Need for Speed Payback reviews

If you're a casual player like me, you might enjoy Need for Speed Payback. I played on hard difficulty and completed the game in about 35 hours. It’s not the best NFS game, but not the worst either. [[ LIKED ]] - Fortune Valley The map is visually stunning with varied terrain and a lovely color palette that changes by location. Roads strike a great balance—wide enough without feeling mindless. Though the map is small, it suits a 30-hour experience, and the photo mode encourages capturing its beauty. - OffRoad Racing This mode is both challenging and satisfying, with tight corners near cliffs and aggressive AI. The limited car selection is a downside, but the gameplay shines with thrilling jumps and intense races. - Drag Racing It’s back and enjoyable, though not particularly deep. - OnRoad Racing This depends on playstyle. Playing on hard with underpowered cars forced me to strategize and take risks, like ramming opponents, using nitro in every straight, and pit-maneuvering faster cars. This underdog approach was exhilarating but required numerous retries in late-game races, which might not suit everyone. [[ MIXED ]] - Story / Story Missions The revenge-driven narrative is cheesy and illogical but entertaining if you don’t take it seriously. However, story missions feel scripted, with most of the cool moments happening in cutscenes. The antagonist’s decisions often lack logic. - Upgrade System The card-based upgrade system has potential but feels frustrating due to randomness. Parts are tied to specific cars, and acquiring upgrades often involves excessive grinding. The limited availability of higher-level parts further slows progression. - Scripted Cops While cop chases are fun, they’re entirely scripted to stop at specific points, and there’s no freeroam police presence. This hurts immersion and makes the encounters feel hollow. [[ DISLIKE ]] - Characters The characters are either bland, annoying, or stereotypical, making them hard to connect with. - Lack of Map Freedom You can’t jump cliffs or explore off-limits areas, and resetting after trying feels restrictive and unnecessary. Overall Need for Speed Payback is fun but not groundbreaking. It offers enough challenge on hard mode if you avoid grinding, but its flaws hold it back from being a standout title.

I had to stop after 1-2 hours of playing. The game was not successful. It all goes by far too quickly...you know immediately what happens next in the story.