[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fKXTrXMtImmLn83x9qNKuxdkzvIaZOytxBA01WmXeeBc":3},{"game":4,"reviews":20},{"id":5,"name":6,"summary":7,"cover_image":8,"header_image":9,"release_date":10,"created_at":11,"updated_at":12,"igdb_id":13,"slug":14,"is_published":15,"trailer_url":16,"category":17,"avg_score":18,"steam_app_id":19},95856,"Need for Speed: Heat","Hustle by day and risk it all at night in Need for Speed Heat, a white-knuckle street racer, where the lines of the law fade as the sun starts to set. By day, Palm City hosts the Speedhunter Showdown, a sanctioned competition where you earn Bank to customize and upgrade your high-performance cars. At night, ramp up the intensity in illicit street races that build your reputation, getting you access to bigger races and better parts. But stay ready – cops are waiting and not all of them play fair","95856\u002FNFSHeat_cover.webp","95856\u002FNFSH_header.jpeg","2019-11-08","2024-09-14T01:19:17.071592-04:00","2026-03-27T17:39:37.034141-04:00",119161,"need-for-speed-heat",true,"https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002F04KPiGmC7Lc",0,72.28,1222680,[21,52,83,107,141,166,191,218,243,266,292,318,341,361,381,406,429,452,481,508,529,554,582,606,634,658,681,705,727],{"id":22,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":23,"author":24,"original_score":32,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":34,"review_date":35,"summary":36,"created_at":37,"updated_at":37,"author_id":25,"last_edited_at":37,"outlet":38},145990,150,{"id":25,"bio":26,"name":27,"avg_score":28,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":29,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":30,"claim_token":26,"article_count":31,"claimed_by_user_id":26},12407,null,"Brodie Gibbons",78.0241935483871,"2025-05-07T19:13:36.236185-04:00","2026-07-24T02:24:58.454581-04:00",130,"7",70,"https:\u002F\u002Fpress-start.com.au\u002Freviews\u002Fplaystation4-reviews\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F10\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review-a-touch-of-paradise\u002F","2025-05-07","It's clear that Ghost Games has taken a touch of Paradise and applied it to Heat, resulting in a thrilling and beautiful racing game that's bursting with things to do. Though their ambition was bold, they strayed too far from comfort in putting Heat together. When measured up against its own franchise, Heat does a lot to move the series in the right direction and it's a clear, marked improvement over Payback.","2025-05-07T19:44:42.761963-04:00",{"id":23,"logo":39,"name":40,"slug":41,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":42,"youtube":42,"facebook":43,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":44,"website_url":45,"score_format":46,"average_score":47,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":50,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":51,"reviews_editor_email":50,"editor_in_chief_email":50,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fpress-start-logo.jpg","Press Start","press-start","pressstartau","PressStartAu","Bringing the best of gaming to Australia!","https:\u002F\u002Fpress-start.com.au\u002F","10",79,"UTC","2025-07-04T09:28:49.429906","shannon.grixti@sca.com.au","Australia",{"id":53,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":54,"author":55,"original_score":62,"normalized_score":63,"review_url":64,"review_date":65,"summary":66,"created_at":67,"updated_at":67,"author_id":56,"last_edited_at":67,"outlet":68},76672,39,{"id":56,"bio":26,"name":57,"avg_score":58,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":59,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":60,"claim_token":26,"article_count":61,"claimed_by_user_id":26},3427,"Noah Kupetsky",77.55924170616113,"2025-01-13T10:34:29.318413-05:00","2026-07-29T15:19:30.55609-04:00",422,"8",80,"https:\u002F\u002Fsteamdeckhq.com\u002Fgame-reviews\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat\u002F","2022-10-01","Need for Speed: Heat is a beautiful game with a great gameplay loop, but due to the Internet limits of Origin and the game itself, there are some pretty big compromises to make.","2025-02-10T06:37:24.31463-05:00",{"id":54,"logo":69,"name":70,"slug":71,"tags":72,"bluesky":73,"twitter":74,"youtube":75,"facebook":76,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":77,"website_url":78,"score_format":46,"average_score":79,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":80,"news_editor_email":81,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":82,"reviews_editor_email":81,"editor_in_chief_email":81,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FSteamDeckHQ-Logo.jpg","Steam Deck HQ","steam-deck-hq","[  \n  'independent',\n  'online_media',\n  'ingestion_pending'\n  ]","steamdeckhq.com","SteamDeckHQ","@SteamDeckHQ","steamdeckhq","SteamDeckHQ is an independent press outlet that specializes in Steam Deck performance analysis, creates guides, and reports on news revolving around the Steam Deck.","https:\u002F\u002Fsteamdeckhq.com\u002F",78,"Los Angeles","n.kupetsky@steamdeckhq.com","United States of America",{"id":84,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":85,"author":86,"original_score":32,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":93,"review_date":94,"summary":95,"created_at":96,"updated_at":96,"author_id":87,"last_edited_at":96,"outlet":97},47022,63,{"id":87,"bio":26,"name":88,"avg_score":89,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":90,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":91,"claim_token":26,"article_count":92,"claimed_by_user_id":26},4082,"Stephen Tailby",71.08108108108108,"2025-01-19T09:41:07.668805-05:00","2026-05-26T08:03:51.162866-04:00",148,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pushsquare.com\u002Freviews\u002Fps4\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat","2022-08-31","Republished on Wednesday 31st August 2022: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of September's PlayStation Plus lineup. The original text follows.","2025-01-19T09:53:45.868277-05:00",{"id":85,"logo":98,"name":99,"slug":100,"tags":101,"bluesky":102,"twitter":103,"youtube":103,"facebook":103,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":104,"website_url":105,"score_format":46,"average_score":106,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FPush-Square-Logo.jpg","Push Square","push-square","[  \n  'independent',\n  'online_media'\n  ]","pushsquare.com","pushsquare","All the very latest PS5 \u002F PSVR2 \u002F PlayStation Plus \u002F PS4 news, reviews and features. Do you Push