Millions of seasoned video racers agree: the Hot Pursuit series of Need for Speed games contains some of the most enjoyable racing titles of all time. Launched originally in 1998, Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit allowed players to race as or against police--giving a whole new dimension to the popular franchise. Things picked up even more steam when Hot Pursuit 2 launched in 2002.
Like many, your writer wasted many a nice summer day in front of his PS2 perfecting his digital driving skills and police-evasion tactics with the latter title. End of the day, these were games that did a bang-on job of digitizing that fantasy of out-running the fuzz in your favourite high-priced exotics.
Winter's here--and your favourite high-priced exotic or performance car is likely parked for the season in your real-world or mental garage. Thankfully, Criterion Games and Electronic Arts have finished the latest Hot Pursuit remake, which aims to give all types of car enthusiasts plenty of entertainment this winter gaming season.
Capitalizing on the latest in high-definition graphics and a proven, arcade-style software engine used in Criterion's 'Burnout' games, the latest Need for Speed packs plenty of visual and aural punch to get the ole' adrenals a pumpin'.
Players start off with a limited selection of vehicles and race events, with more machines, equipment and races unlocked as they progress through the game. Winning virtually any race unlocks some form of reward--be it a new track to fly around, a new 7-figure posh-rocket, or a new vehicle-mounted weapons system to fight off the cops. Or, conversely, to catch those pesky 200-mile-per-hour street racers.
Weapon? Oh, yea.
Both cops and speeders can use spike-belts and Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP) technology to damage, spin or slow one another down. Speeders can deploy radar jammers too--and both roadblocks and helicopter support are available to the cops.
Speeders win races by not getting busted, literally-- as police effectively smash speeding vehicles to damage them beyond driveability before moving in for the arrest. Pit manoeuvres, ramming and even pushing racers into the path of oncoming traffic is all part of the experience.
Crashes look especially dramatic, and often send the vehicle airborne in slow-motion amidst a nicely-rendered cloud of colour-coordinated shrapnel. Xenon lighting, weather effects and police lights reflecting off of nearby buildings and tunnel walls all add to the experience-- as do the beautifully rendered engine sounds. You've got to hear the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG rip-snorting at full throttle as the police sirens fade into the distance.
Like many, your writer wasted many a nice summer day in front of his PS2 perfecting his digital driving skills and police-evasion tactics with the latter title. End of the day, these were games that did a bang-on job of digitizing that fantasy of out-running the fuzz in your favourite high-priced exotics.
Winter's here--and your favourite high-priced exotic or performance car is likely parked for the season in your real-world or mental garage. Thankfully, Criterion Games and Electronic Arts have finished the latest Hot Pursuit remake, which aims to give all types of car enthusiasts plenty of entertainment this winter gaming season.
Capitalizing on the latest in high-definition graphics and a proven, arcade-style software engine used in Criterion's 'Burnout' games, the latest Need for Speed packs plenty of visual and aural punch to get the ole' adrenals a pumpin'.
Players start off with a limited selection of vehicles and race events, with more machines, equipment and races unlocked as they progress through the game. Winning virtually any race unlocks some form of reward--be it a new track to fly around, a new 7-figure posh-rocket, or a new vehicle-mounted weapons system to fight off the cops. Or, conversely, to catch those pesky 200-mile-per-hour street racers.
Weapon? Oh, yea.
Both cops and speeders can use spike-belts and Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP) technology to damage, spin or slow one another down. Speeders can deploy radar jammers too--and both roadblocks and helicopter support are available to the cops.
Speeders win races by not getting busted, literally-- as police effectively smash speeding vehicles to damage them beyond driveability before moving in for the arrest. Pit manoeuvres, ramming and even pushing racers into the path of oncoming traffic is all part of the experience.
Crashes look especially dramatic, and often send the vehicle airborne in slow-motion amidst a nicely-rendered cloud of colour-coordinated shrapnel. Xenon lighting, weather effects and police lights reflecting off of nearby buildings and tunnel walls all add to the experience-- as do the beautifully rendered engine sounds. You've got to hear the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG rip-snorting at full throttle as the police sirens fade into the distance.
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| (Photo:NeedForSpeed.com) |