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They tend to say that if something isn’t broken, don’t fix it. But in an industry where remastering is the order of the day, this old saying doesn’t seem to echo, and the latest proof is Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered, title developed by Criterion and published by Electronics Arts in 2010, and now coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC after some engine tweaks and a coat of paint that leaves it ready for 8th generation consoles.
10 years ago, Criterion Games received the reins of the prestigious Need for Speed franchise, one of the most relevant in the racing genre. Thus it was that the first gamble of the British developer was Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, a vibrant arcade full of speed, recklessness and emotion, elements that were the hallmark of Criterion and that they had shown in the games of the saga Burnt.
So, a decade away Chase has returned to show us that it is still a fun and entertaining episode, even if on the other hand it is impossible to hide that the years do not pass in vain, especially within a genre that tends to advance dramatically.
Pick a color and hit the road
There is something he can do perfectly for the saga of Need for Speed– Romanticize car chases and turn them into something over the top, awesome and extremely exciting. On this axis it rotates Chase, in a formula that was good enough to remain fun a decade after its launch.
In the game’s story mode we will find a map of the outside world with various places and events, in which you can act as a street racer or a policeman, depending on which side you choose. In this sense, you will also find a very simple progression system: you will have to complete challenges that will earn you reputation points between pursuers and persecuted, until you become, of course, the most wanted runner or the least eluded cop.
Photo: EA
As you progress, rewards will also arrive, as well as new cars and regions. There is no open world here, no complex updates or customization features. It’s about a arcade simple, where you just have to choose the color of your car to get ready and go.
Old school
Be a arcade, NFS: Hot Pursuit Remastered he does not seek aesthetic perfection or realism, but rather considers casual manipulation as his game mechanics. Yes, you will need to brake in corners and accelerate a bit at the exit of each corner, but it requires much less precision than a racing simulator like Great tourism OR Project Cars.
Here, you can effortlessly move around curves, wander through opponents during the race, overtake using nitrous and evade the police like an outlaw using gadgets as spikes. All of this translates into intense and exciting gameplay that is fun behind the wheel. Obviously, accidents will also be a major part, as these accidents won’t take long from your race and are even rewarded with small cutscenes that remind us of the style of Burnt, which is not surprising when dealing with the same developers.
Photo: EA
Indeed, there is something in the presentation of Chase which makes us return as players to an easier time in racing games, when these titles were all about speed and nothing else, with no detours, embellishments or fillers, and most importantly, without the feeling that we were lacking customization features or a wide variety of events.
In this remaster, events last no more than five minutes, including direct races, chases, fastest lap and time trial. Additionally, all regions include the option for Freeride, which will allow you to explore the circuit without pressure for victory or time, simply enjoying the scenery and the road. I know we’re very used to doing this kind of informal open world tour, but given the limitations of the game it’s definitely an interesting element.
The graphics also responded to the needs of the game, and I particularly liked some stops near the coast, where without getting to realism, you could enjoy beautiful views that included mountains and long open curved roads that touch the sand of the sea.
Photo: EA
Workshop improvements
We cannot forget that NFS: Hot Pursuit is a remaster. That is, a model from 2010 that after a decade passed through the mechanical workshop, where it is They’ve made some substantial updates to modernize it, although it’s still an older model at heart. This is felt in each of the facets of the game, as the title has received new cosmetic items and refined the details of its graphics section which makes the scenarios and cars in general look better, but the challenges, challenges and paths continue. being the same as the original title.
As a new proposition you will only find that the main menu now has a cute garage where you can see all the cars you have collected, as well as an interesting photo mode that also has a function that allows you to turn damage on or off mid-race. Likewise, mention that all of the downloadable content from the original is included in this unique package.
Photo: EA
Finally, there is also an online multiplayer mode with games hosting up to 8 players that it works with crossplay. Here we will find some interesting options where we can have fun with friends, al Most Wanted, which has a player trying to escape with a small team of other runners helping him as an escort, while another team of police officers try to get them out of the way.
Let’s say that in the games I had online there were no connection problems on Xbox One, and in general the games develop without problems. The truth is that many times you will have to be patient to find the right one matchmaking, although I don’t know if it’s due to the servers or the number of players in the online modes of Hot Pusuit Remastered.
Photo: EA
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered is a game that is still fun and that it has modernized the graphics enough to provide an interesting experience within the eighth generation of consoles. The races here are blazing fast, the selection of cars is simple, and of course the high-speed chases between cops and street racers never seem to go out of style. A game that undoubtedly reminds us of the good times in the racing genre, and that surely more than a nostalgic will appreciate.
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