Electronic Arts recently unveiledNeed for Speed: Unbound, and it has received a positive reception from gamers thus far. With its bright colors, flashy visuals, and trendy music, it has all the makings of a hit, and it appears that developers are trying a lot of new things with the upcoming game. However, this doesn’t mean thatUnboundcan’t learn a thing or two from older titles likeNFS: Carbon.
Need for Speed: Unbound’s Takeover Scene seems to parallel the takeover challenges ofNeed for Speed: Carbon. This shouldn’t be the only thing it borrows from its predecessor, asCarbonalso had canyon races that were as fun as they were dangerous. The addition of something similar toUnboundwould turn it into an iconicNeed for Speedtitle.
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Similarities Between NFS: Unbound and Carbon
Need for Speed: Unboundhas shown itself to be quite a stylish game. It is dripping with eye-catching visuals and graffiti street art that makes it stand out from the averagearcade racing game. Gamers can also expect a quality soundtrack thanks to EA’s collaboration with rapper ASAP Rocky and his creative collective AWGE. Though the series appears to be treading new ground, it appears that the experiment has the right ingredients to be a successful one.
Gamers haven’t seen much gameplay yet, though they have been clued in on what to expect. One of the most exciting revelations is that the upcoming game will feature a new game mode called Takeover Scene. This mode, which will featureASAP Rockyin-game, has players working together to gain control of different areas of Lakeshore, which will serve asUnbound’s setting. Speed isn’t everything, and players will also be judged on their style.
Though Takeover Scene does sound like it will bring some newness to the series, it bears striking similarities to the takeover challenges ofNeed for Speed: Carbon. InCarbon, the map is divided into four districts controlled by Bosses. To challenge a Boss, players must take over territory by completing races. The territory gained is not secured forever, and players may be challenged for their territory by rivals. It provided some fun gameplay, and it appears thatCriterion Gamesreinvented the idea forUnbound. However, there is another ideaUnboundcould also borrow fromCarbon.
The Canyon Races of NFS: Carbon
InNFS: Carbon, when players finally catch the attention of a Boss, they’ll get challenged to race in the canyons. These are terrifying races that require precision in addition to speed. The canyon roads are narrow, and the guard rails won’t do much to stop racers from skidding over the edge. Although different kinds of races take place in the canyons, the most exciting is the Canyon Duel. In the first half, the player must follow their opponent as closely as possible without crashing into them. The second half has them switching positions, and the player must attempt to stay as far ahead of their opponent as possible. It takes strategy and skillful driving to pull off, and it’s a nice break from the usual races.
Unboundwould do well to feature a similar game mode that has players focusing on more than speed. A return to a canyon-like setting would be greatly appreciated, as it forces players to think about more than being the fastest as they navigate hairpin turns on mountainsides.Unboundwould also benefit tremendously from bringing back duels. They were a unique kind of race that worked well, and with a little innovation, duels could find new life in the upcoming game.
Slowly but surely, more information is being released as the game’s release date draws nearer. The latestNeed for Speed: Unboundgameplay trailerillustrated that the decorative graphics will be visible during gameplay, though players will be able to turn them off if they wish. With the right elements in place, Criterion Games could have a winner on its hands.
Need for Speed: Unboundis set to release on Jun 10, 2025, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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