Square?","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pushsquare.com\u002F",71,{"id":108,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":109,"author":110,"original_score":117,"normalized_score":63,"review_url":118,"review_date":119,"summary":120,"created_at":121,"updated_at":121,"author_id":111,"last_edited_at":121,"outlet":122},133331,142,{"id":111,"bio":26,"name":112,"avg_score":113,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":114,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":115,"claim_token":26,"article_count":116,"claimed_by_user_id":26},10952,"Unknown Author",81.12,"2025-04-23T17:43:06.627229-04:00","2025-04-23T17:43:40.6082-04:00",25,"4.0","https:\u002F\u002Ffinalweapon.net\u002F2019\u002F12\u002F10\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review-a-long-awaited-return-to-form\u002F","2019-12-10","Need for Speed: Heat redeems the series with engaging gameplay, insane amounts of customization and remembers its past fondly. From start to finish, racing in Palm City's night lights and sunny atmosphere reminds players why they were elated fans of a once great franchise.","2025-04-23T17:43:34.498645-04:00",{"id":109,"logo":123,"name":124,"slug":125,"tags":26,"bluesky":126,"twitter":127,"youtube":128,"facebook":26,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":129,"website_url":130,"score_format":131,"average_score":132,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":133,"stats_updated_at":134,"headquarters_city":135,"news_editor_email":136,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":137,"active_authors_count":138,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":136,"editor_in_chief_email":136,"published_authors_count":139,"published_reviews_count":140},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FFinal%20Weapon%20Logo.jpg","Final Weapon","final-weapon","@finalweapon.net","@fnlwpn","https:\u002F\u002Fyoutube.com\u002F@fnlwpn","Your one stop for all things Japanese gaming and anime\u002Fmanga.","https:\u002F\u002Ffinalweapon.net","5",76,"2026-02-02","2026-02-07T02:40:55.356694","Dallas, Texas","nhunter@finalweapon.net",2,7,31,346,{"id":142,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":143,"author":144,"original_score":151,"normalized_score":152,"review_url":153,"review_date":154,"summary":155,"created_at":156,"updated_at":156,"author_id":145,"last_edited_at":156,"outlet":157},80399,59,{"id":145,"bio":26,"name":146,"avg_score":147,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":148,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":149,"claim_token":26,"article_count":150,"claimed_by_user_id":26},6143,"Carter Kilmann",83.5,"2025-02-12T06:01:53.717458-05:00","2025-02-12T06:10:46.949996-05:00",11,"8.8",88,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamingnexus.com\u002FArticle\u002F6032\u002FNeed-for-Speed-Heat\u002F","2019-11-27","The day\u002Fnight dynamic is entertaining and mixes things up. The car list is better than expected. Customization is clean and maximizes personalization. And the driving mechanics aren't overly complicated but present enough of a challenge.","2025-02-12T06:04:12.555408-05:00",{"id":143,"logo":158,"name":159,"slug":160,"tags":72,"bluesky":26,"twitter":161,"youtube":26,"facebook":162,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":163,"website_url":164,"score_format":46,"average_score":63,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":165,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGaming-Nexus-Logo.jpg","Gaming Nexus","gaming-nexus","GamingNexus","gamingnexus","Established in 1997, Gaming Nexus is an ad-free site, writing honest video game reviews and covering industry news.","https:\u002F\u002Fgamingnexus.com\u002F","ehauter@gamingnexus.com",{"id":167,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":168,"author":169,"original_score":176,"normalized_score":177,"review_url":178,"review_date":179,"summary":180,"created_at":181,"updated_at":181,"author_id":170,"last_edited_at":181,"outlet":182},101740,138,{"id":170,"bio":26,"name":171,"avg_score":172,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":173,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":174,"claim_token":26,"article_count":175,"claimed_by_user_id":26},8966,"Thomas Medina",76.78260869565217,"2025-03-25T16:45:02.771625-04:00","2025-03-25T17:03:09.600705-04:00",115,"8.5",85,"https:\u002F\u002Fwaytoomany.games\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F23\u002Freview-need-for-speed-heat\u002F","2019-11-23","You know what’s more surprising than EA publishing a great Star Wars game? EA publishing a great Need for Speed. Since the series’ glory days on the PlayStation 2, it has been rebooted repeatedly to increasingly lukewarm results. The last entry in the franchise, Need for Speed: Payback, was easily the series’ lowest point and many thought it was time to put the IP to rest. Yet Ghost Games tried again, and third time ended up being the charm. Need for Speed: Heat is a back-to-basics ent...","2025-03-25T17:00:41.114196-04:00",{"id":168,"logo":183,"name":184,"slug":185,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":184,"youtube":186,"facebook":187,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":188,"website_url":189,"score_format":46,"average_score":190,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FWayTooManyGames.png","WayTooManyGames","way-too-many-games","@WayTooManyGames","waytoomanygames","We play the good, the bad, and the so bad it's good. ","https:\u002F\u002Fwaytoomany.games\u002F",75,{"id":192,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":190,"author":193,"original_score":200,"normalized_score":201,"review_url":202,"review_date":203,"summary":204,"created_at":205,"updated_at":205,"author_id":194,"last_edited_at":205,"outlet":206},87992,{"id":194,"bio":26,"name":195,"avg_score":196,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":197,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":198,"claim_token":26,"article_count":199,"claimed_by_user_id":26},7066,"Nathan Birch",75.65533980582525,"2025-03-04T06:33:53.575481-05:00","2026-07-21T09:22:44.996072-04:00",206,"6.0\u002F10",60,"https:\u002F\u002Fwccftech.com\u002Freview\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat\u002F","2019-11-19","The Need for Speed series has been stuck in second gear for a while now. 2017’s Need for Speed Payback was a particularly frustrating experience, as it looked and played great, but was held back by an annoying money-grubbing Ultimate-Team-style structure. Electronic Arts and developer Ghost Games are clearly trying to make amends with Need for Speed Heat, as it kicks any sort of microtransactions to the curb and hearkens back to the cops ‘n’ robbers theme of past entries in the