It was Hot Pursuit (2010). That was the last time I can say I really cared for a need for speed game, with each one after being met with somewhat apathy. "Oh a new need for speed cameout? That's cool I guess" was my usual response to each new ad I'd see for 12 years. Then this game gets announced. Just a trailer and a "comes out in two months btw." With an art style very striking and does interest me but I was still wearingly interested because of how these games have turned out. Game comes out to absolutely no press, the worst part of this game was marketing. Damn does it feel like EA did not want this game to succeed. So when it came to releasing I saw a clip on twitter of somebody playing it and I went "it's out?". I rented the game because I was still not sure on the full 70$ but if you have the money it is a BIG recommend. With some of the best soundtrack choices I've heard in a game in a while, with an atmosphere that tracks, and oh my god I love the style the game goes for. This is what I needed Horizon to have. Horizon 5 is my favorite racing game ever but it was always super clean in it's presentation since the first game. Nothing too special kinda felt like "yea this is all just normal racing but in pretty setpieces." To the actual stakes to police chases? A game with actual stakes to getting caught by the cops (losing money is really fucking tough)? To the pretty tough reset system so you have to be on top of your game to make sure you get the winning pot of money. With the albeit can be pretty corny dialogue which at the end of the day, is better than anything in Horizon. The story pretty cheesy along with the dialogue just felt like home to me. It felt like Underground and it felt like Most Wanted. This is Underground 2 if it was made today. I clocked in at about 26 hours which I enjoyed all of. Please if you can pickup this game and show that Need For Speed needed this direction for the future. I am now back on the nfs train and I want to see what Criterion can make next with Codemasters helping them now.