Need for Speed Payback: A Disappointing Return to the Track
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Need for Speed, a franchise spanning 23 years, has struggled to maintain its relevance since its peak in the mid-2000s. While modern installments aren’t necessarily bad (Hot Pursuit and the Shift series are notable exceptions), the franchise’s overall tone often feels immature and out of touch with today’s gaming audience. This issue is compounded by a persistent problem: weak storytelling. Despite attempts to inject narrative depth, Need for Speed storylines consistently fall flat. Need for Speed Payback (2017), developed by Ghost Games, aimed to revitalize the series, promising a thrilling revenge story and exciting gameplay. Unfortunately, after 20 hours of playtime, it became clear that Payback fails to deliver on its promises.
Fortune Valley’s Scenic Routes and Diverse Events
Payback shines brightest in its open-world environment, Fortune Valley. Comprising desert, mountain, and city landscapes, Fortune Valley offers a vast and visually appealing playground. The sprawling desert areas evoke a sense of freedom, while the winding mountain roads provide thrilling driving experiences. The city of Silver Rock, inspired by Las Vegas and New Mexico, feels less inspired but still serves as a functional hub.
The game also offers a diverse range of events, catering to different racing preferences. From drag and off-road races to time trials and police chases (Runner events), there’s something for everyone. The drifting mechanics, while exaggerated, are particularly enjoyable. Beyond the core races, Payback includes typical open-world filler content like Speed Traps, Speed Runs, Jumps, Drift Zones, and collectibles. While these activities might not appeal to all players, they can be easily hidden from the map.
Need For Speed Payback – Đánh Giá Game
A Flawed Upgrade System: Need for Speed: Magic The Gathering?
The most significant flaw in Payback lies in its baffling upgrade system. Instead of traditional part upgrades and tuning, Payback utilizes a card-based system. Performance parts are represented by Speed Cards, each with different stats affecting horsepower, top speed, acceleration, handling, and nitrous. These cards contribute to a single overall Level rating, which becomes the sole determinant of a car’s performance. This system renders individual performance stats largely irrelevant and creates a frustrating grind.
The update released on November 19th, 2017, attempted to address the slow progression by increasing race rewards. However, the escalating Level requirements for new events necessitate constant card upgrades, making the grind persist. Furthermore, the random nature of card drops often results in acquiring inferior parts. The inability to reroll using in-game currency (Tokens) further exacerbates this issue. Adding insult to injury, cards cannot be swapped between cars, even within the same class, forcing players to regrind upgrades for each vehicle. The inclusion of a slot machine-style mechanic for acquiring cards only adds to the feeling of unnecessary complexity.
Need For Speed Payback – Đánh Giá Game
Need For Speed Payback – Đánh Giá Game
A Shallow Narrative and Perplexing Design Choices
Payback‘s narrative draws inspiration from the Fast & Furious franchise, but lacks the character development and engaging storyline that make those films enjoyable. The protagonist, Tyler Morgan, is a bland and one-dimensional character with little personality beyond being a skilled driver. The supporting cast fares slightly better, but still falls short of compelling. The story itself, revolving around a stolen Koenigsegg and a corrupt racing organization, is predictable and poorly executed. The frequent interruptions by cutscenes during key missions further detract from the experience.
Need For Speed Payback – Đánh Giá Game
Even beyond the narrative shortcomings, Payback suffers from bizarre design choices. The overreliance on checkpoints, even on clearly marked routes, feels condescending. The police, only present in Runner events, specific missions, or when Bait Crates are activated, are easily evaded by simply passing through checkpoints. The AI exhibits aggressive rubberbanding and collision behavior, making races frustrating rather than challenging. The takedown mechanics in Runner events are also unbalanced, allowing player vehicles to disable opponents with unrealistic ease.
Need For Speed Payback – Đánh Giá Game
Need For Speed Payback – Đánh Giá Game
Need For Speed Payback – Đánh Giá Game
Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity
Need for Speed Payback had the potential to be a thrilling return to form for the franchise. However, its flawed upgrade system, weak narrative, and questionable design choices ultimately hold it back. While Fortune Valley’s environment and the diverse event types offer some enjoyment, they are overshadowed by the game’s more significant problems. Payback serves as a reminder that a visually appealing open world and a variety of racing options are not enough to compensate for fundamental gameplay and narrative flaws.
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