10 Beautiful Looking Games (That Play Terribly)
9. Need For Speed: The Run
Although Need for Speed always looked sharp, its graphics were never on par with racers like Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport.
But all that changed with Need for Speed: The Run. Being the first entry to take place in real-life locations, the developers decided to show off the visuals by utilising the Frostbite 2 engine, which was originally designed for first-person shooters. It took a year to repurpose the engine for this style of gaming, but it seemed like the right move since NFS: The Run boasted dynamic lighting, particle effects, and detailed environments.
Which is why it's a shame The Run is among the weakest in the franchise (which is impressive, considering there are over two dozen instalments). The quick-time events were cinematic, but the poor execution detracted from the racing. The AI rubber-bands to a preposterous level, making it nearly impossible to win on the harder difficulties. The gameplay felt regressive, since it provided no open-world exploration, unlike NFS: Hot Pursuit or Most Wanted.
Need for Speed: The Run should've been a victory lap for the franchise, so it was sad to see it crash and burn.