Criterion Studios | "DESTROY ALL FANBOYS!"

It’s quite clear the moment you see Need For Speed Most Wanted running on the Wii U that Criterion Studios loves the new hardware and is making sure they get the most out of it in this very outstanding updated version of the game. I actually did a double take when I walked into the room the game was being demoed in at the W Hotel in Times Square on Wednesday because there were a group of kid bloggers hooting and hollering on the right side as they played some of the new PS3 DLC (coming out soon), while on the left side a Criterion rep was showing off the Wii U version to a fellow editor type who was glued to the screen with a huge smile on his mug. Talk about bizarre creations (ha ha) – it’s supposed to be the other way around (at least in the minds of the confused Nintendo haters out there), but the Wii U has plenty going on under the hood that more developers will need to start taking advantage of. Calling this game a mere “port” is doing the team a supreme disservice. From the use of PC textures to the amazing new features exclusive to the console, Wii U owners are clearly getting the best console version of the game to date… Continue reading →

It’s been a ton of fun playing this upcoming competition-based racer at press events and it’s equally fun watching people play, especially those new to the crazed competition Criterion has created. You’ll be fighting for every challenge, as the game’s non-stop pace, open world and constant need for, well, SPEED n the bulk of the events will keep your fingers on their toes constantly. This could be the perfect party game for many and it’s definitely going to get people obsessively checking their Autolog scores or fearing the updates with their former best times smashed by someone else (probably within seconds or minutes). Naturally, if you hate being beaten, you can always play the game offline against the AI, but this is exactly the sort of game that encourages you to dive in with as many other live players as possible.