Welcome to Fairhaven City, racer! Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012) throws you into a sprawling open world where the only rule is to drive fast and outrun the cops. You’ll be weaving through traffic, smashing through billboards, and taking down rival racers to climb the Most Wanted list. It’s pure, unadulterated arcade racing with a focus on speed, car control, and evading the ever-present police.
This guide is your key to mastering every aspect of Fairhaven. We’ll cover how to find all the hidden collectibles scattered across the city, strategies for taking down the notorious Most Wanted racers, and tips for unlocking every single car in your garage. Whether you're aiming for 100% completion or just want to dominate every pursuit, we've got you covered.
Part 1
Begin your Need for Speed Most Wanted (2012) adventure! This guide covers the introduction, PC setup tips, controls, car classes, and the basics of racing.
Alright, let's dive into Need for Speed Most Wanted (2012)! Forget the unskippable intro movie – you'll get to experience that firsthand. Think of this game like Burnout Paradise, but with a much bigger need for speed. Honestly, I haven't played a Need for Speed game since the really old days (like Windows 95!), so I'm pretty much a newbie to this series too, just like you might be. My first taste of Burnout was on the original Xbox, and I loved Burnout Paradise, so I was hyped to get back into that open-world cop-chasing fun. My final take? It's a solid game. Not mind-blowing, but definitely good for some fast-paced driving thrills.
So, buckle up, pick your favorite car class, and get ready to hit speeds over 200 MPH. If you blast past me that fast, I'd probably spill my coffee too – just like that guy in Top Gun!
PC Setup Tips
A lot of players have been saying this game isn't optimized well, with low FPS even on high-end PCs. My setup is pretty modest: an AMD APU A4-3400 2.7Ghz Dual core, Radeon HD 6410D graphics with 1GB VRAM, 8GB RAM, and a slow HDD. Even with this setup, I'm hitting around 26-34 FPS, averaging 30 FPS. If I overclock my RAM to 1866Mhz, I can keep it stable at 30 FPS. I do agree the optimization isn't great – turning off motion blur or low shadows barely makes a difference. I've got most settings on low or off, but there are a few things you can tweak.
First, let's look at your graphics card settings. I'm using AMD's Catalyst Control Center. If you have a better AMD card, your default settings might be fine, but here's what I did: I set Tesselation to 'AMD optimized' because turning it off actually lowered my minimum frames. Texture Filtering Quality is set to 'Performance'.
Inside the game, one setting really stood out: Gamma correction. When it's...
Part 2
Master Need for Speed Most Wanted (2012) Part 2 with detailed controls for keyboard and controller, plus a comprehensive list of all car classes and their locations.
This section covers game controls and car classifications in Need for Speed Most Wanted (2012).
Controls:
For PC, a game controller is highly recommended over a keyboard for a more natural and easier driving experience. An Xbox 360 controller is noted as working well without reconfiguration.
Keyboard Controls
| Action | Button |
|---|---|
| STEER LEFT | LEFT-ARROW-KEY |
| STEER RIGHT | RIGHT-ARROW-KEY |
| ACCELERATE | A |
| BRAKE | Z |
| HANDBRAKE | SPACE |
| HORN | W |
| NITROUS | ARROW-KEY-UP |
| SPOT PLAYER | TAB |
| SWAP CAR | E |
| SKIP MUSIC TRACK | M |
| CHANGE CAMERA | C |
| ROTATE CAMERA LEFT | DEL |
| ROTATE CAMERA RIGHT | PAGE DOWN |
| ROTATE CAMERA DOWN | END |
| EASYDRIVE UP | NUMPAD 8 |
| EASYDRIVE DOWN | NUMPAD 2 |
| EASYDRIVE LEFT | NUMPAD 6 |
| EASYDRIVE RIGHT | NUMPAD 4 |
| START | ESC |
| ACCEPT | ENTER |
| CANCEL | BACKSPACE |
| MENU LEFT | ARROW-KEY-LEFT |
| MENU RIGHT | ARROW-KEY-RIGHT |
| MENU UP | ARROW-KEY-UP |
| MENU DOWN | ARROW-KEY-DOWN |
| SCROLL UP | NUMPAD 8 |
| SCROLL DOWN | NUMPAD 2 |
| SCROLL LEFT | NUMPAD 6 |
| SCROLL RIGHT | NUMPAD 4 |
| NEXT PAGE | PAGE DOWN |
| TAB LEFT | PAGE UP |
| VIEW PROFILE | TAB |
Car Classes and Locations
Cars are sorted into classes, with specific locations where they can be found:
MUSCLE
- BMW M3 Coupe (Downtown, Fairhaven West)
- Dodge Challenger SRT8 (Fairhaven West, McClane, Callahan Industrial)
- Ford Mustang Boss 302 (I92 West, Downtown, I92 East)
- Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG (Downtown, Callahan Industrial, McClane)
- Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 (Downtown, McClane)
