May 18, 2005 - Now that the conferences have ended, Microsoft has one undeniable advantage at E3 2005: they have next-generation games that are playable on the show floor. At the MS booth, Need for Speed Most Wanted was one of them.
We were able to experience one short track, but it was enough to get a feel for the handling and features included in the game. The control setup was straightforward: The Y button shifted up, X shifted down, right trigger was gas and the left trigger was used as the break. Deadly street racing is nothing without the ability to use a nitrous boost, and this was activated by hitting the B button.
The level started out in a garage, with cinematic camera angles that panned around vehicle as the engine roared. The garage slowly opened and the beast of a car pulled out into the street. The phrase is becoming trite, but I must comment on the extreme level of detail in the outdoor environment. It's easy to overlook the little things while down-shifting into oncoming traffic but everything from the branches on trees to the power lines looked crisp and clean.
The course started out on a downhill path in an urban area. Indicators like "Good Shift" pop up on the screen when players drive like a pro, most of my indicators were not nearly as positive. As I tore down the hill a large semi pulled onto the road ahead of me, so I hit the NOS and slid under his trailer bed. The Feeling of speed was excellent and keeping an eye on my shifting, the traffic, and events like skidding under a truck really got my adrenaline pumping.
After maneuvering around the truck, I headed into a tunnel with some heavier traffic. At this point I hit the A button and slowed down time to avoid the obstacles. In this mode, there is a cool drafting effect that flies off of the edges of the car and the spoiler. I boosted up the hill and almost as quickly as it began, my Most Wanted Experience had ended.
The game is scheduled to be a launch title and according to EA, it is at about 70 percent completion. EA is confident that game will be silky smooth in its final stages, and I'm looking forward to seeing the highly detailed tracks with anti-aliasing. We will have more information on this game as it becomes available.
