Need for Speed Review Roundup

EA's Need for Speed franchises returns this week with the launch of a "full reboot" of the series simply called Need for Speed. Developed in Sweden by Ghost Games, the racing game is notable in part because EA skipped a Need for Speed release in 2014, marking the first time it had done so in more than a decade.

But did that extra year of development pay off for the new game? Check out some review scores and editor opinions below to find out. For more on the game's critical reception, head to GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

Also note that Need for Speed is available now for Xbox One and PlayStation 4; the PC edition is slated to launch in 2016.

• Game: Need for Speed
• Developer: Ghost Games
• Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC (coming in 2016)
• Release Date: November 3
• Price: $60

GameSpot -- 8/10

"The game is far from perfect, but it is, at points, truly exceptional. Its jaw-dropping visuals, adrenaline-pumping audio, and highly-customizable handling make screaming around the darkened streets of Ventura Bay an intense thrill. The sense of ownership that comes with tuning a single ride to perfection rather than simply grabbing the flashiest vehicle available proved tremendously rewarding. Even just the breathtaking speed of upgraded vehicles makes the driving in Need For Speed absolutely gripping. This foundation of gratifying gameplay anchors the experience, while the rest of Need For Speed's specifics run the gamut from equally outstanding to smash-your-controller frustrating." - Scott Butterworth [Full review]

IGN -- 6.3/10

"Need for Speed looks the part, sounds the part, and is surprisingly reverent to real-world car culture. I like the direction Ghost has taken here, and I think it's the right one, but beneath its flashy exterior it's not quite firing on all cylinders." - Luke Reilly [Full review]

Shacknews -- 6/10

"For taking a year off to work on this Need for Speed, I was hoping Ghost Games would have given its reboot a more noteworthy return. While Ventura Bay looks good and the game has plenty of missions and side missions to complete, the constant distractions I felt while playing it kept me away from enjoying it as much as I have previous iterations of the franchise. If you're a long-time fan of the series, you'll find something to enjoy here, but if this is your first time behind the wheel, you're going to want sit this one out and check out some of previously released Need for Speed titles." - Daniel Perez [Full review]

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Destructoid -- 6/10

"When you factor in Need for Speed's forgettable story, you're left with a slightly above average racing game that's not as enjoyable as past series entries. From a pure gameplay perspective, it works, but it never manages to elevate itself. If you're in the mood for a new cinematic racer though, you could do a whole lot worse." - Chris Carter [Full review]

USGamer -- 4.5/5

"Ultimately, Ghost Games has very successfully rebooted Need for Speed. By going back to its roots, and focusing on what made the series great during its heyday, the Swedish studio has created a simple, straightforward racer with five interesting facets that challenge your racing prowess in different ways. It can be tough at times, but the game is solid, addictive, and looks absolutely stunning." - Jaz Rignall [Full review]

VideoGamer -- 5/10

"It does exactly what it sets out to do. But what it sets out to do is boring, bland, unimaginative, and thoroughly dull. It's sometimes fun, very pretty, and enables you to plaster stickers of dogs all over your newly-pink Mustang, and it's riddled with great ideas like the fine online challenges with friends and enemies alike, annoying connectivity issues aside. But it meanders, settling on a rhythm that can only be described as 'safe,' not pushing the player to be anything other than adequate. I adored NFS: Hot Pursuit, I got a lot of fun from Most Wanted, I even didn't totally hate Rivals--so it saddens me to say that, at the end of the day (which is always the time in Ventura Bay) Need For Speed just isn't that good." - Ian Dransfield [Full review]