series.","2025-03-04T09:31:33.47099-05:00",{"id":190,"logo":207,"name":208,"slug":209,"tags":72,"bluesky":26,"twitter":209,"youtube":210,"facebook":209,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":211,"website_url":212,"score_format":46,"average_score":47,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":213,"news_editor_email":214,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":215,"reviews_editor_email":216,"editor_in_chief_email":217,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fwccftech-logo.jpg","WCCFtech","wccftech","wccftechtv","We bring you the latest from hardware, mobile tech, gaming and internet industries","https:\u002F\u002Fwccftech.com\u002F","Vancouver","nate@wccftech.com","Canada","kai@wccftech.com","saad@wccftech.com",{"id":219,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":220,"author":221,"original_score":228,"normalized_score":17,"review_url":229,"review_date":230,"summary":231,"created_at":232,"updated_at":232,"author_id":222,"last_edited_at":232,"outlet":233},103158,140,{"id":222,"bio":26,"name":223,"avg_score":224,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":225,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":226,"claim_token":26,"article_count":227,"claimed_by_user_id":26},9002,"Kolby James",68.5,"2025-03-25T20:36:28.097962-04:00","2025-03-25T20:55:52.856421-04:00",47,"Unscored","https:\u002F\u002Fcheckpointgaming.net\u002Freviews\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review-a-racer-with-an-identity-crisis\u002F","2019-11-18","Need For Speed is one of the classic racing game franchises. Ever since making its debut on the ill-fated 3DO in 1993 (even then featuring traffic and police chases) it’s been through its peaks and troughs. The first three games in the series I still enjoy playing from time to time. The series started off as a simulator featuring exotic sports cars like Lamborghini and Ferrari, it eventually moved more into the arcade racer space and dabbled in Fast and the Furious type street racing in the...","2025-03-25T20:52:59.623001-04:00",{"id":220,"logo":234,"name":235,"slug":236,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":237,"youtube":26,"facebook":238,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":239,"website_url":240,"score_format":46,"average_score":241,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":242,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":51,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fcheckpoint-gaming.jpg","Checkpoint Gaming","checkpoint-gaming","checkpointAU","checkpoint.joy949","Join us every Saturday 2PM on JOY94.9 for all the latest news, reviews & more in the gaming world!","https:\u002F\u002Fcheckpointgaming.net\u002F",74,"Melbourne",{"id":244,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":245,"author":246,"original_score":252,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":253,"review_date":230,"summary":254,"created_at":255,"updated_at":255,"author_id":247,"last_edited_at":255,"outlet":256},51512,66,{"id":247,"bio":26,"name":248,"avg_score":249,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":250,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":251,"claim_token":26,"article_count":227,"claimed_by_user_id":26},4368,"Tom Hopkins",72.1086956521739,"2025-01-23T05:35:46.825321-05:00","2026-04-17T12:10:18.081289-04:00","3.5","https:\u002F\u002Ftwinfinite.net\u002Freviews\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review-back-on-track\u002F","With Need for Speed (2015) and Payback, EA seemed to lose grasp of what fans looked for from the series. Awkward Fast & Furious style stories, slot machine upgrades, and live-action segments were not what was needed to make Need for Speed the biggest name in racing again.","2025-01-23T06:38:24.383214-05:00",{"id":245,"logo":257,"name":258,"slug":259,"tags":260,"bluesky":26,"twitter":258,"youtube":26,"facebook":261,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":262,"website_url":263,"score_format":131,"average_score":264,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":265,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":265,"editor_in_chief_email":265,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FTwinfinite.png","Twinfinite","twinfinite","[  \n  'corporate_owned',\n  'online_media',\n  'inactive',\n  'ingestion_pending'\n  ]","2winfinite","We love video games, so we talk about them.","https:\u002F\u002Ftwinfinite.net\u002F",77,"N\u002FA",{"id":267,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":92,"author":268,"original_score":275,"normalized_score":276,"review_url":277,"review_date":230,"summary":278,"created_at":279,"updated_at":279,"author_id":269,"last_edited_at":280,"outlet":281},135874,{"id":269,"bio":26,"name":270,"avg_score":271,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":272,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":273,"claim_token":26,"article_count":274,"claimed_by_user_id":26},9151,"Mike Thomas",61.1764705882353,"2025-03-26T09:22:41.79598-04:00","2025-05-13T17:11:36.501262-04:00",17,"5\u002F10",50,"https:\u002F\u002Fgamerescape.com\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F18\u002Freview-need-for-speed-heat\u002F","I hate to speak for a community but I’m sure this game may meet the demands they ask for in Need For Speed. For anyone else looking to get into racing but don’t want the difficulty associated with Forza or Asetto Corsa, I would still recommend picking up the recent remaster of Burnout Paradise. If you’re not already a Need For Speed fan, I say skip Heat and wait for EA to remember Burnout exists.","2025-04-25T14:52:15.389411-04:00","2025-04-25T17:09:27.985216-04:00",{"id":92,"logo":282,"name":283,"slug":284,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":285,"youtube":286,"facebook":285,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":287,"website_url":288,"score_format":46,"average_score":241,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":289,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":290,"reviews_editor_email":289,"editor_in_chief_email":291,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fgamerescape-logo.jpg","Gamer Escape","gamer-escape","gamerescape","@GamerEscape","We're a website that loves to talk about video games.","https:\u002F\u002Fgamerescape.com\u002F","press@gamerescape.com","United States","joel@gamerescape.com",{"id":293,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":294,"author":295,"original_score":301,"normalized_score":302,"review_url":303,"review_date":230,"summary":304,"created_at":305,"updated_at":305,"author_id":139,"last_edited_at":305,"outlet":306},85444,82,{"id":139,"bio":26,"name":296,"avg_score":297,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":298,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":299,"claim_token":26,"article_count":300,"claimed_by_user_id":26},"Alex Santa