Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit

Hot Pursuit 2010 tries to be a remake or "reboot" of what was already seen in the classic NFS era such as NFS3, High Stakes or Hot Pursuit 2, however, it shows that they only understood its basic concepts from a surface level . It's just that you only have to play the game for an hour to realize that something is wrong with it. First, let's talk about handling. Oh my god, they screwed up the handling of the series. Remember all the angry fans of brake to drift in modern NFS? Well, this is the first to introduce it. The problem with the brake to drift never for me had to do with the challenge or anything like that, but god... it's so stiff and awkard to drift, plus all the cars are similar in stats that in the end it doesn't make sense. While I had no problem if they reutilized the handling of games like MW or Carbon, for a game so based on the classic NFS (or at least what the developers intended) one would expect a more similar handling, a more free and lightweighty like NFS3 or High Stakes. One in which there is complete control over the car and it feels super tight to drive, with an interior view, with customization of tracks, free races, real information about the cars, an accessible and beautiful simulator in other words. None of that is present here or present in a very minor way. I think what people fails to see about the NFS franchise is that it was never meant to be arcadey to begin with it. The first NFS games included Hot Pursuit were basically Gran Turismo on the open road in a nutshell, but nowadays is more like generic mobile game on the couch. This is what happens when you give a developer like Criterion (who are responsible for the Burnout series) the opportunity to make NFS games. I think NFS Hot Pursuit 2 was also responsible for this but even that game tried more. Instead of trying to make a game that really respects what the classic NFS did and try to improve it, Criterion just wanted to replace it with their vision. Starting with this game now the series doesnt differentiate in any way with the Asphalt series.

The graphics? Yeah....they're not that good. On one hand, the car models are impressive for the time, but the environments have low textures, at least on PS3. In fact I think there are times when Hot Pursuit 2 on PS2 still looks better, and the music is super forgettable. Do you remember the super epic techno and rock songs by Rom Di Prisco? All that goes to the garbage, with generic themes. The gameplay itself doesn't work either, there are only sprint races or time trials, nothing more, no tournaments, no circuits, no split screen, nothing, and in each race you are given a number of "weapons", but these are fixed per track. Along that I don't even remember the names of the track and this makes each race feel more like a mission. There is also an open world mode in the game, but this has to be the most USELESS open world in the history of video games, I will not lie if I say that many games of the PS1 era have a more interactive open world, and on top of that the game doesn't lend itself to this, since as I said nothing can be customized, neither weather or anything and without an interior view or the ability to see the map or spawn wherever you want, it simply ends up being nonsense!

As I said, Criterion seemed to want to make an NFS up to the classics, but it's as if they had only read in community forums the good things they had without having tried them, in addition to having that excessive vision of wanting to replace it with their style. . Don't get me wrong, it's WAY better than MW 2012 for the simple fact that... well... the brake to drift works better here, the car is more resistant and therefore the crash cam is not as annoying and... The car progression system is not broken as hell, but the truth is that it is a super disappointment, and things like loading times and constant interruptions in the race only take away the little desire that one has to play. People can say what they want about the classic NFS, but that doesn't change the fact that 1998 Hot Pursuit is fundamentally better to play.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit is a fantastic continuation of the legendary racing franchise that stays true to the spirit of the previous installments while offering exciting new elements. From the very start, the game immerses the player in a world of dynamic races and high-speed chases that keep you hooked from the first minute. It's clear that the developers worked hard to make the game appealing to a wide audience: both experienced racing fans and newcomers will find something to enjoy here.

One of the most pleasant surprises is the vast selection of cars. In Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, you can choose your favorite cars for both racing and playing as a police officer. This wide variety of vehicles offers plenty of options, allowing each player to find the perfect car that suits their driving style. What's even better is that not only the racers but also the police have access to powerful, modern cars, making the chases even more thrilling and intense.

The career mode is another highlight worth mentioning. It offers an exciting mix of races from both sides of the law, and what's great is that you can progress through both careers in parallel. This allows players to enjoy the game from different perspectives and experience fresh thrills with each stage. Playing as a police officer provides a unique experience within the series, as you have access to a range of tools to catch criminals, from deploying spike strips to calling in helicopters. This adds more adrenaline and variety to the game, making every race both exciting and unpredictable.

