Preview: Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit

The Need for Speed franchise has been around for a while, and we all know what to expect from it: Fast-paced, heart-pounding, adrenaline-running racing with, … Whats this? … Blue and red lights in the mirrors?! Cops?!?

Yes, you’ll be running from the fuzz in Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, the latest update to the series heading to the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows this November.

And to put a nice cherry on top, developer Criterion Games allows you to drive the police cars — the same cars you can play through the game as a racer! Sweet! But wait, there’s more.

Hot Pursuit comes from a long line of older Need for Speed games of the same title and similar game play. The last game I played in the series, Need for Speed: Shift,  put the player in limited, but beautifully designed and challenging, tracks. You don’t get the rush like you would have from NFS: Undercover or NFS: Carbon, where you race in the streets of a fictitious city. Let’s not forget NFS: Pro Street, although the name is a little misleading as a good portion of the racing was done in a track-set environment. What does NFS: Hot Pursuit have to offer us adrenaline-racing junkies?

First, the creation of a personal “autolog” sets the game apart from other NFS titles in that it allows you to compare your stats to your friends’ and other players’. It also will recommend to you what else you should try based off your performance from the races you’ve done. This is completed in real time as you play, so it keeps the player hooked on what to do next. The game is going to rely on multiplayer activity, although there is a single-player campaign, both as “Racer” and as “Police.”

Multiplayer reportedly supports players being able to choose which side they want to be on — either Police or Racers — and will not limit how many players can be on a particular side. You could be the sole street racer and everyone could be chasing you as the Police, if you like. The limit is eight players per session. More game modes are reported to be in the works.

Another great addition is that it’s a open world. Got some time to spend driving the McLaren MP4-12C? Or maybe you’re in the mood to drive the new Pagani Zonda Cinque? Or if those don’t whet your palate, how about a Lamborghini Reventón? All the cars in the game come fully licensed from the car manufacturers as well, so they are absolutely true to spec and get the automakers’ seal of approval.

The game has also been designed in a more “arcade fashion” than as a racing “simulator,” so anyone can play, even if you don’t understand suspension systems, tire pressure, camber and toe, and the “racing lines.” The side you choose to race for also has unique power-up items that can be deployed during a race — like spike strips, helicopters, and radar jamming.

Gentlemen, start your engines on November 16, 2010 in North America and on November 18 and 19, 2010 in Europe for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit