Reception and criticism

Reviews
Publication	Score
IGN	8.5 out of 10
Game Informer	8.5 out of 10
GameSpy	4 out of 5
GameSpot	8.4 out of 10
Game Revolution	B+
1UP	8.6 out of 10
PC Gamer	86 out of 100
PC Zone	88 out of 100
Compilations of multiple reviews
Game Rankings	82 of 100 (based on 23 reviews)
Metacritic	82 out of 100 (based on 19 reviews)

Soundtrack

As in other EA Black Box Need for Speed games, Most Wanted's soundtrack comprises a licensed selection of hip hop, rock, metalcore and electronica/techno music. Additionally, Paul Linford provided interactive scores for police pursuit sessions. The soundtrack listing is as followed:

1. Styles of Beyond - "Nine Thou" (Superstars Remix) (3:48) (appears on the album Megadef)
2. T.I. Presents The P$C - "Do Ya Thang" (4:05) (appears on CD T.I. Presents the P$C: 25 to Life)
3. Rock - "I Am Rock" (3:23) (Originally on Need for Speed: Most Wanted)
4. Suni Clay - "In A Hood Near You" (3:59) (appears on the album Suni Clay)
5. The Perceptionists - "Let's Move" (2:55) (appears on the album Black Dialogue)
6. Juvenile - "Sets Go Up" (3:37) (appears on the album Reality Check)
7. Hush - "Fired Up" (3:18) (appears on the album Bulletproof)
8. DJ Spooky and Dave Lombardo - "B-Side Wins Again feat. Chuck D" (4:31) (appears on the album Drums of Death)
9. Celldweller feat. Styles of Beyond - "Shapeshifter" (3:17) (appears on the vinyl single Shapeshifter)
10. Lupe Fiasco - "Tilted" (3:25) (appears on the single Kick, Push)
11. Ils - "Feed The Addiction" (3:54) (appears on the album Bohemia)
12. Celldweller - "One Good Reason" (3:24) (appears on the album Celldweller)
13. Hyper - "We Control" (2:54) (appears on the vinyl single We Control)
14. Static-X - "Skinnyman" (3:23) (appears on the album Start a War)*
15. Dieselboy + Kaos - "Barrier Break" (6:27) (appears on the album Barrier Break/Submission)
16. Disturbed - "Decadence" (3:18) (appears on the album Ten Thousand Fists)
17. The Prodigy - "You'll Be Under My Wheels" (3:53) (appears on the album Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned)
18. The Roots and BT - "Tao Of The Machine" (Scott Humphrey's Remix) (3:06) (also appears on Blade II Soundtrack)
19. Stratus - "You Must Follow" (Evol Intent VIP) (3:55) (appears on the album projectHUMAN)
20. Mastodon - "Blood And Thunder" (3:41) (appears on the album Leviathan)*
21. Evol Intent, Mayhem & Thinktank - "Broken Sword" (5:59) (appears on the album Us Against The World)
22. Bullet for My Valentine - "Hand Of Blood" (3:17) (appears on the album Hand of Blood)*
23. Paul Linford and Chris Vrenna - "The Mann" (3:28)
24. Avenged Sevenfold - "Blinded In Chains" (5:55) (appears on the album City of Evil)*
25. Jamiroquai - "Feels Just Like It Should" (Timo Maas Remix) (3:00)
26. Paul Linford and Chris Vrenna - "Most Wanted Mash Up" (3:34)