Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Preview

More Game Info (Print This Article)

Scheduled release date:

November 16, 2010

Publisher:

Developer:

Criterion Games

Number Of Players:

1-8

Genre:

Racing

Release Date:

November 16, 2010

Screenshots

The Need for Speed series holds some fond memories for me; it was the first racing series I really got into, and NFSII remains one of my all-time favorite titles. Hot Pursuit 2 was great on the PS2, so I’m happy to see the return of the sub-series (the name “Hot Pursuit” actually debuted back in 1994). This one is being developed by Burnout gurus Criterion Games, which seems like the perfect marriage on paper. The end result should be an absurdly polished, white-knuckle adrenaline rush that’ll sustain even the most die-hard racing aficionado for hours and hours. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit will be a big holiday title, loaded with interesting single-player and online modes, what is being rumored to be silky smooth gameplay, and some seriously beautiful supercars. They may not be quite as meticulously designed and detailed as what we’ll see in Gran Turismo 5, but the media for EA’s latest is pretty damn impressive.

You can expect some of the most capable, agile cars on the planet to blister roads with mind-bending speed and impossible maneuvers. Criterion is destined to make all the cars respond to the lightest touch, which means that while you really won’t be restricted in any way, you’ll still have to employ a deft touch. With the exception of last year’s Need for Speed: SHIFT, the NFS franchise has always been all about arcade-style racing; if you’re looking for a simulator, don’t look in this direction. But what you will find in Hot Pursuit is an unbelievable sense of speed and danger – you’re on the very edge of disaster at all times – and some of the most eye-catching and visually appealing backdrops you’ll see anywhere. The roads and courses are usually fictitious in nature but so what? They’re so amazing that you’ll often veer off the road when caught gazing at a particularly spectacular view.

Video Games | Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit | E3 2010: Debut Trailer

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

We’ve heard of one course in particular that spans more than 11 miles in the Sun, Sand and Supercars event. It’s modeled after the Pacific Coastal Highway, which means you’ll pass everything from spectacular ocean glimpses to breathtaking mountain cliffs; the environment really won’t get boring. As for the racing itself, that nitro boost so familiar to Burnout fans will be included, which will only serve to enhance the arcade-y feel. And of course, the ability to either choose to be the runner or the chaser sits at the core of the experience. Some erroneously believe the cops are at a disadvantage but they’re thinking in realistic terms…in reality, the police don’t have Pagani Zondas, Ferraris, or Bugattis at their disposal. In Hot Pursuit, they do. On top of which, they have air support in the form of helicopters, plus remote-activated tire-popping spikes that will spring up directly in your path.

So don’t you worry about a lopsided battle; it’ll be pretty even. We like the idea of the new Blacklisted mode, which will test your fleeing ability to the max: it’s a point-to-point race and all you gotta do is finish, but the further you go, the more cops will be alerted to your insane driving. Lastly, we have to mention another Criterion bonus: the developer’s social networking service known as Autolog, which catalogues the accomplishments of your Friends and models events around those achievements. You can bet that a game like this is likely best played with a group of people (or at least with a friend), although we’re definitely anticipating a fulfilling single-player experience. Criterion always gives the gamer his money’s worth, right? And given their track record concerning downloadable content, this new racer is probably another game that will continue to grow and expand a good long while after it releases.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit will launch on November 16 in North America for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.

8/17/2010 Ben Dutka

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More Previews Of This Game

Date	Game	Reviewer
10/27/10	Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit	Ben Dutka

Comments (51 posts)

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sirbob6
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 9:46:59 PM
Reply

As good as this seems, especially all the old memories of previous iteration, I think I'll pass due to its release so close to GT5. Also I belive that there are a few Lambo or Ferrari police cars in Italy.

1 up, 1 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 10:54:16 PM

If that's true, I'm going to Italy tomorrow. I just wanna SEE one.

3 up, 0 down

dkmrules
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 11:51:36 PM

http://www.blogiseverything.com/images/Lamborghini_20Police_20Car_small.jpg

http://www.blogiseverything.com/images/Lamborghini_Police_Car_small.jpg

Italian cops win!

2 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 12:45:34 AM

A lot of towns/cities in the US have confiscated high end & exotic cars as part of their drug bust forfeitures, and then either make them into a D.A.R.E. car for show, or into one of their own patrol cars, complete with police paint scheme & light bars.