Maria",70.28846153846153,"2024-10-07T11:43:29.873999-04:00","2025-07-08T15:25:56.295997-04:00",160,"4\u002F10",40,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamerevolution.com\u002Freview\u002F617462-need-for-speed-heat-review-xbox-one","Earlier this month, a new Need for Speed hit major consoles and PC platforms. It’s alright if you didn’t notice, EA seems less than enthusiastic about promoting the game. Announced as an afterthought during a financial call, this once mighty franchise now feels like an obligation to the publisher. It’s not to say that NEED FOR SPEED HEAT is a bad game as it certainly improves on Payback, a microtransaction-riddled mess that only avoided its own heat thanks to Battlefront 2. However, with little identity and a rehash of dire mechanics from past releases, the latest from Ghost Games feels like one of the most inessential AAA releases in quite some time.","2025-02-27T18:47:27.04872-05:00",{"id":294,"logo":307,"name":308,"slug":309,"tags":310,"bluesky":26,"twitter":311,"youtube":312,"facebook":313,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":314,"website_url":315,"score_format":46,"average_score":132,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":316,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":316,"editor_in_chief_email":317,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGame-Revolution-Logo.jpg","Game Revolution","game-revolution","[  \n  'corporate_owned',\n  'online_media',\n  'ingestion_pending'\n  ]","Game_Revolution","GameRevolutionGR","GameRev","Gaming, entertainment, and tech coverage where the reader comes first","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamerevolution.com\u002F","jason.faulkner@gamerevolution.com","paul.tamburro@gamerevolution.com",{"id":319,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":320,"author":321,"original_score":328,"normalized_score":245,"review_url":329,"review_date":330,"summary":331,"created_at":332,"updated_at":332,"author_id":322,"last_edited_at":333,"outlet":334},98948,137,{"id":322,"bio":26,"name":323,"avg_score":324,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":325,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":326,"claim_token":26,"article_count":327,"claimed_by_user_id":26},8920,"Mary Billington",76.69135802469135,"2025-03-25T13:44:29.781787-04:00","2026-06-18T04:09:02.715773-04:00",243,"6.6","https:\u002F\u002Fvideochums.com\u002Freview\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat","2019-11-17","Do you have the need for more Need for Speed? If so, read on to find out more about the latest entry in the long-running series.","2025-03-25T14:18:11.430685-04:00","2025-03-25T15:18:58.247059-04:00",{"id":320,"logo":335,"name":336,"slug":337,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":338,"youtube":26,"facebook":26,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":339,"website_url":340,"score_format":46,"average_score":132,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FVideo-Chums.jpg","Video Chums","video-chums","VideoChums","Video Chums brings you great video game reviews and fun top 10 lists for new and retro video games.","https:\u002F\u002Fvideochums.com\u002F",{"id":342,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":343,"author":344,"original_score":350,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":351,"review_date":352,"summary":353,"created_at":354,"updated_at":354,"author_id":345,"last_edited_at":354,"outlet":355},2236038,157,{"id":345,"bio":26,"name":346,"avg_score":347,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":348,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":349,"claim_token":26,"article_count":33,"claimed_by_user_id":26},17836,"Muhammad Ali Bari",72.5,"2026-03-21T12:00:01.654458-04:00","2026-06-18T16:12:31.678538-04:00","7.0","https:\u002F\u002Ftwistedvoxel.com\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review\u002F","2019-11-16","Twisted Voxel checks out the latest Need for Speed Heat game and gives it verdict on whether it is a good entry in the series.","2026-03-21T12:14:13.554422-04:00",{"id":343,"logo":356,"name":357,"slug":358,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":26,"youtube":26,"facebook":26,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":26,"website_url":359,"score_format":46,"average_score":241,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":360,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Ftwistedvoxel.jpg","Twisted Voxel","twiseted-voxel","https:\u002F\u002Ftwistedvoxel.com\u002F","2026-03-21T11:49:29.179995",{"id":362,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":363,"author":364,"original_score":370,"normalized_score":17,"review_url":371,"review_date":372,"summary":373,"created_at":374,"updated_at":374,"author_id":365,"last_edited_at":374,"outlet":375},2239964,159,{"id":365,"bio":26,"name":366,"avg_score":26,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":367,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":368,"claim_token":26,"article_count":369,"claimed_by_user_id":26},17893,"Ryan Engstrom","2026-03-21T13:43:59.627188-04:00","2026-03-21T13:47:58.432417-04:00",61,"0","https:\u002F\u002Fgametyrant.com\u002Fnews\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review-the-most-fun-i-have-had-from-a-racing-game-in-years","2019-11-15","Need for Speed Heat is the best the franchise has seen in years!","2026-03-21T13:46:00.642637-04:00",{"id":363,"logo":376,"name":377,"slug":378,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":26,"youtube":26,"facebook":26,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":26,"website_url":379,"score_format":46,"average_score":79,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":380,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fgametyrant.webp","Game Tyrant ","game-tyrant","https:\u002F\u002Fgametyrant.com\u002F","2026-03-21T12:54:43.11436",{"id":382,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":383,"author":384,"original_score":390,"normalized_score":190,"review_url":391,"review_date":372,"summary":392,"created_at":393,"updated_at":393,"author_id":385,"last_edited_at":394,"outlet":395},31351,35,{"id":385,"bio":26,"name":386,"avg_score":387,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":388,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":389,"claim_token":26,"article_count":63,"claimed_by_user_id":26},1160,"Rick Lane",69.26984126984127,"2024-11-27T15:08:09.097157-05:00","2026-05-26T18:03:35.442869-04:00","75","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pcgamer.com\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review\u002F","The best Need for Speed for years, despite its obnoxious racers.