Welcome to This Is Not A Review. In these articles we discuss general impressions, ideas, and thoughts on any given game, but as the title implies, it’s not a review. Instead, it’s an exercise in offering a quick recommendation (or dismissal) after spending enough time to grasp the ideas and gameplay of a thing without necessarily playing it from A to Z.
HIGH Excellent driving physics and a thoughtful approach to grinding.
LOW Lack of polish and connectivity issues.
WTF Why was buying a car in real life easier than buying one here?
HIGH Excellent racing and presentation.
LOW Lacking some customization features.
WTF Laughing too hard at a talking horse.
HIGH Exceptional driving paired with a unique aesthetic.
LOW Tough AI.
WTF Okay, now can we get a new Burnout, EA?
HIGH Gettin’ dat Bugatti
LOW The soundtrack didn’t get any better with age
WTF Lamborghini cop cars = Defund The Police.
HIGH The Day/Night split is both interesting and well implemented.
LOW: The stories in this series continue to be insufferable…
WTF: …which would’ve been more bearable with a healthy dose of FMV, which ain’t here.
HIGH I didn’t pay for it.
LOW Every time anyone opens their yap.
WTF Couldn’t spring for live action cutscenes anymore? Really, EA?
HIGH Unlike last year, this is a deeeeeeep, full-featured racing sim.
LOW Tires seem to be held together by bubble gum and prayer.
WTF Frame tearing, stuttering and jaggy lines made me wonder which console I booted up
HIGH A great sense of speed and lovely visuals.
LOW The braindead, cheating, rubber-banding opponent AI.
WTF They sure do like phoning up this dude who never, ever talks.
HIGH Narrowly escaping a pursuing squad of police cars and power drifting into the safety of my hideout with hundreds of sounds of speed points under my belt.
LOW For an open world driving game, there are not nearly enough alternative paths and emergent gameplay moments that use the geography.
WTF The non-ironic gritty and serious tone of the "story."