Also, there's one "good ole boy" type hick-town sheriff down somewhere in one of the deep southern states that used to drive a Rolls Royce turned into a patrol car.

Last edited by BikerSaint on 8/18/2010 12:46:37 AM

1 up, 0 down

frostface
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 6:15:45 AM

@Dkmrules...nice photos but would Italian police have Korean or Japanese (I'm not sure which) on the side of their police cars?

0 up, 0 down

fluffer nutter
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 10:16:42 AM

One of those is in Italy. The other is not. Two different Lambos there.

1 up, 0 down

frostface
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 11:13:02 AM

I stand corrected so!

0 up, 0 down

dkmrules
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 9:48:09 PM
Reply

Ok I fully expect to be downranked into oblivion but I don't really care. Maybe this is just me but comparing NFS Hot Pursuit 2 for the PS2 and Gran Turismo 4 I found NFS waaay more fun.

I can respect all the graphical achievement GT5 will bring but it seemed like more of a chore to play GT4 as I like taking turns at 80 mph (I know its unrealistic). While GT5 might blow this game out of the water graphically IMO this game will be more fun.

Last edited by dkmrules on 8/17/2010 9:52:19 PM

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 10:10:17 PM

I don't do racing games so I don't know if NfS is supposed to be as rigid a simulator as GT4 but that could explain the funfactor. If I ever play a racer I have more fun with the arcadey ones.

0 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 10:55:02 PM

Well, for some people, realism is fun, while for others, those impossible turns are fun. :)

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 11:07:40 PM

Right that's what I mean, personal preference in the realism of the genre is important as it is physics-heavy.

0 up, 0 down

dkmrules
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 11:44:34 PM

if I only had enough money to get both.....

1 up, 0 down

kraygen
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 1:16:18 AM

@ world

hot pursuit shouldn't have any simness to it. It's total arcadey goodness, chase your friends and take em down.

I'm looking forward to this one, it'll be all kinds of fun.

3 up, 0 down

Arvis
Thursday, August 19, 2010 @ 3:04:25 PM

@dkmrules,

You should never apologize for having an unpopular viewpoint, especially when you profess it thoughtfully and respectfully.

Both NFS:HP2 and GT5 are going to be a lot of fun. But they'll be fun for WAY different reasons. I'll enjoy them both, but NFS will be kind of a short-term thing with friends and such, whereas I derive fun/satisfaction from GT over many many months of driving, customizing, enhancing, practicing, etc.

They're really like comparing apples and oranges. They're both fruit, but they offer wildly different experiences.

-Arvis

0 up, 0 down

frostface
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 9:49:36 PM
Reply

It sounds like a new Burnout game. Not saying that's a bad thing though.

0 up, 0 down

spiderboi
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 10:08:38 PM
Reply

Goodtimes with NFS. Me and my buds used to play Porsche Unleashed 4-player splitscreen. It was fun playing cops and robbers :)

1 up, 0 down

556pineapple
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 10:12:16 PM
Reply

I remember playing the first Hot Pursuit (and the earlier NFSs) on my brother's Playstation when they first came out and I loved them. I haven't really played the games since then, but if this turns out to be good, I might just return to the series.

0 up, 0 down

gangan19
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 10:40:47 PM
Reply

I love being chased by the cops, I loved NFS most wanted, this one might be fun, lets just give it a chance, or when the review is out.

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 10:42:55 PM
Reply

Criterion supplied me with hundreds of hours of enjoyment with Burnout Paradise. I think that is more than enough to get my $$ when this arrives. Not to mention it looks really slick.

5 up, 1 down

Simcoe
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 10:18:34 AM

Are you the same Highlander that once graced Criterion's (long since closed) forum?

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 12:00:09 PM

Yes, that would be me.

0 up, 0 down

Simcoe
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 1:45:23 PM

Ah, those were the good ol' days...before the Cagney update.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 3:49:36 PM

Indeed they were. Sadly there are only a few who remember that time, or remember the things that Criterion had planned for Burnout that were dropped like a hot brick after Cagney. Such an incredible game that could have been even more. A real shame. Perhaps some of those things they were working on then will appear in this, or the next Burnout?