\n","2024-12-06T12:39:42.63057-05:00","2024-12-29T20:20:33.816897-05:00",{"id":383,"logo":396,"name":397,"slug":398,"tags":310,"bluesky":399,"twitter":400,"youtube":400,"facebook":401,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":402,"website_url":403,"score_format":404,"average_score":132,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":405,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FPCGamer-Logo.jpg","PC Gamer","pc-gamer","pcgamer.com","pcgamer","pcgamermagazine","The global authority on PC games.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pcgamer.com\u002F","100","editors@pcgamer.com",{"id":407,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":408,"author":409,"original_score":416,"normalized_score":63,"review_url":417,"review_date":372,"summary":418,"created_at":419,"updated_at":419,"author_id":410,"last_edited_at":419,"outlet":420},68818,26,{"id":410,"bio":26,"name":411,"avg_score":412,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":413,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":414,"claim_token":26,"article_count":415,"claimed_by_user_id":26},2703,"RobotsFightingDinosaurs",74.64285714285714,"2024-12-03T19:04:31.796088-05:00","2025-01-29T13:19:42.128511-05:00",28,"8\u002F10","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gameskinny.com\u002Freviews\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review-caught-in-the-slipstream\u002F","Though it still can't match the scope of Forza Horizon 4, Need for Speed: Heat is a great racing game in its own right.","2025-01-29T12:51:57.526296-05:00",{"id":408,"logo":421,"name":422,"slug":423,"tags":424,"bluesky":26,"twitter":425,"youtube":426,"facebook":425,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":427,"website_url":428,"score_format":46,"average_score":190,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":265,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":265,"editor_in_chief_email":265,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGameSkinny-logo.png","Game Skinny","game-skinny","[  \n  'independent',\n  'inactive',\n  'online_media'\n  ]","GameSkinny","@gameskinny4737","Video game guides, reviews, news, and culture.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gameskinny.com",{"id":430,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":63,"author":431,"original_score":437,"normalized_score":201,"review_url":438,"review_date":439,"summary":440,"created_at":441,"updated_at":441,"author_id":432,"last_edited_at":441,"outlet":442},59875,{"id":432,"bio":26,"name":433,"avg_score":434,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":435,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":436,"claim_token":26,"article_count":302,"claimed_by_user_id":26},4875,"Joshua Duckworth",74.86486486486487,"2025-01-26T13:05:49.139437-05:00","2026-06-18T16:04:25.689837-04:00","6","https:\u002F\u002Fgamerant.com\u002F\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review\u002F","2019-11-14","All things considered, Need for Speed Heat has issues that could easily be overlooked if the game had confidence in itself, but there seems to be some type of hesitation everywhere. Whether it's hesitation to move the story along, hesitation to introduce something new, or hesitation to strike out from the ghosts of its past, there just seems to be some lack of definition for Need for Speed Heat's release.","2025-01-26T15:33:08.099297-05:00",{"id":63,"logo":443,"name":444,"slug":445,"tags":310,"bluesky":26,"twitter":446,"youtube":447,"facebook":446,"mastodon":448,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":449,"website_url":450,"score_format":46,"average_score":241,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":451,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGame-Rant-Logo.png","Game Rant","game-rant","GameRant","@GameRant","","Game Rant launched as an online gaming publication in 2009, and we're now a leader in gaming news, reviews, analysis, community discussions, and gaming guides.","https:\u002F\u002Fgamerant.com\u002F","editorial@gamerant.com",{"id":453,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":31,"author":454,"original_score":461,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":462,"review_date":439,"summary":463,"created_at":464,"updated_at":464,"author_id":455,"last_edited_at":464,"outlet":465},91627,{"id":455,"bio":26,"name":456,"avg_score":457,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":458,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":459,"claim_token":26,"article_count":460,"claimed_by_user_id":26},7733,"Nathan Anstadt",76.5,"2025-03-15T20:38:22.702093-04:00","2025-03-16T15:06:46.697012-04:00",10,"70","https:\u002F\u002Fgamingtrend.com\u002Freviews\u002Fthe-fast-and-the-spurious-need-for-speed-heat-review\u002F","Need for Speed Heat has a great visual style that smartly leans into the tuner culture that helped set the series apart in games like Most Wanted and Underground. Unfortunately its sluggish progression and weak online offerings keep this from reaching the heights of the series.","2025-03-16T14:32:04.880939-04:00",{"id":31,"logo":466,"name":467,"slug":468,"tags":26,"bluesky":469,"twitter":467,"youtube":470,"facebook":467,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":471,"website_url":472,"score_format":404,"average_score":47,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":473,"stats_updated_at":474,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":475,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":476,"active_authors_count":477,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":478,"editor_in_chief_email":479,"published_authors_count":190,"published_reviews_count":480},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGamingTrend-Logo.jpg","GamingTrend","gamingtrend","gamingtrend.com","@GamingTrendVideos","From the table to the screen, and everything in between!","https:\u002F\u002Fgamingtrend.com","2025-07-14","2025-07-16T19:33:01.762266","news@gamingtrend.com",5,8,"reviews@gamingtrend.com","rburke@gamingtrend.com",805,{"id":482,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":483,"author":484,"original_score":490,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":491,"review_date":439,"summary":492,"created_at":493,"updated_at":493,"author_id":485,"last_edited_at":493,"outlet":494},83294,128,{"id":485,"bio":26,"name":486,"avg_score":33,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":487,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":488,"claim_token":26,"article_count":489,"claimed_by_user_id":26},6642,"Robert Dolen","2025-02-25T12:12:55.022381-05:00","2025-02-26T08:36:35.165395-05:00",4,"3.5\u002F5","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theouterhaven.net\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review\u002F","Need for Speed Heat","2025-02-25T19:26:17.654064-05:00",{"id":483,"logo":495,"name":496,"slug":497,"tags":26,"bluesky":498,"twitter":499,"youtube":448,"facebook":500,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":501,"website_url":502,"score_format":131,"average_score":47,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":503,"stats_updated_at":504,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":505,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":150,"active_authors_count":477,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":505,"editor_in_chief_email":505,"published_authors_count":506,"published_reviews_count":507},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FThe-Outerhaven-Logo.jpeg","The OuterHaven","the-outerhaven","theouterhaven.net","TheOuterHaven","Theouterhaven","http:\u002F\u002FTheouterhaven.net is an independent media outlet bringing you brutally honest coverage of video games, anime, manga.