It is funny, as I saw Cops and Robbers as the ideal game for online racing genres, but always found reasons as to why it would not work. 9/10 times it would basically come back to the notion that when you leave game mechanics in the hands of the general gaming public, they do not play fair. I was surprised to see EA get at it face-on, by actually allowing the players a great deal of creative input!
And it has paid off, wonderfully. The Need for Speed franchise has seen many many days, so much so that it could be seen as its own empire that spits out games 3 times a year. In fact, on loading Hot Pursuit, I was given a sneak preview trailer to Need for Speed: Shift 2. First full advert for another game I had seen in a game I believe. Anyway, back to the matter at hand.
Yes, EA have been keen to give us something new in racing. NFS: Underground is still leaving a giant hole in my smoking-rubber soul, with applying body kits, upgrading the engines and putting on some of the most ridonculous vinyls ever exposed to the public. This has all been removed from Hot Pursuit, taking it back to the barebones, of you and your car and your road. I call it your road because in this game you have to see it that way.
Those clever guys over at EA know a good arcade racer when they see one, to the extent that they had to get their names all over the superb Burnout series. Hot Pursuit has the trimmings of a true Need for Speed game; some of the most exotic and expensive racing machinery seen on earth, superb sound effects coining every shunt, crash and scrape, and a world so lush and colourful, that architects in Dubai might be drawing up blueprints for a new off-shore island. Still, they have not forgotten about the playing experience.
In Hot Pursuit, the only person on the road that matters is you, which is true 85% of the time. Sorry to lead you astray, but the Machiavellian in you is required for only the majority. The 15% remains for the team player in you, as you play as a cop online. I personally find this far more rewarding as a player, purely because I feel as though these punks in their flash cars NEED to be reprimanded, so you show no remorse in releasing spike strips, helicopters, EMPs and roadblocks. If you are in a full game, then you have 3 other cops by your side chasing down 4 racers, meaning you need to make sure that each cop is doing their job to stop anyone finishing the race. As in all games, points are involved, which is when you start to take the rogue's route in policing. A bust is a big pay off, so you are going to want to take down anyone you can, even if someone else has spent nigh-on the entire race slowly breaking them down. Frustrating, but you just gotta take the sour with the sweet. In this case the ratio is totally worth it.
As a racer, it is 100% all about you. Technically in the game you are seen as a felon, and so a felon you will be. You are a lone ranger, a sole renegade, a one man army, and the finish line is your only goal. You too have some weapons and defenses at your disposal, and the difference here is, it would not be uncommon to use them on absolutely anyone. In one game I remember playing early on, I was lucky enough to be a distance ahead of any police, alongside another racer. To my surprise, not only did they ram me off the road, but lay down a spike strip in front of me ultimately ending the race for me. I was so shocked by this sign of selfish bullying, that upon pondering his motives, anger escaped me and instead I felt like tipping my hat to him. Extra points are awarded for 1st place, and there is no bonus for getting all racers across the finish line. So as a racer, you are truly on your own.
What I actually love about this game is the way that single player and multiplayer online games can work well for each other. Single player is almost like training, while you level up and get more cars under your belt. It will allow you time to get used to timing spike strips and EMPs, while giving you the opportunity to race some of the fastest cars in the game for fun.
Take this experience online, and you are up against some of the most vile racers and police around the world, trying every trick in the book to either come first, or stop the race altogether. Even when the games are not matched up, you welcome the challenge because you just never know. A racer could evade 4 policemen (although it would be REALLY unfortunate to work out that way) or indeed a policeman might have a long shift ahead. Either way, whether you are wrecking a police car or racer, or busting a punk-ass racer for trying to EMP you, there are rarely moments where you want to turn it off, or not try just ONE more race.
This game is fantastic.
If you have anything you wish to share with me or indeed the readers, feel free to comment or e-mail me at twentfiveand0@hotmail.com - Gamertag Coming Soon
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