The game includes online multiplayer modes, such as the AllDrive system, which integrates multiplayer functionality. Players can engage in online racing and high-stakes arcade races.

Offline and single-player modes: The game offers functional offline and single-player modes, providing a complete experience for players who prefer solo gameplay. This includes a single-player campaign and various offline activities.

Vehicle handling and performance: The game focuses on realistic vehicle handling and car performance mechanics, offering players a challenging and immersive driving experience.

30 FPS cap issue: The game is locked at 30 FPS by default, which is a significant issue for many players. This limitation affects the overall gaming experience and performance.

Frequent bugs and issues: The game has various bugs, including connection issues, gameplay bugs, and terrain generation bugs. These bugs affect the overall stability and enjoyment of the game.

Poor performance and optimization: The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to bad performance and lagging issues. This affects gameplay smoothness and overall user experience.

Server connectivity issues: Players experience server connectivity issues, including disconnects and laggy servers. These issues affect online gameplay and multiplayer experiences.

Graphical improvements and issues: The game has seen graphical improvements, but there are still issues such as texture flickering and low internal resolution. These affect the visual quality and overall gaming experience.

Mixed recommendations on purchase: Players have varying opinions on whether to buy the game. Some highly recommend it, while others suggest waiting for a sale or not buying it at all.

Recommended for specific fan bases: The game is recommended for fans of the Need for Speed series, especially those familiar with Hot Pursuit 2010, and arcade racing enthusiasts.

Gameplay experience praised: Many players find the gameplay addictive and satisfying, with a fun, story-driven racing experience that includes cops vs. racers gameplay.

Suggestions for improvements and mods: Players suggest various mods to enhance the gaming experience, such as framerate unlockers and additional content like bosses and customization.

Comparisons to other games: The game is compared to other titles like Hot Pursuit 2010 and Burnout Paradise Remaster, with some players preferring those over this game.

Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00.

Game completion: 72.0h.

Story completion: 20.0h.

Session length: 2.0h.

Endgame: 30.0h.

The game is fun primarily in multiplayer with friends, but it has notable friction points such as repetitive gameplay and technical issues that can hinder the experience.

Reported time to anchor: 1h.

Adrenaline Seeker: Fast-paced and aggressive driving, enjoying both single-player and multiplayer modes. Motivation: Thrill of high-speed racing and dynamic gameplay. Stance: sale.

Nostalgic Racer: Casual and relaxed, enjoying the game for its nostalgic value and simple fun. Motivation: Nostalgia and fond memories of past gaming experiences. Stance: deep sale.

Tech-Savvy Tinkerer: Technical and problem-solving, often modifying game settings and configurations. Motivation: Improving the game's performance and overcoming technical limitations. Stance: no buy.

Steam Deck: The Steam Deck experience for this game is marred by several significant issues. The always-online requirement and the 30 FPS cap are the most frequently cited problems, causing frustration and detracting from the gameplay experience. Additionally, the need to use external launchers and mods to unlock basic features like higher frame rates adds complexity and inconvenience. Performance issues, including poor customization options and frequent crashes, further exacerbate the situation. These technical barriers collectively lead to a less than optimal gaming experience.

Monetization: The game is generally well-received for its complete edition and lack of mandatory microtransactions. However, there are some concerns about the value of optional DLCs, with a few users feeling they are a cash grab. Overall, the base game is seen as a good purchase.

Xbox One firmware issues: The Xbox One version of the game is experiencing compatibility problems due to recent firmware updates.