Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
- July 16, 2002 00:00 AM PST
EA�s legendary racing series has been on hiatus for a few years, but all that will fade like a cop in your rearview mirror once you slide in behind the wheel of the sizzling Hot Pursuit 2.
Beat the HeatA classic on the 3DO and PlayStation, the Need for Speed series is revving up for its PS2 debut at long last, and judging from a preview version, fans won�t mind the wait at all. The game will be split into two major modes: World Racing, where you�ll tackle a series of standard races, and Hot Pursuit, where you�ll outrun aggressive cops. Both will offer an original take on the racing-series concept: Rather than wading through GT-style cups, you�ll delve into a branching, tournament-like ladder with many different paths. You�ll see what you have to do to win each race and what victory will be rewarded with, and you�ll be able to choose your own path. The sense of freedom will be unique.
Instead of earning money and buying upgrades, your goals will revolve solely around unlocking new tracks and cars�and your eyes will bulge greedily at the lineup of more than 20 exotic sports cars, which features sleek European rides from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes, Porsche, and McLaren, as well as American favorites like the Viper and the Corvette. You�ll also be able to play as the cop and stalk speeders, while two-player split-screen action will let you face off against a friend.
Feel the Speed
The preview version smoked more than a spinning tire laying a patch. While the frame rate was still being tuned, EA promises a steady and speedy 45 frames per second in the final version. The tracks were already gorgeous, erupting with rich colors, cool ambient effects like brush fires, and snazzy lighting.
The arcade-style action was seriously exciting as cops pursued speeders, ramming them ferociously and calling for roadblocks and choppers. On the racing side, branching paths and interesting shortcuts made the tracks engaging, and awesome in-race replays highlighted big moments like jumps or wrecks. It all amounts to a racing game that�s already impressively deep and exciting, so start clocking Hot Pursuit 2 on your radar now.
