Burnout developer Criterion Games took its first step into the world of Need for Speed in 2010 by partnering with DICE to create Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. The arcade racer was a throwback to Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit and drew reward from critics for its physics and over-the-top motion that includes police chases from a number of views. 10 years later, Criterion partnered with Stellar Entertainment for a remastered version with crossplay multiplayer, all of the earlier DLC vehicles, and up to date visuals. The result’s extra akin to a recent coat of paint on a Toyota Supra slightly than a frame-off restoration, nevertheless.
The marketing campaign of Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered consists of two predominant paths — outlaw and regulation enforcement. You can select to both run from the authorities whereas driving a motorhead’s dream checklist of vehicles or chase down avenue racers in outrageous specialty patrol automobiles whereas helicopters and roadblocks present help. There isn’t any story or overarching plot, only a easy overhead map exhibiting the out there occasions. You begin at Level 1 of every path with the aim of maxing out at Level 20, which you do by ending within the high three of every occasion, finishing challenges, and accruing bounty factors.
Criterion impressed in 2010 with its good stability of arcade and simulation racing, and these physics nonetheless impress a decade later. Driving the huge assortment of automobiles — starting from a Subaru WRX to the Koenigsegg Agera — is endlessly pleasurable, whether or not you are attempting to high 250 MPH on a straightaway or feathering the brakes round a nook to keep away from a collision with one other automobile.
Criterion’s mastery of physics additionally interprets into drifting. There are a number of franchises that boast about being able to channel a drift grasp in each race however Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered follows by way of with the claims. Nailing an ideal drift boils right down to tapping the brake after which flicking the analog stick in a single path with the gasoline pedal held down. Longer drifts could require transferring to the left and proper with a view to stay within the middle of the street, however there may be nothing as satisfying as completely pulling off a 15-second drift earlier than hitting a straightaway and utilizing up your accrued nitro.
All occasions — whether or not they’re easy time trials, races, or scorching pursuits — happen within the fictional Seacrest County, recreating parts of California, Oregon, and Washington to offer a wholesome mixture of surroundings. One race options high-powered supercars drifting up the facet of a large mountain whereas one other pits the 2010 Bugatti Veyron in opposition to regulation enforcement in an oceanside chase. Criterion and Stellar ship these occasions with a gentle 30 frames per second on base consoles such because the PS4 and Xbox One and 60 on their more-powerful counterparts.
Racing by way of these places at breakneck pace turns into very pleasurable as a consequence of spike strips and different instruments at your disposal, in addition to the up to date visuals. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered doesn’t look as spectacular as Dirt 5 or games designed from the bottom up for contemporary and next-gen consoles, however it’s nonetheless eye-catching at instances. The solar glistens throughout the ocean waves whereas the Redwood timber present a canopy of shade.
It may be tough to maintain observe of the motion on the street, in addition to oncoming visitors, whereas driving 200 MPH and staring on the surrounding environments. Fortunately, Criterion and Stellar added the flexibility to soak up the surroundings by way of the brand new picture mode and seize a number of screenshots exhibiting the vehicles in motion. There can also be the choice to enter a free drive mode as an outlaw or police officer. You can decide from the unlocked assortment of automobiles after which drive round listening to hits from 2010, resembling Weezer’s “Ruling Me,” Lazee’s “Stronger (feat. Dead by April),” and M.I.A.’s “Born Free.”
While the driving feels simply pretty much as good in 2020 because it did in 2010, particularly whereas exploring the attractive areas, there are specific facets that create frustration. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered has very noticeable rubber banding, which means that the AI drivers are continuously round you no matter automotive decisions. Criterion applied this method in 2010 to make each race extra intense, nevertheless it creates points on occasions pushing 25 miles in size. You can decide the quickest manufacturing automotive within the game and head to the beginning line, however vehicles with a lot decrease high speeds will stay uncatchable for a lot of the race, forcing a number of tries to attain bronze, silver, or gold.
The rubber banding additionally turns into extra noticeable when there are large wrecks. All too ceaselessly, one other automotive will slam right into a wall and wreck in superb trend with two miles remaining within the race. It will probably be nowhere in sight however will magically spawn and simply race to the entrance of the road with seconds remaining.
This form of factor is a typical situation in racing games, however different franchises have taken a distinct strategy. Forza Horizon 3, for instance, had the flexibility to decrease and lift the issue of opponents earlier than every occasion. This choice made it doable to be taught the tracks and get used to the vehicles earlier than growing the competitors degree. In Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered, you both should race completely each single time or danger losing 5 to 20 minutes for a meaningless end.
Fortunately, the multiplayer modes present the chance to race in opposition to opponents with related talent ranges whereas concurrently accruing bounty factors and leveling up. There are a number of extremely pleasurable modes, together with Hot Pursuit, Arms Race, and Interceptor amongst others. Arms Race takes the usual racing formulation and provides each cops and an assortment of offensive and defensive weapons to create utter havoc in the absolute best means. Interceptor, then again, options two gamers in a chase throughout a wholly open world. These modes present fixed leisure whereas largely eradicating the AI points from single participant.
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered is a real blast from the previous, for higher or worse. The driving feels chic, and the up to date visuals look incredible at 30 fps. The added crossplay offers much more alternatives to accomplice with on-line racers for high-speed hijinks no matter platform. However, the shortage of any issue settings and the rubber banding function a stark reminder of how far the racing style has are available in 10 years.
Rating: Four out of 5
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered is presently out there for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. A PlayStation Four code was supplied by Criterion for the aim of this assessment, and it was reviewed on a base mannequin PS4.
