Need for Speed Nitro

Review from Cav - Thursday, 07 January 2010 @ 1:38am

There are going to two very different part s to this review, one more important than the other. To me anyway... quite possibly, quite a number of you.

Firstly, the game. I’ll start by making the statement of the year:

Even though Need for Speed Nitro was apparently made specifically for the Wii, it just doesn’t do it for me. I have never really liked racers although I did play quite a bit of Gran Turismo 3. NFSN presents over 30 cars, which players can modify (ever so slightly) and paint all sorts of pretty colours and patterns.

By the way: Red cars really don’t go faster

There are quite a few types of races to be had: elimination, team events, drag races, circuit races, drift challenges and others although a few of them seem very alike. Not enjoying racing games doesn’t really enhancer my ability to review this game... but I don’t really think it matters all that much. Yeah, I kept replaying the same races just to beat them at a five star standard, it seems kinda pointless not to. It’s the same old party we’ve all been to: Race – Win – Unlock

Screw this. Let me sum up this game with a picture

Yes. Need For Speed Nitro is a wreck. Don’t bother. OK... maybe this picture is a little more to the point

It’s not that bad, it just bored me a little...... actually a whole lot. The controls were relatively simple and it was good to see multiple combinations of controls available, including the NGC Controller, but it still didn't save it from it's terrible rinse and repeat formula. And drift racing in a Kombi Van? You're shitting me right?

Watch out for the Po-Po, bro!

The next part of my review is mainly focused on one thing: trying to decipher why on God’s Green Earth Need for Speed Nitro was rated G. Let’s take a look at what is involved in the game play:

High Speed Street Racing
The need to modify your vehicle beyond legal limits.
Use of drifting techniques on Public Motorways
Failing to pull over when directed to by local Law Enforcement Officers
Wreckless driving
Perjury...of sorts... or maybe a type of Blackmail? Well, passing your wanted status onto someone else.
Vandalism of public property
And that’s just the game. What about the sound track? Lyrics like: ‘Girls who get naked’

Oh yeah.... This is a game for the whole family!

I’m guessing it’s all okay because of the following warning that appears just after the instructional video:

That must be like when World Wrestling Entertainment put their “Don’t try this at home” warnings up before their programs. It still doesn’t really stop all of the backyarders and the injuries that go with them. I haven’t had a look myself, but I am sure that YouTube would be littered with clips displaying the downfalls of not obeying Vinnie Mac’s instruction. At least their shows are rate M on Pay TV.

Marty! Watch out! It's the Libyans!

Once again I am lead to believe that the word ‘Wii’ just blinds the OFLC on 95% of submissions to the board. Unless a chainsaw is depicted on the front cover or the title is that of an ongoing series that has graced other systems, titles like this just slide on by. Take Wii release title Tony Hawks Downhill Jam. This is also a G rated game where it is okay to punch an opponent off their skateboard while you are both travelling downhill at a whisker under one hundred clicks an hour. Once again, family fun filled frolicking! Then again, I am under the impression that the whole damn world considers the Wii to be a ‘kid’s console’. I’ll see your Resident evil 4 and raise you a Madworld and a House of the Dead Overkill.

I win.

All this colour reminds me of Speed Racer

I, for one, would like an explanation. Or should I just send a link to the review to our friend in South Australia. Maybe he can get it reclassified, just like he supposedly tried with Modern Warfare 2.

Do you think that someone on the board said “Just give it a G and let’s get on with the next game...no one is going to buy this anyways”

Pros

Good Controller selection - Lots of unlocks - Creativity encouraged with vehicle modification and painting

Cons

Boring and repetative - Slight learning curve depending on your controller selection