Another major advantage of the game is its perfect balance between arcade style and realism. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit doesn't try to be a driving simulator, but it also doesn't stray too far into arcade territory. The car handling is simple enough for newcomers to pick up quickly, yet challenging enough to remain engaging for seasoned players. This harmonious mix makes the game accessible to a wide range of players, allowing everyone to find enjoyment, whether it's from high-speed races or skillfully avoiding capture.

Moreover, the game is visually stunning. The graphics are highly appealing, from the realistic car models to the beautifully designed environments and tracks. The races take place both day and night, adding variety to the gameplay and allowing players to enjoy different weather conditions and lighting effects. The sound design is equally impressive, with the roar of engines, police sirens, and the sound of speed adding to the immersive experience.

The racing mechanics in Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit are also well thought out. Besides the usual races, players will face dramatic chases with the police, where every mistake can lead to an arrest. This feature adds tension and challenge to the gameplay. Players must not only be fast but also strategic, using different tactics to either evade capture or catch their opponent. As the game progresses, this gameplay element only intensifies, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

The game also impresses with its social features. The ability to compete with friends and other players in online mode adds even more excitement. You can compare your achievements, challenge each other's scores, and this makes every race even more thrilling.

Overall, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit is a great return to the roots of the series, with new elements that make the game feel fresh and engaging. The wide selection of cars, well-designed racing mechanics, stunning graphics, and captivating career mode make this game a real find for arcade racing fans. Whether you're new to the series or a seasoned player, this game will undoubtedly give you hours of thrilling races and fun.

A Very good game for 2010 the port they made last year was not even different at all just crossplay 2010 need for speed is one of the best need for speed games of all time

Nice Gameplay, enjoyed running from cops, damaging with gadgets as EMP shockwave. Its good to play for fun

EA strikes again. When I first saw the price for Need For Speed "Remastered" edition I chuckled and moved on, however this game has since came to EA Play and Xbox Gamepass so I had to check it out.

I remember playing this game (the original) back in the day and was pretty disappointed in its lack of pretty much anything, and the remaster is exactly the same. Simply put this is the exact original game with a lick of paint in terms of slightly improved graphics.

When it comes to gameplay it's one of the worst in the Need For Speed series with supersonic speeds, laughable "drifting" and boring Nitrous effects. The controls as always are basic and work well but most of cars steering mechanics are a cross between complete arcade with sudden and unexpected tankiness right when you need to avoid a car or stop from hitting into a barrier. There is no customisation at all, you pick a paint color for that specific race on a car that you don't own, only have unlocked and then you move on to another race and do the same again. However the worst part about this game is the events. There's absolutely no variety in races. You basically get two. One is a race. One is a time trial. That's it. They throw in a few special abilities in certain races like EMP, Spike strips, Turbo etc but why not have these as purchasable upgrades to your car and have some sort of progression ? The time trials are rage inducing routes that insist that you don't crash into any wall/barrier or you receive a steep time penalty, the "preview events" allow you to try out fancier cars than you already own but that's it, it's the same time trial. I HATE the idea of the time trials/no crash mode here as this is a Need For Speed game, not grand Turismo. It's frustrating as the cornering/drifting in Hot Pursuit is simply not good. Races are races, come first and you get a gold, simple but it can be fun.

Essentially when you play this game you chose the cop events or the racer events and hop from one event to the other selecting the car furthest to the right as it's the fastest, win it and then click on another event. Very boring and definitely not a game you could play for a long period of time in my opinion. Instead I suggest you use this is a go between game when you want something to put on for 20-30 minutes and do a few quick races before bouncing on to something much better.

Now it's sounds like I totally hate this game but I don't. The variety in cars is quite nice, lots of lambos, Jaguars, Audi's, all the way down to Nissans and mazda's, and they all look very good. Some of the races get your heart rate up as you're locked in a dead heat with another racer and have that last spike strip left to deploy or that last turbo use. The time trials are annoying but can be exciting at the end as you've got 5 seconds left with nothing but a long straight ahead, can you make it and grab the gold, that's the one exciting part here. Tracks are well varied and offer some nice weather effects. It's not all bad, buts it's far from good.

Overall this is one of the poorest Need For Speed games in the series, it has zero story, zero customisation, lack of diversity in events and no progression. I do not recommend you buy this, but if you have Gamepass or EA Play it's a decent game for jumping on, playing a race or two each day and then moving on to another game.