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theouterhaven.net\u002F","2026-02-17","2026-02-18T13:36:24.504381","Keith@theouterhaven.net",56,609,{"id":509,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":415,"author":510,"original_score":350,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":517,"review_date":439,"summary":518,"created_at":519,"updated_at":519,"author_id":511,"last_edited_at":394,"outlet":520},27104,{"id":511,"bio":26,"name":512,"avg_score":513,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":514,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":515,"claim_token":26,"article_count":516,"claimed_by_user_id":26},2851,"Richard Wakeling",72.07272727272728,"2024-12-04T10:28:59.472641-05:00","2025-12-16T16:39:51.179312-05:00",110,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamespot.com\u002Freviews\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review-getting-warmer\u002F1900-6417366\u002F","Coming straight from the Underground.","2024-12-04T13:46:35.356672-05:00",{"id":415,"logo":521,"name":522,"slug":523,"tags":524,"bluesky":525,"twitter":522,"youtube":523,"facebook":522,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":526,"website_url":527,"score_format":46,"average_score":106,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":528,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGameSpot-Logo.jpg","GameSpot","gamespot","[  \n  'corporate_owned',\n  'online_media'\n  ]","gamespot.com","GameSpot is the world's leading source for PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PS Vita, Wii, PC, 3DS, and DS video game news, reviews, previews, trailers, walkthroughs, and more.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamespot.com","thussain@fandom.com",{"id":530,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":506,"author":531,"original_score":538,"normalized_score":63,"review_url":539,"review_date":540,"summary":541,"created_at":542,"updated_at":542,"author_id":532,"last_edited_at":542,"outlet":543},78238,{"id":532,"bio":26,"name":533,"avg_score":534,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":535,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":536,"claim_token":26,"article_count":537,"claimed_by_user_id":26},5842,"Nick Petrasiti",72.91666666666667,"2025-02-10T12:06:36.816668-05:00","2025-09-22T03:08:43.532792-04:00",49,"8.0","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thesixthaxis.com\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F13\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review-ps4-pro-xbox-one-pc\u002F","2019-11-13","Need for Speed Heat is the best the series has been in a while. It’s not perfect by any stretch, but it has a charm that reminds me of the Underground days of old. Now that’s a NfS game I can get down with.","2025-02-10T14:31:42.738395-05:00",{"id":506,"logo":544,"name":545,"slug":546,"tags":72,"bluesky":547,"twitter":545,"youtube":546,"facebook":545,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":548,"website_url":549,"score_format":46,"average_score":550,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":551,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":552,"editor_in_chief_email":553,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FTheSixthAxis-Logo.jpg","TheSixthAxis","thesixthaxis","thesixthaxis.bsky.social","All the latest videos gaming news, reviews, guides, and opinion.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thesixthaxis.com\u002F",73,"aran@thesixthaxis.com","dom@thesixthaxis.com","teflon@thesixthaxis.com",{"id":555,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":116,"author":556,"original_score":562,"normalized_score":201,"review_url":563,"review_date":540,"summary":564,"created_at":565,"updated_at":565,"author_id":557,"last_edited_at":565,"outlet":566},65659,{"id":557,"bio":26,"name":558,"avg_score":559,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":560,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":561,"claim_token":26,"article_count":168,"claimed_by_user_id":26},2654,"Blaine Smith",77.99259259259259,"2024-12-03T11:56:29.495935-05:00","2026-06-30T12:08:44.151917-04:00","60%","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamersheroes.com\u002Fhonest-game-reviews\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review\u002F","Need for Speed Heat's driving is a step in the right direction for a franchise that's stuck at the back of the pack. However, its poor story, severe balance problems, and complete lack of an online presence stop it from ever reaching top speed.","2025-01-27T09:24:27.521531-05:00",{"id":116,"logo":567,"name":568,"slug":569,"tags":101,"bluesky":570,"twitter":571,"youtube":571,"facebook":572,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":573,"website_url":574,"score_format":404,"average_score":264,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":575,"stats_updated_at":576,"headquarters_city":577,"news_editor_email":578,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":579,"reviews_editor_email":580,"editor_in_chief_email":580,"published_authors_count":138,"published_reviews_count":581},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGamersheroes-logo.jpg","Gamers Heroes","gamers-heroes","gamersheroes.bsky.social","GamersHeroes","GHeroes","➡️ Honest Reviews 😇\n➡️ YouTube Guides (330K+!) 