The arcade racing franchise gets a Burnout makeover

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit is a refreshing entry in the long running series. Made by Burnout developers Criterion, it’s a blisteringly fast arcade racing game of cops and robbers.

The setting in Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit is Seacrest County, which is an absolutely gorgeous speeding playground, with varied scenery to accompany the big sweeping roads, with minimal traffic. There are night and day races, and great weather effects. All of this serves as eye candy for the racing, which is firmly at the arcade end of the spectrum.

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit’s career mode has two parts, being a cop or a racer. Each sees you completing various challenges, races and pursuits to earn points which get you ever faster cars. The vehicles are licensed, and despite the forgiving handling they do feel different.

In pursuits, both racers and police get weapons, adding a lot of fun to the chases which are already intense. Once you get into the faster cars, an already quick game becomes incredible. The sense of speed is maybe better in Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit than in any other game.

There are online multi-player races too, which are easy to drop into. Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit is menu driven, and you won’t find yourself having to drive around the county looking for competitors. While Seacrest County is a complete world, you don’t use it in an open world setting, instead accessing missions from a map. There is a free drive option, but it serves no other purpose except for cruising around the beautiful scenery.

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit is a fantastic entry into the series, and the best arcade racing game this year. It’s exciting, looks fantastic and has enough content to keep you playing for a long time.