Amidst the illustrious history of successful game series, there are not many names that come to mind while thinking of tremendously popular racing-simulators, and even less are the ones that can be categorized as titles that revolutionized the genre. EA’s Need for Speed franchise seems to be classified as one such long-lasting series which has a new release in its portfolio to proudly boast of. Reportedly being one of the highest rated titles of the franchise, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit has now been released across North America for players to indulge in some exhilarating racing drags and drifts.
The latest offering Need for Speed Hot Pursuit seems to present exactly what one would expect from its renowned franchise as it balances high-octane offline as well as online racing thrills with intensifying high speed cop pursuits and public connectivity. The game is integrated with a new critically acclaimed ”˜Autolog’ social network that links players with their friends by routinely comparing and tracking each one’s performances while presenting a simple, yet brilliantly dynamic social-gaming experience.
“We’re extremely proud today to deliver the best racing game this holiday season. Based on the critical response, we see that fans will enjoy a return to the game’s roots of intense cops vs racers action, but now built around a highly competitive network for the ultimate in one-upmanship — Autolog,” expounds Craig Sullivan, Creative Director at Criterion Games. “We can’t wait to see how many new friendships this game will enhance, and also how many it may break.”
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit is bundled with an Online Pass which will allow gamers to access a one-on-one multiplayer, 10x the storage capacity and two exclusive cars, the Lamborghini LP 570-4 Superleggera and the Lamborghini LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni at no extra cost. Players can use a one-time-use registration code that is provided to avail these benefits. As for the ones who do not possess a code, they can buy the Online Pass for 800 Microsoft Points via XBLA and for 7.99 GBP (approx. Rs. 580) through the PSN.
Developed by EA Mobile’s IronMonkey Studios, the iPhone and iPod touch version of Need for Speed Hot Pursuit is obtainable from the AppStore. Supporting one-on-one action as a racer or a cop with help of local Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, the game presents 15 high performance police cars to drive across 24 Cop Career Events spanning mountain, desert and coastal environments in day, dusk and night scenarios.
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit for PS3, Xbox 360, PC and the Wii is currently retailed throughout the North American subcontinent, while it is reported to be put to sales across the UK starting today.