Pros: online play, police chases, street cred, hot cars
Cons: It's a port, you have to get some sleep
The bottom line: In all, the game will tie up an untold number of hours. It will consume you. It's $60 that is well spent.
It has been second guessed by game critics who have often waved the simulation racing checkered flag in favor of Microsoft's Project Gotham Racing 3.
But Electronic Art's Need For Speed: Most Wanted might be one of the most fun-filled games on the Xbox 360.

The two racing titles are often compared, even though they provide two different types of racing experiences -- one is geared toward being a true racing simulation; the other is focused on the illegal sport of street racing.

In a nutshell, NFS does not disappoint. From graphics to game play, the game is solid.

One strike against NFS is the fact that it is a port, meaning the game was not exclusively built for the Xbox 360. But there are graphic improvements. Besides, unless you had the Xbox version of the game, you really wouldn't be the wiser. More importantly, it's clearly an improvement -- and different -- from its brethren and last year's Need For Speed: Underground 2 for the Xbox.

There's a rather small learning curve. The controls are simple, the right and left trigger buttons are set up to resemble that of your brake and gas pedal. There are multiple views and one neat feature that was added is a slow motion button. When you see a sharp turn, you can hit the slow-mo button and the emergency brake to navigate the turn.

Graphically, the game is just as good. It has real-time lighting so, depending on the time of day you play, it can be day light or day break. The sun can be bright, almost blinding just like in real life. It will occasionally rain, making it more difficult to maneuver around turns.
However, to get the most out of NFS -- or any other 360 title -- you have to have an HD television. The game looks great in high definition. You can actually see drops of rain making puddles or see your tires tred water.
There's smoke from tires pealing and when you bang opponents -- you'll especially notice this in online play -- sparks fly from trading paint.

There's so much that EA did right with this title.
In career mode, the game begins telling a story -- a tale that you virtually control. Your tricked out car gets impounded and you'll have to start from scratch, piecing together a car that can compete and work to build a reputation on the streets. You can also win cars from opponents you defeat.

You'll work your way through opponents on the Blacklist, the top 15 drivers who boast reputation and driving savvy. Grab the attention of those on the blacklist by winning against some lesser opponents and completing milestone challenges, such as evading the police in a limited time or triggering a police radar speed trap.

It should be noted that the police chase is one of the best features of the game. Whether you're roaming the city or in the middle of a big race, cops pop up when you least expect it. You have a radar detector, but that matters little if they have already clocked you. Cops won't bother you if you're not speeding -- or on their wanted list. So if you're racing, that means you have two things to worry about: evading the cops and winning the race. That alone makes the game fun. Each chase has a uniqueness of its own. And it's funny to listen to your police scanner and hear the cops trying to figure out where you are, call for backup when they lose you or report that you blew past them or hit their cruiser. The dispatcher will also report to the cops information they get from the street. So if you're driving fast or banging into people, someone will call on you. They dispatcher will give the cops a description of your car and your whereabouts.

Win races for cash and use the dough to modify your car. It will make your car more appealing, but it also keep it looking new to the cops and that keeps heat off you. There are more than a dozen rides, including the new Ford Mustang, Mitsubishi Eclipse and Lancer EVO. There are Audi's, Lambo's and, well, Fiots.

Xbox Live takes this gaming experience to a completely different level. Think a virtual Fast and the Furious. You take your top cars against some of the best gamers. It's fun to see what other gamers have done to their vehicles and see how your cars compare.
The online version also has a Blacklist of its own. Same as career mode, you have to work your way up and build street cred. It is an ongoing battle to develop a good rep. The trash talk is fun, plus you have to step your game up to play these guys. Artificial Intelligence is good, but nothing compares to playing a human.

The open world is also pretty big. There are plenty of secret passages to hide from cops or use as shortcuts in races. There are also a lot of scaffolds, towers, dumpsters, billboards and gas stations (they create a nifty explosion) you can ram into -- and if timed right -- to foil opponents or cops. Both new features -- the cops and the free standing clutter -- are welcome additions.

The sound is great. Ride in a tunnel and you will hear the echo of your engine. Hit debris and street signs and you'll hear clangs and dings as they bounce from your car.
The soundtrack isn't bad, but I usually listen to music from my iPod, which is recognized by the Xbox 360.

I made a chrome colored Porsche that was a hit at the online races. However, it didn't perform as well as it looked. It's a work in progress though, and that's the beauty of this game. There's always more to achieve.

Any game has its flaws and areas that can be improved. None come to the top of my head right now. I'm eager to see what comes next.