📺\n➡️ Poor Journalism 😂\n🔗🌲linktr.ee\u002Fgamersheroes","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamersheroes.com","2026-06-02","2026-07-15T10:53:02.221303","Alameda","casey@gamersheroes.com","North America","CaptainCamper@gamersheroes.com",532,{"id":583,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":584,"author":585,"original_score":591,"normalized_score":592,"review_url":593,"review_date":540,"summary":594,"created_at":595,"updated_at":595,"author_id":586,"last_edited_at":595,"outlet":596},104632,141,{"id":586,"bio":26,"name":587,"avg_score":588,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":589,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":590,"claim_token":26,"article_count":276,"claimed_by_user_id":26},9095,"Matthew Kato",76.8,"2025-03-26T08:05:08.985301-04:00","2025-03-26T08:18:28.394624-04:00","7.75\u002F10",77.5,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gameinformer.com\u002Freview\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review-the-return-of-the-reboot","The Need for Speed franchise is back from a brief hiatus after the failure of 2017’s Need for Speed Payback. During that time, developer Ghost Games has refocused and concentrated on the series’ core: cops, high speeds, world exploration, and customization – with a hokey story thrown in for old times’ sake. Need for Speed Heat has its flaws (its cop integration could be better), but it’s a rousing return that delivers on many of the franchise’s touchstones.\n \nWhile the story of street racers going up against corrupt cops is forgettable, the day\u002Fnight cycle that governs your activities is appealing. You earn money during the day and reputation points at night. You need both currencies to progress. Cops are more active at night and take chunks of money and rep if you’re caught. Meanwhile, you earn progressively more rep for stringing races together and attracting police attention, so it’s fun to tempt fate with “one more race” before parking it for the night at the nearest safe house. \n \nEven with the threat of arrest, the police in NFS Heat take a slight backseat to racing other street racers (online or A.I.). The cops can be formidable, marshaling ramming trucks and more to bring you down, but they’re easy to escape when they chase you in the middle of a race event. Also, they are only a nuisance now and again because there aren’t enough set-piece moments to amp up their power and presence.","2025-03-26T08:18:05.077204-04:00",{"id":584,"logo":597,"name":598,"slug":599,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":600,"youtube":601,"facebook":602,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":603,"website_url":604,"score_format":46,"average_score":47,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":605,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":290,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fgameinformer.jpg","Game Informer","gameinformer","GameInformer","@gameinformer","officialgameinformer","Over 30 years celebrating the best of games in print and online.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gameinformer.com\u002F","Minneapolis",{"id":607,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":608,"author":609,"original_score":616,"normalized_score":617,"review_url":618,"review_date":619,"summary":620,"created_at":621,"updated_at":621,"author_id":610,"last_edited_at":621,"outlet":622},63252,27,{"id":610,"bio":26,"name":611,"avg_score":612,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":613,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":614,"claim_token":26,"article_count":615,"claimed_by_user_id":26},3920,"Richard Seagrave",72.3094512195122,"2025-01-17T06:36:14.881474-05:00","2026-07-30T12:41:48.29861-04:00",1317,"9\u002F10",90,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamespew.com\u002F2019\u002F11\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review\u002F","2019-11-12","There are some minor issues that bring your time spent with Need for Speed Heat down a little, but they never amount to anything more than irritations. On the whole, this is a triumphant return to form for a series that has gone off the track in recent years. With its nail-biting police chases and electrifying sense of speed, Need for Speed Heat is the most exciting and tense arcade racing game we’ve had the pleasure of playing in years. It proves that there’s life in the old dog yet, even in a world in which Forza Horizon exists, and we’re very glad of that.","2025-01-26T19:29:17.55389-05:00",{"id":608,"logo":623,"name":624,"slug":625,"tags":626,"bluesky":627,"twitter":625,"youtube":628,"facebook":629,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":630,"website_url":631,"score_format":46,"average_score":190,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":632,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":633,"reviews_editor_email":632,"editor_in_chief_email":632,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGameSpew-Logo.jpg","GameSpew","gamespew","[  \n  'independent',\n  'women_led',\n  'online_media'\n  ]","gamespew.com","UChqYxsfGxsXwrZ76wm7_bWQ","officialgamespew","Your independent site for gaming news, reviews, features, guides and more. For gamers, by gamers.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamespew.com","hello@gamespew.com","United Kingdom",{"id":635,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":636,"author":637,"original_score":62,"normalized_score":63,"review_url":644,"review_date":645,"summary":646,"created_at":647,"updated_at":647,"author_id":638,"last_edited_at":647,"outlet":648},140456,147,{"id":638,"bio":26,"name":639,"avg_score":640,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":641,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":642,"claim_token":26,"article_count":643,"claimed_by_user_id":26},11820,"Zach Jackson",70.69680851063829,"2025-04-30T12:50:30.904188-04:00","2026-06-18T16:14:19.451789-04:00",188,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.well-played.com.au\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review\u002F","2019-11-11","Need for Speed Heat manages to successfully mix the game’s modern formula with the glory days to deliver the best Need for Speed experience in years","2025-04-30T13:08:15.729524-04:00",{"id":636,"logo":649,"name":650,"slug":651,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":652,"youtube":653,"facebook":654,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":655,"website_url":656,"score_format":46,"average_score":264,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":657,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":51,"reviews_editor_email":657,"editor_in_chief_email":657,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fwellplayed-logo.png","WellPlayed","wellplayed","WellPlayed_AU","@WellPlayed_AU","WellPlayedau","A small collective of avid Aussie gamers, who have ventured out on their own and present their spin on the gaming