I've had this game since day one and theres no rumors on the board so i'll give it a go.

If you're like me, and grew up playing NFS you'll know what I mean when I say the series has been on a constant downhill since Underground. When Shift came out it revamped my lust for the game. Not only was it beautiful but they made racing terrifying, like it should be in most cases. Anyway, I had been reading previews and reviews about Hot Pursuit and it seems EA/Criterion have stepped back to NFS's original "routes."

1) Give me an awesome car.
2) Give me a stunningly detailed point to point.
3) Throw some cops at me.

I mean, thats pretty much Hot Pursuit. There is a massive open-world invironment that feels like its alive. Based in fictional Seacrest County, you can freeroam through blazing hot deserts, chilled mountain tops, foggy forests, farmland, beachside towns, and etc..emphasis on etc. The game is the prettiest racing game I've played on the 360. I don't even have to think about saying that. The rain is gorgeous. The lightening is gorgeous, and the most realistic I've ever seen in a racing game. The snow is gorgeous. The wet pavement glistening in the sun after a mid afternoon shower is gorgeous. Criterion nailed the water spray effects. Even the ambient sounds are intense. Stop anywhere in the game and you'll here a variety of real world type sounds from birds to wind to crickets to gas station attendents. All daylight transitions are pretty wicked. Sunrise, sunset, fog, cool, crisp looking mornings....night is very impressve. It is VERY dark and when you flick the headlights off, you are completely lost in it aside from the town lights, traffic (which is all licensed cars) and faint moonlight. Can't mod the cars, but thats not necessarily a bad thing for most. Dubs on a Gallardo doesn't do anything for me and bodykits on a Koenigsegg is sacreligious. All cars get damage, really...really cool damage. Very Burnoutish..bumpers hanging, broken glass and way cool cutscenes of your car falling off the cliff.

You can play as a cop as well, with several different exotics with police liveries. Spike strips, emps, road blocks and heli's are all in the mix as well. The flashing lights reflect very naturally off the environment.

The cars are pretty much all awesome. All the latest and greatest from all the exotic manufacturers. McLaren F1's to the Mercedes SLS. The dynamic spoilers on the cars equipped with them is a nice touch. On both Veyrons, Super Sport as well as the original, the spoiler will go up all the way for high speeds, lower about halfway down for extreme speeds and tilt and raise up for braking. If its got one in real life, its got one animated in the game. Cars look top notch...Also, this is the first game where headlight projection is accurately animated. I know thats a picky thing to note, but even in the "perfect" GT5 headlights bounce off things like you're holding a flashlight infront of your car. If the car has projectors & HID's in NFS, the beam is bluish/white with an "instant on" and has a defined cut off that bobbles around with the suspension movement. Really adds to the realism. The cars handle arcadish...its easy to drive fast, and its fairly easy to drift around curves. The only thing this game, IMO, is missing as a cockpit view. That would push this game to the top of the list in my book. Another minor gripe, but I can live with out it.

The gameplay is challenging, somtimes it can be repiticious. Minor gripe. There arent any cops or anyone you can race in freeroam, which doesnt bother me because I like to drive and look at the scenery, but to some it will be a flaw. Overall, I love it. Its back to the roots of old school NFS for sure, which is what most of us wanted.

If you like pretty games, fast cars, fast paced gameplay...pick it up. If your thing is putting turbos on cars and decals...steer clear.

Cliffs.

Back to NFS Roots

Graphics - 9/10
Gameplay - 8/10
Lasting - 8/10

 

I've been thinking about buying it... I'm just afriad of it being too arcadeish...

 

i love the NFS franchise.
but ever since i got into to realistic Driving Sims...

these games are only worth 35-40 bucks to me.

the arcade type of game is great for fun with friends and for diversity in my games. but not worth the premium price tag.

i'll pick it up used or when the price drops.

 

Its not. The driving physics would be the only thing that would make it remotely arcadish, and they arent much different than say...PGR? Its easy to drive fast, but doesn't feel too dumbed down.

Its not Forza or GT5...

 

No chatter in this thread....

NFS:HP is, im going on a limb here, probably the best looking racing game I've ever played. Absolutely stunning. Here are some pics I took this evening. No editing, straight from the game.












Check out the projector cut-off!!

 

i bought this game on Black Friday thinking a buddy was going to sell me his PS3. deal fell through, but i finally got to play it lastnight at a friends house.

wow!!

i was blown away. cop events are lots of fun and the driving dynamics are incredible, i loved being able to drift just about any car i could or smacking cars in hot pursuit.

graphics are great and i love the open feeling of the game. I'll give it a solid 9 for now. i just need to get more into it.

i was able to get to the rapid response event with the ZR1

hopefully i can pick up on it again soon

 

btw, pics looks great

 

Cop events are addiciting as hell.

 

pretty nice looking, havent played a NFS game thou since underground 2

 

You'd be in for quite a surprise from Shift and HP.

Shift takes boring simulation and makes it terrifying. Its overwhelming in every aspect, plus it looks beautiful with all the glistening pavement, dawn/day/dusk settings, damage, heat shimmer. Best racing perspective/immersion of any racing game I've ever played. They are on to something with it. I actually like the over done physics. Go into a corner to fast you're either going to oversteer or understeer horribly.

HP is just a fun game. Lots to do and see. Wide range of awesome cars.

Give em' a shot.

 

This game is pretty addicting. I've been playing it the past 2-3 weeks. Visually stunning and lots of fun game play.

My only gripe is that I wish it allowed for some head to head on the same console.

 

^^^ it seems they are slowing weeding out multiplayer games (at least on a single console)

i cant tell you how many games i have that are single player only. (unless of course you buy another console and game)

 

It's weird. I was trying to buy some games for my younger cousins and i'd like to get stuff they can play together. Other than sports or fighting games, your options are becoming more and more limited...

 

anyone here playing on PS3? I'm looking for some times to beat...uhh, i mean compare with

 

I bought TDU2, and although the islands are GIANT, NFS is miles better than the newest installment of TDU.

What a let down.

A V6 2011 Camaro, a V6 2011 Mustang....no Corvettes, no Lambo's.......what a shame.