0 up, 0 down

Simcoe
Thursday, August 19, 2010 @ 10:28:43 AM

I'm interested in seeing what kind of roll the helicopter (that we saw in the trailer) plays in this new game: computer controlled tool or interactive player piloted vehicle. After all, we know flight was possible in Burnout Paradise.

0 up, 0 down

ps3sownsxbox360
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 10:48:03 PM
Reply

i might have to get this game evan thow i already preordered gt5 so it will have to wait

1 up, 0 down

Temjin001
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 11:03:09 PM
Reply

I've always associated the NFS series as the fast food of racing games. Which is not a compliment (unless you're considering the 1/3 pound Angus Deluxe =).

But when I heard Criterion was involved with this new game, I became interested.

However, after reading a recent interview with the Digital Foundry I'm a bit disappointed that Criterion hasn't made an effort to render ANY graphical tasks with SPU's.

This is disappointing because it's pretty well known amongst the tech-head community that the Xenos GPU is technologically more sophisticated than the RSX. In most cases, a RSX vs. Xenos showdown would result in a Xenos win, but couple some CELL processing augmentation with the RSX and you get games that look like Uncharted 2, GoW3, and Killzone 2-3.

Cream of the crop, right?

So when I read this excerpt from the the July 31st interview with Criterion and the Digital Foundry,

"Digital Foundry: Are you still sticking to the Burnout Paradise philosophy of the same code being run on every platform? Did you see the presentation Bizarre Creations made on how they moved lighting across from GPU to SPU for Blur on PS3?

Alex Fry: That kind of thing is quite radical, yeah. If you start to dump GPU tasks onto your CPU that's when it starts to get a bit...

Digital Foundry: Lairy?

Alex Fry: Yeah. It's really good that people do different things because you can learn a lot from it. I like seeing people trying different stuff. But no, our deferred rendering is still done on GPU on all platforms. We aren't putting anything back on CPU. We could and see how we go, but a simple architecture is simple - you can change it and it's easy. Well... easier. As soon as diverge from that, things get a lot more complicated. It's something you might choose to do if it's a decision you take early on. We chose not to do that and we've not paid for it."

In the early days, it was understandable that 1st and 2nd gen titles wouldn't make good use of all of PS3's resources, but today?

Also consider Bizarre Creations, a long time 360-only developer, harnessing SPU lighting techniques with their BLUR racer, and here's a multi-plat dev, Criterion, with PS3 experience passing on it?

At least they've claimed the two games should be the same across both platforms.

mmmmh Angus Burgers....

3 up, 0 down

Highlander
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 11:19:39 PM

That's weird, I though that their experience with their previous game on the SP3 platform would have put them in a good position to make use of the SP3 architecture. I never heard of any major departures from Criterion, but perhaps some of the PS3 lead devs moved on?

1 up, 0 down

Temjin001
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 11:28:18 PM

Yeah, I don't know, but I expected a bit more from them. Oh well.

0 up, 0 down

Simcoe
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 10:15:19 AM

I read the same Digital Foundry interview. They still say that there should be no differences between either console version. Plus they said that their new engine runs at 30 fps, not 60 fps as it did on Burnout Paradise. They still plan to have controller latency at no more than 100 ms.

Anyways, their reason for not tapping the PS3's SPU's for graphical processing was to had a code that ran in very much the same way across the PS3, 360 and PC.

0 up, 0 down

Hezzron
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 11:12:59 PM
Reply

I'm not the biggest NFS fan, but I'm all too familiar with what Criterion brings to the table.

They could of called the game "Criterion" and I'd of bought it.

7 up, 0 down

Simcoe
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 1:52:36 PM

They could of called the game "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" and I'd of bought it.

2 up, 0 down

CaptRon
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 11:41:30 PM
Reply

We have a lambo cop car in ohio. They don't use it but they have it.

1 up, 0 down

fluffer nutter
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 11:42:48 PM
Reply

I've had good feelings about this game and watching the gameplay today during Gamescom sealed the deal. I can't wait to get my hands on this.

Oh, and it's Pacific Coast Highway. ;)

0 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 11:53:28 PM
Reply

Damn, guess I'm going to have to play as one of the tin-starred local yokels, cause I "WANT" that Bugatti Veyron!!!!!!!

