Need for Speed Unbound gives players access to a fleet of cars to speed in, ranging from old classics like the VW Beetle to modern-day Bugattis. As players weave through traffic in Lakeshore City, they are likely to catch the attention of the police, who are attempting to stomp out illegal street racing. Understanding how the police work and the various tactics used at different heat levels will help players ensure their hard-earned cash isn't nabbed by the cops, since they'll they have a better grip on Unbound's difficulty levels.
For a few titles, the series has been attempting to find the right balance of including police in a consequential way without making them feel overbearing. There have been a few hits and misses, but fans have stuck with the series regardless. With Need for Speed Unbound, it appears that Criterion Games has found that special Goldilocks zone.
Police in Need for Speed Unbound
With their designer clothing and customized rides, players hit the streets of Lakeshore City to win races and make money. As players learn when they listen to the radio, illegal street racing isn't something that is tolerated by law enforcement, and there is a huge effort to try and put an end to this dangerous game. That isn't enough to deter players, though it does mean that players will often find themselves pursued by police hoping to throw handcuffs on them. Police can be encountered day or night in Need for Speed Unbound, so there is no getting away from them.
Police chases can be triggered in various ways. If players have low heat, they can pass the cops without much trouble. However, as is the case with other Need for Speed games, if they bump into a cop, then they'll find themselves in a high-speed chase. If players have a high heat level, a police chase will be triggered on sight if players cross paths with the police. Additionally, if police chases are initiated during races, players will have to deal with these after the race is over.
Players will be happy to know that being busted by the police does not mean the game is over. Instead, they are stripped of the earnings they haven't banked in Unbound's garages. This makes the police a risky element to deal with. The more players race in one day or night, the more money they can make. However, they raise their heat in the process, and if they are busted by the cops, that hard-earned cash will be lost to asset forfeiture.
The Different Heat Levels in Need for Speed Unbound
There are varying heat levels, and the higher the level the player is dealing with, the greater the tactics Lakeshore police will pull out. Heat Level 1 shouldn't be much of an issue for even the most novice players. Players will be pursued by a couple of patrol vehicles, usually a Dodge Charger SRT8 2013. They can easily be out-sped to end the pursuit. At Heat Level 2, more police units will be called, and players will also find themselves being pursued by the Ford Explorer 2011, which is bulky and hard to take down.
Things start getting problematic with Heat Level 3, which is around the time when the Lakeshore police start being utterly ruthless. There will be even more police on the pursuit, and they will not give up the chase easily. This is also the point where the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport 2017 comes into play. This is a very fast sports car which makes it nearly impossible to simply out-speed the police. Consequently, players have to start thinking of different strategies to get the cops off their tails.
Heat Level 4 is only for the brave of heart. The police send out their best vehicles, so they have something to counter players whether they attempt to utilize speed or try to go off-road. Undercover cars are also thrown into the mix, making it harder for players to determine which cars are enemies. The undercover cars are Chevrolet Camaro Z28 2014s, so they are not easy to out-speed. Heat Level 5 is nearly impossible to escape from. In addition to the Chevrolets, S.W.A.T also joins in on the efforts, and they drive Ford F-150 Raptors that are both bulky and fast. Additionally, helicopters above keep their eyes on players which makes it exceptionally difficult to stay out of sight of the police.
Police Tactics in Need for Speed Unbound
During Unbound's police chases, players should be aware that police have contact with each other, and they will strategize to set up tactics and obstructions. Gamers can use this to their advantage to avoid roadblocks and spike strips. Furthermore, players shouldn't let the police get in the position to perform pit maneuvers or tactical pursuit and containment. With the former, police will tap the side of the player's vehicle, causing it to veer out of control.
In the case of tactical pursuit and containment, the police will essentially attempt to box in the player. Gamers will notice it is happening when a cop car gets ahead of them and others attempt to block them from the side. This is a hard maneuver to escape from, and in most cases, it results in the player getting busted. The best strategy is to not even give the police the opportunity to start setting it up. Paying attention to the police scanner will clue players in on when police are trying to box them in.
In many ways, Unbound plays it safe by going back to the street racing era of the series. However, it also introduces a host of new features, including great graffiti-like driving effects. This, along with the thumping soundtrack, surprisingly good storyline, and celebrity appearance from rapper A$AP Rocky, make it a standout title. Despite its emphasis on style, it does not forget to provide great gameplay, and for gamers looking for toe-curling police chases, Unbound does not disappoint.
Need for Speed Unbound is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.