The driving feels good, the overall art direction and aesthetic in this game gives it a sense of identity I have been desperate to see back in NFS for years, and the customization is better than it's been in a long time.

The story and writing are way better than I expected. Aside from a handful of cringey lines of dialogue, I don't really get the complaints. Rydell, Yaz, Tess, and even us the player, are engaging enough characters that play their roles well. In addition to that, when you give fellow racers rides at night they talk to you about their background and things like that and it makes the world feel more alive.

I have a few gripes with the game though. For instance, I feel like the game is too stingy with money for a game that actively wants you to drive more than one car at once. The exaggerated collisions are cool to see back, but they are too easy to trigger - to the point it often feels like they shouldn't have. The soundtrack is garbage, and brake to drift feels a little inconsistent for me. Lastly, don't fucking bother playing this online. Just don't.

This doesn't overshadow the positives though, and overall, Unbound is a step up from Heat, and definitely the best NFS since the 2010s.