The “Need for Speed” series has been a steady force for well over a decade now. Most recently, we have seen the release of Need for Speed: Shift, which, following modern day gaming trends, was released on every console, computer, mobile phone, and washing machine under the sun. Unusually though, the Nintendo Wii was left off the guest list; there is quite a shortage of solid racing titles on Nintendo’s home console, so why pass-up on this seemingly great opportunity? Well, it seems Electronic Arts (EA) are well aware of this particular gap in the market, which explains their latest foray into the casual games market, Need for Speed: Nitro. Not only is this the Wii’s foremost “Need for Speed” title, but the Wii is in fact the only home console that will play host to the game. (A handheld version is available for Nintendo DS.)
Initial impressions were positive; a console specific instalment may allow developers EA Montreal to focus on their target audience, as well as creating an opportunity for them to implement the Wii’s unique control system effectively…a rare luxury these days.
A brief overview of the game’s features, followed by a few fantastically weak attempts at racing victory, led to those positive initial impressions becoming equally positive game-play experiences. The art direction is bold, bright, and in-favour of simple geometry, a fitting choice for the modest graphical capabilities of Nintendo’s home console. The control method is minimalistic, the automobiles handle with the precision of a St. Bernard dog, and the NPCs (non player controlled characters) are all wearing sunglasses. That is sensibly all you should ask of an arcade racing title.
The Wii’s motion control capabilities are put to good use as a method of car customisation. A reasonable variety of tools permits the player to adorn their vehicle with artistic messes of colour and graphics; the Wii Remote acts as a paintbrush of sorts. Additionally, an option to pick a ‘wallpaper’ graphic gives you a certain amount of creative control over the levels themselves. This element operates as a reward scheme for impressive racing, with the chosen graphic being pasted on walls and objects you pass by, producing appealing, if not a little distracting, visual effects.
The games levels focus around urban environments, spanning across many real-life locations. Open highways are broken up with tight city streets, straightforward shortcuts, and the occasional off-track mammoth jump. Randomised traffic keeps you on your toes, and a constant police presence ensures a collision-heavy experience. A standard collection of game modes provides a respectable amount of diversity to the game-play: circuit, speed trap, elimination, drift challenge, drag race, and time attack.
Having spent no more than a few hours with the title at this point, a very reasonable level of amusement had been awarded. Although, it must be said that when it comes to arcade racing titles, one’s desires are usually quite humble.
Having only ‘dipped a foot in’, Career mode seemed a fitting direction to head next. Regrettably, this is where the cracks began to appear in EA’s master plan. This is not to say that there are new game-play flaws to be found. The issue, and it is a large one, is that those first few hours of ‘noodling’, turn out to be all the game has to offer. Some may look at this as a ‘no nonsense’ approach. However, without stellar game mechanics and a unique selling point, neither of which Nitro even pretends to possess, a heavy dose of additional content can only extend the lifecycle of the game. The title simply does not offer a sufficient level of polish to warrant such a shallow experience. Nitro is a perfectly playable game with a giddy sense of arcade joy about it, but it is also treading very familiar territory. The Wii may be lacking in titles of this flavour, but this concept has been around for over a decade, and in all honesty, none of the core design elements of those classic ‘racers’ have been improved upon here.
It is quite a shame that EA didn’t push themselves a bit harder with Nitro, as there is the potential for a highly enjoyable and easygoing game here. As things are, the game as a whole feels like a quick moneymaking scheme to answer the gap in the market. EA are clearly well aware that their target audience will be unaware of the countless superb arcade racers from the days of the Nintendo 64 and Sony PlayStation; feeding young players silly, over-the-top racing titles worked for the last two console generations, why not try it one more time?
The initial nostalgic joy of Nitro’s blunt and blocky game-play elements is short-lived. The city-based tracks, whilst appropriately designed, are extremely repetitive. Little effort has been made to give each level some standout features. Moreover, the comical, extreme handling of the vehicles creates a distinct lack of depth to any of the game modes; a decent arcade title should be simple to understand, and easy to play, but tough to master. Nitro manages to lure you in with its nostalgic charm, but ultimately fails to keep you interested.
The car customisation is well implemented and refreshing, but plainly shallow. This is more a fault with the Wii’s imprecise control scheme than any issue with the game itself; inspired splodges and juvenile drawings of rude objects are about as far as you can go with the paintbrush tool. However, the gimmicky fun of this element of the game must be praised in spite of its flaws, as there is nothing comparable in the Wii’s library currently.
If there is one feature with the potential to save this game from the holiday season closet, it is the multiplayer aspect. Nitro allows up to four players to go head to head locally, which is pleasing in these days of online-only multiplayer. The game runs fine in split-screen, although the Wii’s ‘muddy’ graphics can make it quite a struggle to decipher the course on-screen. Unfortunately, the shallow mechanics shine through again after an initial period of entertainment. The game crippling issue of all players eventually reaching the same level of aptitude arises too quickly, which saps all the fun out of the game.
Taking a step back, Electronic Arts have absolutely achieved what they set out to with Need for Speed: Nitro: produce a quick fix for the gaping hole in the market in the form of a ten-year-old arcade racer, aimed at young players who are oblivious to the arcade hits of yesteryear. From the point of view of the consumer however, this is simply very cheeky, and somewhat unacceptable.
VideogameUK verdict: 5/10