- Shelby Cobra 427 (Hughes Park, Callahan Industrial, Hodges Airfield)
- SRT Viper GTS (Fairhaven Central, I92 North, Fairhaven West)
SPORTS
- Aston Martin V12 Vantage (Hughes Park, Fairhaven West, McClane)
- Audi R8 GT Spyder (Callahan Industrial, Fairhaven South, Downtown)
- Nissan GT-R Egoist (Ripley's Point, Beltway Central, Callahan Industrial)
- Porsche 911 Carrera S (Burnett Place Downtown, I92 East, McClane)
- Lamborghini Countach (Fairhaven East, Fairhaven West, Hughes Park)
- Porsche 911 Turbo 3.0 (Burnett Place Downtown, Fairhaven Central, Callahan Industrial)
- Lamborghini Gallardo (Beltway West, Fairhaven West, McClane)
- Alfa Romeo 4C Concept (Hughes Park, Callahan Industrial, I92 East)
- Tesla Roadster Sport (Ripley's Point, Hughes Park, McClane)
- Jaguar XKR (Downtown, Ripley's Point, Fairhaven Central)
- Marussia B2 (Bacon Plaza, Fairhaven Central, Callahan Industrial)
EVERYDAY
- Subaru Cosworth Impreza (Beltway East, Callahan Industrial, Ripley's Point)
- Mitsubishi EVOLUTION X (192 North, Downtown, Ripley's point)
- Lancia Delta HF Integrale (Fairhaven West, McClane, Fairhaven West)
- Audi A1 clubsport quattro (Hughes Park, Fairhaven South)
- Ford Focus RS500 (Fairhaven Central, Hodges Airfield, Downtown)
EXOTIC
- Bugatti Veyron Super Sport (Callahan Industrial, Beltway Central, McClane)
- Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (Ripley's Point, Beltway East, Hodges Airfield)
- Ford GT (East side Downtown, Ripley's Point, Callahan Industrial)
- McLaren MP4-12C (Fairhaven South, Hodges Airfield, Ripley's Point)
- Lamborghini Aventador (Beltway Central, I92 East, Fairhaven South)
- Pagani Huayra (Fairhaven Central, Downtown*, Fairhaven West)
- Koenigsegg Agera R (McClane, I92 East, Fairhaven West)
- Lexus LFA (McClane, Callahan Industrial, East Side Downtown)
- Porsche 918 Spyder Concept (McClane, Fairhaven North, Burnett Place Downtown)
- *Car is suspended on a platform in midair
GRAND TOURER
- Maserati GT MC Stradale (Ripley's Point, Hughes Park, I92 West)
- Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG (Fairhaven North, I92 East, McClane)
- Porsche Panamera Turbo S (Hodges Airfield, Bacon Plaza, Beltway Central)
- Bentley Supersports ISR (Fairhaven Central, Hughes Park, McClane)
SUV
- Ford F-150 SVT Raptor (Fairhaven Central, Callahan Industrial, Downtown)
- Range Rover Evoque (I92 East, Ripley's Point, McClane)
RACE
- Caterham Superlight R500 (Fairhaven Central, I92 South, Ripley's Point)
- BAC Mono (McClane, I92 East, Callahan Industrial)
- Ariel Atom 500 V8 (McClane, Fairhaven West, Fairhaven North)
Jack Spots: Locations for Jack Spots are available via a provided external link.
Part 3
Unlock and upgrade car parts in Need for Speed Most Wanted (2012) by winning races. Learn about PRO upgrades, race types (Ambush, Circuit, Sprint, Speed Run), and class-specific races.
In Need for Speed Most Wanted (2012), car parts and their PRO upgrades are exclusively earned by winning races. Unlike previous titles, there are no shops; all upgrades must be won.
Parts
Tires
- Off-Road Tires: Improves off-road performance. Better on tarmac than Standard Mod.
- Track Tires: Improves performance on tarmac.
- Reinflates: Allows burst tires to re-inflate. Can only be won by placing at least third in all race events per car.
Nitrous
- Burn Nitrous: Increases engine power while active.
- Powershot: Uses full nitrous tank for an acceleration burst. (Nitrous tank must be filled to activate)
Chassis
- Lightweight: Improves control and acceleration.
- Reinforced: Reduces damage taken from impacts.
Body
- Aero: Improves ability to reach top speed. Increases jump distance.
- Impact Protection: Stabilizes car during impacts.
Transmission
- Long Gears: Increases top speed. Better acceleration than Standard Mod.
- Short Gears: Increases acceleration. Higher top speed than Standard Mod.
PRO Upgrades
Unlocking PRO upgrades grants a +500SP milestone achievement.
- PRO Reinflating Tires: Unlock by hitting 5 spike strips with Reinflates equipped.
- PRO Off-road Tires: Unlock by driving 5,000 yards with Off-Road Tires equipped.
- PRO Track Tires: Unlock by drifting 5,000 yards with Track Tires equipped.
- PRO Long Gears: Unlock by driving 10,000 yards in Oncoming traffic with Long Gears equipped.
- PRO Short Gears: Unlock by getting 25 near misses with Short Gears equipped.
- PRO BURN NITROUS: Unlock by using 300 seconds of Nitrous with Burn equipped. Makes your nitrous bar longer.
