If there’s one franchise that’s turned its fortunes around — from the slow death-rattle of ever-increasing apathy to “what are they doing next” excitement — it’s Need For Speed. It began with last year’s Hot Pursuit. It’s set to continue with The Run.
It’s ambitious. Actually, that’s an understatement. The action is based around an illicit, high stakes road race.
Yes, we know — so far, so Need For Speed. But there is a twist — this race starts at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and ends in the shadow of the Empire State Building in New York.
And in case your US geography isn’t up to much, that’s East Coast to West Coast, a distance of nearly 3,000 miles, taking in the likes of Colorado’s icy mountain roads, narrow canyons and the dense streets of Las Vegas. And all the while, you will be pursued by a police force that will use anything to stop you.
Those of you who’ve done the mental arithmetic (3,000 miles at an average of 150mph will take 20 hours in case you’re a bit rusty on sums) will be pleased to hear that the action is divided into stages, rather than presented as a prop-your-eyes-open cross-country slog. And the driving is also punctuated with the series’ first on-foot sections.
Epic? Yes. Risky? Possibly. But The Run is shaping up to be the best Need For Speed yet.
Need For Speed: The Run is released on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in November
