Need for Speed: Rivals

Despite some rough edges and aggravations, Need for Speed Rivals is still a fun and exciting ride. Hunting down your prey as the police or getting to your hideout in the nick of time is exhilarating, and constantly sharing a social sphere with other players feels like a natural step forward for a series intent on putting players on opposing side of the law.

You’ll have fun with Rivals, for sure, but the online issues and bugs will ensure that you’re always brought back down to earth sooner rather than later. Is it worth your $60? That’s really up to you. But I’d recommend anyone who’s worried about the connection issues just stay away from it; if your connection’s worse than mine (or if you’re in a worse location) you could be in for even more pain than I was.

With an impressive open world that's a blast to explore, and some enjoyable--if not repetitive--missions, Need for Speed Rivals sets the bar for what next-gen racing games. It's fast, it's fun, and while its paintjob is marred by a few scuff marks, it's a worthwhile offering for would-be street racers. Let’s just hope developer Ghost Games decides to keep the potato for a little while.