- PRO POWERSHOT NITROUS: Unlock by using Powershot 25 times. Makes your nitrous bar longer, and longer to fill up.
- PRO REINFORCED CHASSIS: Unlock by getting 10 Cop Takedowns with Reinforced Chassis equipped.
- PRO LIGHTWEIGHT CHASSIS: Unlock by getting 60 seconds of air time with Lightweight Chassis equipped.
- PRO AERO BODY: Unlock by getting 120 seconds of Slipstreaming with Aero Body equipped.
- PRO IMPACT PROTECTION: Unlock by escaping 2 crashes with Impact Protection Body equipped.
Races
There are 4 types of game modes (races):
- Ambush: Shake off pursuing cops in the lowest time possible.
- Circuit Race: Race against other AI cars in multiple laps, on either asphalt or dirt.
- Sprint Race: A one-way race against other drivers.
- Speed Run: Maintain your highest driving speed throughout a one-way trip. Lowering vehicle weight is recommended.
Races per Class
Each car class features the same race types but in different locations. Races are generally preferred during the day. SP rewards are 12000 for 1st place, 8000 for 2nd, and 4000 for 3rd. Total SP earned from multiple races is cumulative. When using EasyDrive's recommended races, prizes vary by difficulty.
Recommended race part combinations by difficulty:
- Easy: Burn Nitrous + Off Road tires
- Medium: Lightweight Chassis + Track Tires
- Medium: Long Gears + Reinforced Chassis
- Hard: Powershot Nitrous + Impact Protection Body
- Hard: Aero Body + Short Gears
Cars in races are similarly specced within their class. All races are listed in Miles Per Hour (MPH).
Muscle Class - BMW M3 COUPE
- HARBOR RUN
- Difficulty: Easy
- Type: Sprint Race
- Notes: Cops are present from the start; maintain acceleration.
- FAST TRACK
- Difficulty: Medium
- Type: Speed Run
- Speeds: 110MPH, 100MPH, 90MPH
- Notes: Avoid shortcuts on wide turns to maximize time spent at top speed.
- CONTINENTAL DRIFT
- Difficulty: Medium
- Type: Circuit Race
- Notes: A straightforward, large circuit race.
- DOUBLE PARKED
- Difficulty: HARD
- Type: AMBUSH
- Notes: After the starting jump, head straight towards a courthouse-like building, turn left onto Pearl Street, then left again towards the Body Shop. Exit the shop, make a hard left into Beltway South, and take the next left road, hugging the bend to pass a police roadblock.
Part 4
Navigate Part 4 of Need for Speed Most Wanted (2012) with our comprehensive guide, covering Sprint Eastward, Fast Track, Running the Gauntlet, The Hunted, Power Struggle, Cannonball Run, and Crash Landing.
This section covers various events and challenges in Need for Speed Most Wanted (2012), including Sprint Eastward, Fast Track, Running the Gauntlet, The Hunted, Power Struggle, Cannonball Run, and Crash Landing.
- 1The Hunted (Dodge Challenger SRT8): Start trapped in a building with cops. Reach the roof and exit via the edge. Aim for the billboard, then drop down towards a body shop. Take a route around to a construction pit beside a railyard to enter cooldown. Head to the body shop on the upper left. Enter the body shop when Heat Level is almost down to 1. Alternatively, enter the body shop from the other direction, leading to a left turn with a secondary road underneath. Hide in the lower dirt path.
- 2Part 4 General Walkthrough (Implied): Turn right into a pasture with trees. Head for the Body Shop. Exit and go underground to the freeway. Take the next off-ramp. Drive straight until you see 3 arches; drive through one. Turn right onto Vicennes Road and use the ramp in the middle (best speed 90 MPH) to get onto the train bridge. Stay still to let the engine shut down and meet the 2:30.00 limit. This method helps take down cops by making them hit obstacles. Avoid hitting cops to prevent increasing your Heat level. If a cop approaches from the train bridge, you can skip the arches and hide within them instead.
Events:
- Sprint Eastward (Dodge Challenger SRT8): Difficulty: HARD. Type: Sprint Race. Mostly asphalt.
- Fast Track (Dodge Challenger SRT8): Difficulty: Easy. Type: Speed Run. Speeds: 100MPH, 90MPH, 80MPH. Avoid cutting wide turns; maintain top speed.
- Running the Gauntlet (Dodge Challenger SRT8): Difficulty: Medium. Type: Sprint Race. Starts on the freeway, ends downtown. Smash opponents.
- Power Struggle (Dodge Challenger SRT8): Difficulty: Hard. Type: Circuit Race. Off-road, equip off-road tires.
- Cannonball Run (Dodge Challenger SRT8): Difficulty: Hard. Type: Sprint Race. Asphalt. Cops appear early.
- Cannonball Run (Ford Mustang Boss 302): Difficulty: Easy. Type: Sprint Race. Cops appear early.
- Crash Landing (Ford Mustang Boss 302): Difficulty: Medium. Type: Circuit Race. Location: Hodges Airfield off I92 North. Remove track tires. Take down other drivers using obstacles.
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