I understand what the hype is about. While the story seems to be predictable, Need for Speed Most Wanted is still a lot of fun. The rain effects are pleasant, though they do not impact gameplay.

The characters are all stylish to a fault, but that is what makes the game so endearing. I wish the Blacklist characters spoke more. Other than "Razor" Callahan, none of the Blacklist 15 speak. Rog and Mia are nice to get messages from, but I wanted to practice my German language skillz with "Baron." That would've been a hoot.

I have found a happy medium with three cars in my garage. Not only does it help to keep the heat down, but I can pour my upgrade money into the lead car while saving the others for heat-generating trials. The least of my cars is still more of a match for the level-1 police chases. . . and you have many to survive in order to fulfill Earl's bounty requirements.

Though I was indifferent to the product a month ago, Most Wanted has me sincerely interested in checking out Carbon when it debuts.

Hopefully Carbon will let me trick out a Toyota . . . a brand clearly missing from Most Wanted.