(unless I can steal it from 'em)

0 up, 0 down

Oyashiro
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 12:26:20 AM
Reply

New NFS game = Eh, not interested.

New NFS:Hot Pursuit = Oh? Ok I'm interested now.

New NFS:Hot Pursuit developed by Criterion = Day 1

7 up, 0 down

LividFiction
Thursday, August 19, 2010 @ 12:37:36 PM

Everything after Hot Pursuit 2 was such a disappointment for me, especially the bash-your-head-in-retarded "stories." Underground and everything afterward just wasn't fun like the series used to be. But a new Hot Pursuit? Hell yeah. A new Hot Pursuit developed by the people who made Burnout Paradise? FRIGGIN A & HOT DAMN, MAN!

1 up, 0 down

StangMan80
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 1:20:32 AM
Reply

If this game didn't release so close to GT5 it would be a day 1 buy for me. I loved the NFS up until pro street but Carbon was where they started going down hill.

I'll pick this up a couple of months after Nov 2.

1 up, 0 down

kraygen
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 1:21:12 AM
Reply

Can't wait to run from my friends on this game.

Catch me if you can. I might not be able drive like a pro, but good luck catching me. I'll wreck everyone and tear through anything to get away.

Should be some crazy destructive fun.

1 up, 0 down

StangMan80
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 1:27:40 AM
Reply

I'll put a lot, I mean a lot of time on GT5. The same with Dirt 3, if dirt releases to early in the year 2011, then I might not pick up HP at all.

1 up, 0 down

chedison
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 1:37:33 AM
Reply

this may be the first and possibly only racing game I buy full price. Actually I don't think I've ever bought a racing game :P.

This just looks like alot of fun, and that teaser trailer was pretty sick too.

1 up, 0 down

faraga
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 2:37:45 AM
Reply

I guess I'll have to save then. I'm already planning on buying GT5 and Black Ops and Burnout Paradise was a crapload of fun, I just had to keep playing it until I got 100% of the trophies (platinum and DLC) and the 102% complete badge.

If they'll be able to keep that kind of quality and overall support of fun DLC and repair of any glitches (in the same way IW didn't) I will have to save for 3 games this fall.

0 up, 0 down

GamerKid123
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 3:05:49 AM
Reply

I think i'll be keeping an eye on this one, i was always a fan of the old NFS'.

0 up, 0 down

___________
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 3:42:35 AM
Reply

im really excited for this, disappointed criterion are working on it because id rather a new burnout game but still looks great!
hopefully after this they can get back to the burnout series, and DICE can get back to making mirrors edge 2!
EA better make a sequel to mirrors edge!
as if letting one great genre defining innovative IP go to waste was not enough!

0 up, 1 down

ChronowerX_GT
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 4:46:31 AM
Reply

I used to like NFS. I think it was high stakes on the PS1 that I used to play. This looks very similar (not graphically haha). Although I'm gonna wait a while since GT5 is out a few days before and I've been waiting 5 years for that.

0 up, 0 down

Snaaaake
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 5:42:33 AM
Reply

The trailer was awesome.
And since it's Criterion, no doubt the gameplay will be awesome too.

0 up, 0 down

JackC8
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 8:24:35 AM
Reply

I just can't see the appeal of trying to race in a game designed around crashing. And the constant interruptions to announce a roadblock ahead, or spike strips, or a new cop car entering the demolition derby - not for me. Quite excited about Need For Speed Shift 2 coming out towards the end of next year though. That will be a day 1 purchase.

0 up, 0 down

maxpontiac
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 11:47:26 AM
Reply

It's unfortunate that this game has to come out so close to GT5.

I want this game, but GT5 will be occupying my time for the considerable future.

0 up, 0 down

Amazingskillz
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 12:54:35 PM
Reply

Why would someone buy this with GT5 just on the Horizon?

0 up, 2 down

nogoat23
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 1:04:29 PM
Reply

...drool...

1 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 @ 5:03:18 PM
Reply

I'm stoked for both GT5 & HP, but I think out of the two, I'm even more amped about HP

2 up, 0 down

CharlesD
Thursday, August 19, 2010 @ 1:05:50 PM
Reply

I love Need for Speed and am happy to see them going back to their roots with faced paced, arcade style racing.

1 up, 0 down

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