Arms-on with Want for Velocity Unbound Quantity 2: the fightback begins

However, one thing felt a little bit off. There have been no critiques earlier than the $80 Palace Version launched, which made it really feel a little bit like a shot at nighttime for gamers and hinted at a attainable insecurity from the Californian HQ. 

Then, since its launch, there’s been one, minuscule, stability-focused, recreation replace. That’s it in almost three months. 

However, we needn’t have frightened. Not solely is Unbound good, actually good, however all through this yr there will likely be a sequence of content material additions and recreation enhancements. All of it begins right here, with Quantity 2 which incorporates must-requested options, new vehicles and contemporary modes. 

We’ve been hands-on forward of launch with the most important change to Unbound to this point. The fightback begins right here… 

Linked cops 

Lakeshore On-line is a big a part of Unbound’s attraction, however it has been lacking one key competent to this point: cops. 

Police chases are intrinsic to the attraction of this franchise, current since 1994’s The Want for Velocity, the very first entry. In addition they characteristic closely in the latest launch’s single-player marketing campaign, patrolling the streets and including to your warmth stage. 

This was juxtaposed with the quiet streets of the cross-platform multiplayer world, the place they had been fully absent. 

A obtrusive omission, and one that’s now fortunately rectified with Quantity 2. 

The flashing-light-equipped Dodge Chargers and Ford Explorers roam the Chicago-aping streets as you’d count on, identical to offline, additionally showing in your mini-map. Crash into them, and the pursuit begins. 

Now, why may this be an excellent addition, chances are you’ll be asking? It makes the 2 worlds of single-player and multiplayer appear extra cohesive. It additionally provides selection to the gameplay expertise. 

However, clearly, the principle bonus is the money, or financial institution in Want for Velocity terminology, earned by taking down an officer of the legislation. 

{Dollars} are generally arduous to return by in Unbound – though we predict the grind is a part of the attraction as soon as it ‘clicks’ – however wiping out a cop nets $200, and that’s useful for automobile modifications or beauty objects. The money quickly begins including up. 

There’s additionally a collaborative factor – should you’re being pursued and another person in your server comes throughout the chase, they will take part and allow you to decimate your legislation enforcement adversaries. 

Teaming up with some associates to take down cops between playlists is smile-inducing carnage. Subsequent, we hope their presence could be added to a number of the precise multiplayer races sooner relatively than later. A characteristic that, not like in single-player, stays absent. 

Let’s get able to rumble 

One thing else now you can take part in alongside associates is rumble races. Included in two on-line playlists, which place three occasions again to again to crown an total champion, a rumble is often a brief observe race, affected by hairpins and ludicrous jumps. 

They’re the form of structure a racing driver may describe as ‘technical’, with tight and twisty codecs. 

It creates an action-packed race, the primary lap frantically understanding which manner the observe goes subsequent. The second and third laps, deciding which corners to float round and tips on how to maximise your enhance. 

Losing it simply earlier than a hairpin and hitting a car parking zone wall head-first is all too simple. You can not afford a mistake, as time is much more valuable right here.  

Frenetic, it turns into essentially the most riotous format within the recreation by a rustic mile and very best for these on the lookout for brief, sharp, blasts of aggressive racing. A welcome addition, very best for many who need to get in, race door-to-door and have a blast. 

It’s all about cheddar 

If this sounds multiplayer-heavy in focus, then sure, you’d be right. 

This continues with the redistribution of winnings, which have been tinkered with all through the network-connected expertise. In the course of the reshuffling of playlists, pay-outs have typically elevated throughout the board and the top-level earnings are actually largely related throughout the differing automobile courses. 

Hopefully, this implies extra individuals take part in races with lower-category vehicles extra typically. Now you can additionally change vehicles mid-playlist. This was already attainable for multi-class occasions, however is now the case even when the category stays constant all through the three races, permitting you to combine it up ought to one in every of your vehicles swimsuit a specific structure. 

Alongside rumble races, there are additionally two new playlists and contemporary endurance occasions. 

All notable, however the larger financial institution rewards are the principle bonus right here. For instance, the playlist Revv’d Up used to pay out a most of $21,000, however that’s now as much as $38,000 for the winner, an 81 per cent enhance. 

Sizzling lapping the ‘Bach 

Proper, time for some single-player enhancements, we begin with new vehicles. For these, and solely these, who subscribe to EA Play, there’s the pre-modified and customised Nissan Fairlady ZG 1971 Epic Customized. 

There’s additionally the fashion-tie-in Balmain Version Lotus Emira. That is already within the recreation, pushed by the character Eléonore, however now it may be yours. It’s unlocked if you win three on-line playlists driving a Lotus. 

These are simply sideshows to the principle deal. An all-new automobile for the sport teased as ‘The Final Luxurious’ and secret till now. 

Within the phrases of Drake in Goals Cash Can Purchase: “I ship the Maybach out in neighbourhoods, they by no means seen it.” 

Sure, it’s the relatively incongruous Mercedes-Maybach S 680 saloon. This luxo-barge drives as you’d think about it. Very highly effective, steady down the freeway, however attributable to its gigantic size, about as nimble as a cruise liner. 

We should admit, nevertheless, that it appears to be like notably menacing with a physique equipment, even the normally tasteless Mansory design. Definitely, extra refined than Jay Z and Kanye West’s makes an attempt at ‘Bach modifying within the Otis music video. Possibly that monstrosity will likely be in Unbound’s Quantity 3…? 

The way you unlock the Maybach is essential, as a brand new exercise kind has been added – Sizzling Laps. 

These be a part of the likes of Velocity Traps, Drift Zones and Jumps as non-obligatory purple icons on Lakeshore’s map. Every is a diminutive looped circuit with a goal time. The faster you go, the extra stars you may earn, as much as three per Sizzling Lap. 

It isn’t a simple experience to get a three-star consequence, taking apply, dedication and studying the layouts to inside a millimetre. Then you definately additionally want a automobile tuned for agile dealing with, however that’s additionally no slouch in a straight line. 

We discovered ourselves chasing the highest occasions regularly, being drawn into the hunt for the elusive stars. You could acquire 30 solely from Sizzling Lap occasions, and the Maybach unlocks for buy at $230,000. 

A brighter future 

A number of smaller quality-of-life adjustments are welcome too, alongside the brand new content material and modes. Now you can not downgrade Ferraris a number of tiers to select up an unfair benefit, however now you can skip music tracks mid-race with the D-pad and crucially, there will likely be three new every day challenges to earn further financial institution from. 

A characteristic that reminds us of some prior Want for Velocity titles, a welcome addition to the cash-earning potentialities and in our expertise, most will likely be accomplished naturally. For instance, in our testing, we had 4 and 5 seconds of air from one soar and finishing a Tier A+ playlist. 

Whole financial institution obtained throughout the three was $60,000. Each 24 real-world hours, this may replace. 

Arguably extra necessary that these adjustments, nevertheless, is that EA, Criterion Video games and the subsumed Codemasters Cheshire staff appear to be on this for the lengthy haul. 

Builders, working away in silence, ready for the opportune second to launch an replace as soon as it was prepared and substantial, versus a relentless drip-feed of smaller adjustments. We admire the chutzpah. 

Now we’ve tried Quantity 2 and see vital adjustments, anticipation has constructed for what the remainder of the yr has in retailer for Want for Velocity Unbound. 

Unbound’s Quantity 2 is on the market to obtain as a free replace on 21^st March for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Sequence X|S. Will you be downloading it? Tell us within the feedback beneath!