For fans of the series,Need for Speed Unboundwill be comfortably familiar while refreshing enough to not feel stale. After decades in the industry, thelong-runningNeed for Speedserieshas developed some self-awareness, though it is not always handled in the best way. Some moments are funny, but others only highlight the more unsavory aspects of the series.
Need for Speed Unbound’s meta-narrative is relatively easy for players to spot. Characters like Rydell name-drop the series, and characters discuss the ethics of street racing. During these moments, the game stops being just fun arcade racing, and players are reminded of the ridiculous criminality they’re engaging in.
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Unbound and the Need for…
Need for Speed Unboundmarks the 25th main installment in the series, which is a phenomenal feat for any franchise. It is also admirable that, for the most part, it has stuck to its formula of arcade racing, although it has explored it in both its legal and illegal forms.Criterion Games is not the first studio to work on the series, and it has passed through a few hands. With a slew of past content to get inspiration from, it appears Criterion decided to go the self-aware route withUnbound, giving occasional winks in the player’s direction.
Unbound’s meta moments occur most prominently withRydell, the owner of Rydell’s Rydes. When discussing the possibility of the player resorting to street racing to make money to rebuild the garage, Rydell mentions that he knows what it feels like to have “the need for…,” and he can’t seem to remember the rest of the phrase. The player’s character chalks it up to the gasoline messing with him.
DuringUnbound’s late game, Rydell finally remembers what he was trying to say. He knows what it feels like to have “the need for speed!” The obvious title drop will not go unmissed by most players. While it is funny, the game goes on to take its self-awareness to greater heights, and it arguably fails to stick its landing.
Need for Speed and the Morality of Street Racing
Plenty of video games let players engage in activities that would be considered heinous in the real world. TheNeed for Speedfranchise is guilty of this. It allows players to flip the bird to the laws of the road and crash into innocent drivers. In the real world, speeding and reckless driving kill, andstreet racing is a dangerous sportthat has taken the lives of innocent children, pedestrians, and police officers.
There is nothing inherently wrong withNeed for Speedallowing players to experience the fun of street racing; at no point does the game invite players to do the same in real life. However,Unboundshows a self-awareness of precisely what its gameplay entails. Instead of being a good example of a self-aware meta-narrative, it raises feelings of discomfort.
As players ride around Lakeshore, they can listen to the radio which discusses howUnbound’s police are attempting to crack down on street racing. Lakeshore’s mayor is not a fan of street racing and believes that it is dangerous. This is an example of the game being quite aware of the reckless nature of the street racing it embraces. In response, the character objects, as the mayor was once caught doing 45 MPH in a school zone. Speeding in school zones isn’t right, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the kind of dangerous races the player engages in.
It is difficult to know precisely how to interpret such scenes where the game acknowledges its crime-based gameplay, yet characters attempt to justify it. These could be seen as moments of satire, with the game essentially making fun of itself. Alternatively, in a less complimentary light, these moments could also be interpreted as instances of a failed attempt at a meta-narrative exploring the morality of the street racing basis of much of the series.
Need for Speed Unboundis certainly an interesting entry in the series. It should be congratulated for bringing back the street racing fun that fans have been asking for.Unboundalso features a positive representationof gender-non-conforming identities. Nevertheless,Unbounddoes make a few missteps which fortunately don’t render it unplayable.
Need for Speed Unboundis available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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