world.","https:\u002F\u002Fwell-played.com.au\u002F","zach@well-played.com.au",{"id":659,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":660,"author":661,"original_score":538,"normalized_score":63,"review_url":667,"review_date":668,"summary":669,"created_at":670,"updated_at":670,"author_id":662,"last_edited_at":394,"outlet":671},28769,29,{"id":662,"bio":26,"name":663,"avg_score":592,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":664,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":665,"claim_token":26,"article_count":666,"claimed_by_user_id":26},3042,"Shubhankar Parijat","2024-12-05T09:02:20.091375-05:00","2026-05-25T20:06:22.924979-04:00",204,"https:\u002F\u002Fgamingbolt.com\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review-back-on-track","2019-11-09","Need for Speed's latest instalment is one of its better efforts in recent years.","2024-12-05T09:34:14.819988-05:00",{"id":660,"logo":672,"name":673,"slug":674,"tags":310,"bluesky":26,"twitter":675,"youtube":676,"facebook":677,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":678,"website_url":679,"score_format":46,"average_score":132,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":680,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGaming%20Bolt%20Logo.png","GamingBolt","gamingbolt","GamingBoltTweet","GamingBoltLive","gamingbolt.official","We are one of the most frequently updated sources of gaming news on the internet. We cover everything from gaming consoles to handhelds.","https:\u002F\u002Fgamingbolt.com","admin@gamingbolt.com",{"id":682,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":139,"author":683,"original_score":117,"normalized_score":63,"review_url":689,"review_date":10,"summary":690,"created_at":691,"updated_at":691,"author_id":684,"last_edited_at":691,"outlet":692},34824,{"id":684,"bio":26,"name":685,"avg_score":686,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":687,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":688,"claim_token":26,"article_count":150,"claimed_by_user_id":26},3469,"Sam Spyrison",76.36363636363636,"2025-01-13T17:34:41.308245-05:00","2025-01-29T12:22:56.312816-05:00","https:\u002F\u002Fhardcoregamer.com\u002Freviews\u002Freview-need-for-speed-heat\u002F361591\u002F","The adrenaline-inducing, high stakes nightlife of Need for Speed Heat is an exciting idea that pushes the franchise forward after years of stagnation. The packed, vibrant world of Palm City and solid driving mechanics go a long way towards helping as well, but the poorly-balanced AI opponents, middling story and barebones online integration hold Heat back from standing among the best in the series. Nonetheless, Need for Speed Heat features plenty of hours worth of high octane racing while representing an encouraging return to form for the franchise as it heads into the next generation.","2025-01-15T05:15:15.483016-05:00",{"id":139,"logo":693,"name":694,"slug":695,"tags":524,"bluesky":26,"twitter":696,"youtube":697,"facebook":698,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":699,"website_url":700,"score_format":131,"average_score":264,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":701,"stats_updated_at":702,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":703,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":415,"published_reviews_count":704},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FHardcore-Gamer-Logo.jpg","Hardcore Gamer ","hardcore-gamer","HardcoreGamer","HardcoreGamerVideo","Hardcore-Gamer","Follow us for the latest and greatest in video game news, previews, reviews and more. No nonsense, just games.","https:\u002F\u002Fhardcoregamer.com\u002F","2025-07-31","2025-08-25T15:23:50.92109",3,521,{"id":706,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":707,"author":708,"original_score":490,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":714,"review_date":10,"summary":448,"created_at":715,"updated_at":715,"author_id":709,"last_edited_at":715,"outlet":716},174576,14,{"id":709,"bio":26,"name":710,"avg_score":711,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":712,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":713,"claim_token":26,"article_count":415,"claimed_by_user_id":26},2112,"Justin Towell",75.28,"2024-12-02T12:24:43.636985-05:00","2025-12-08T12:05:09.207777-05:00","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamesradar.com\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review\u002F","2025-08-01T19:12:29.331553-04:00",{"id":707,"logo":717,"name":718,"slug":719,"tags":524,"bluesky":26,"twitter":718,"youtube":719,"facebook":720,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":721,"website_url":722,"score_format":131,"average_score":132,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":723,"news_editor_email":724,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":633,"reviews_editor_email":725,"editor_in_chief_email":726,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGamesRadar%20Logo.png","GamesRadar","gamesradar","gamesradarplus","GamesRadar+ takes you closer to the games, movies, TV, and comics you love","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamesradar.com","Bath","iain.harris@futurenet.com","sam.loveridge@futurenet.com","josh.west@futurenet.com",{"id":728,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":729,"author":730,"original_score":62,"normalized_score":63,"review_url":737,"review_date":10,"summary":738,"created_at":739,"updated_at":739,"author_id":731,"last_edited_at":739,"outlet":740},72718,69,{"id":731,"bio":26,"name":732,"avg_score":733,"outlet_id":729,"created_at":734,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":735,"claim_token":26,"article_count":736,"claimed_by_user_id":26},4789,"Luke Reilly",75.7872340425532,"2025-01-26T12:17:10.434737-05:00","2025-12-18T01:05:45.69843-05:00",94,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ign.com\u002Farticles\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F08\u002Fneed-for-speed-heat-review","While Need for Speed Heat feels a little more like a mosaic of existing concepts rather than something especially trendsetting, Ghost has certainly scraped these ideas from some of the most-loved games in the now 25-year-old series. Heat doesn’t always sizzle but it’s definitely much hotter than I’d expected. This is easily the most impressive Need for Speed game in many years.","2025-02-06T09:29:23.710056-05:00",{"id":729,"logo":741,"name":742,"slug":743,"tags":524,"bluesky":744,"twitter":742,"youtube":745,"facebook":742,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":746,"website_url":747,"score_format":46,"average_score":132,"default_timezone":48,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":49,"headquarters_city":80,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":290,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FIGN-logo.jpg","IGN","ign","ign.com","@IGN","We're all about video games, movies, TV, and comics!","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ign.com\u002F"]