All the architecture is there, but the city is otherwise dead and desolate. There aren't even that many cars driving at the same time. Unlike other open world games that are hosted in cities, there's no one walking around. This is due to the complete lack of people. While the open city is a wonderful idea, some players might find the city very odd. You'll know what's coming up and where the shortcuts are.
That's why knowing the city is so important.
While some elements might change during races, like new obstacles appearing or ramps coming out of nowhere, the street itself is largely the same. Understanding the city will help you quickly win your races. There's the lovely beach along with a business district and industrial zone. The city is sectioned off into different districts like a real city. You'll notice some architecture is beautiful and regal while other buildings are dirty and in disrepair. You can even do some huge jumps off ramps. Some streets are wide and easy to drive through while others are winding and make you turn back and forth. This city is big and there are many things you can do. Need for Speed: Most Wanted has a large open city for you to explore called Fairhaven. There are numerous tracks and obstacles that make the races even more intense. While racing is the primary genre here, you also get a city to explore while you're not racing. Need for Speed: Most Wanted is an open world racing game that seamlessly combines these two genres.