Has Mario Kart lost its style?

Need For Speed
Need For Speed used to be about taking supercars like Lamborghinis and Ferraris out onto public roads and driving really fast while evading the cops. While the series retains all of these features, the 'streetness' of it all has diminished its appeal somewhat. The handling has been simplified. The cars are exotic but pimped beyond recognition and the rivalries and stories have taken the series in a new direction altogether.

Sure, new Need For Speed games are very popular and extremely slick, but the name is about the only thing left of the original's ethos. It's now a brand, not a mantra. You know, that urge - that need for speed. That's what we want,not automotive dress-up time. And with the new Pro Street taking the series another step away again, it doesn't look like we'll be getting a return to NFS of old any time soon.

Above: The 32-bit Need For Speed is nothing like recent entries in the series

Justin Towell

Justin was a GamesRadar staffer for 10 years but is now a freelancer, musician and videographer. He's big on retro, Sega and racing games (especially retro Sega racing games) and currently also writes for Play Magazine, Traxion.gg, PC Gamer and TopTenReviews, as well as running his own YouTube channel. Having learned to love all platforms equally after Sega left the hardware industry (sniff), his favourite games include Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams, Zelda BotW, Sea of Thieves, Sega Rally Championship and Treasure Island Dizzy.