Need for Speed Unbound, so far, is looking like a unique entry for the franchise. Racing games have been in a rut for years, so to speak, but Need for Speed Unbound is taking a unique approach with its visuals, adding cartoony and almost anime-like content to every aspect of the game.

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Alongside the announcement of this Need for Speed Unbound gameplay reveal came a small snippet where fans can see these unique style customizations. Just in an incredibly short segment of a race, fans can see cartoony speakers surrounding the car and its lights dragging out as it hits the boost, cartoony designs surrounding the cars’ tires as they hit the drift (as well as their opponent’s), and a custom little cartoon pop up over the car. It stands to reason these visual elements will be everywhere in a race and probably down to how one customizes the various cars in Need for Speed Unbound.

Some are less impressed with these visuals, but it remains to be seen if the gameplay manages to win them over. This teaser shows some pretty standard gameplay for a racing game, where it’s genuinely hard to reinvent the wheel. Players have to proceed from point A to point B, and while there are a few ways to do that, gameplay for racing games is pretty universal. However, if its gameplay is solid, then perhaps those not won over by the visuals will be more interested in Need for Speed Unbound. It certainly can’t hurt, but more than anything, those who aren’t impressed with it so far should still applaud EA and Criterion Games for trying something new.

In a current gaming climate where there are plenty of remakes and safe sequels, brand new iterations are hard to come by. New IPs in video games remain a huge risk. Obviously Need for Speed is not that, but many still consider the “high point” of the franchise being 2005’s Need for Speed Most Wanted. That’s obviously not good. And, whether Unbound is able to hit those same high marks or not, it might just prove to be a memorable entry nonetheless.

Need for Speed Unbound releases December 2 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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