Varied gameplay, but irrelevant story and weak AI
In its review, the German gaming magazine GameStar praised Need for Speed Heat for its strong presentation, highlighting realistic lighting, weather and smoke effects. The gameplay mix of structured races and thrilling police chases was described as varied and engaging. GameStar also noted that the large open world and online races offer solid long-term motivation. However, the game’s slow start drew criticism, with early progression and the limited car selection feeling a bit sluggish. The story was seen as largely forgettable, featuring repetitive and occasionally cringeworthy dialogue. The AI opponents’ at times clumsy behavior was another point of critique.
Despite its flaws, GameStar gave Need for Speed Heat a solid score of 75. The game has also been well received on Steam, where it has gathered over 100,000 reviews since release, 84% of them positive. On Metacritic, the picture is a bit less favorable. The game holds a Metascore of 72 and a User Score of 6.3.
90% discount on the Deluxe Edition
On Steam, Need for Speed Heat is only offered in the Deluxe Edition, which includes a special starter car (K.S Edition Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X), three additional unlockable K.S vehicles, four exclusive outfits and a 5% boost to REP and in-game currency. Normally priced at around $70, the arcade racer is currently available for just $3.50 thanks to a big 95% discount – an offer running until March 27.
