While I am still waiting for a racing game that adds to the flavor of Burnout Revenge, with Crash mode and all the hectic goodies, this is about as solid an arcade/fun experience with a racing game as I've had since 2005.
The biggest jump in the game as a NFS game is the accessibility of it all. You have access to a fair number of cars off the bat. Any race you have tried you can jump to in the game menu. You can switch to cars in the menu. It is all very quick, and feels much better than Paradise.
The biggest gripe from my side is the pretty cheap AI. Most Wanted cars will be taken down, get back in the race and be ahead of you five seconds later. Taking down a Most Wanted car after beating it can be weird, as the opponent will crash and this is the only time you have a shot at it. Teleportation AI and a feeling of cheapness are aggravating.
The open world design comes packed with an amazing amount of great spots. Airfields, industrial sites and cliffside locales are all adding to a solid overall experience.
Highly recommended. Enjoyed it much more than 2010's NFS Hot Pursuit.