Need for Speed: Rivals - a series deja vu? - Team VVV

News Need for Speed: Rivals – a series deja vu?

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Martin Bigg

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Game: Need For Speed Rivals

Platform: PC, PS3, XB360

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Release Date: 15/11/2013

By now, we've all seen EA's E3 showing of Need for Speed: Rivals. But just in case you haven't, we've managed to obtain the entire on-show demo in pixel-perfect high resolution for you to digest:

Watching the demo does raise a question, though: what will Rivals offer that is actually new to Need for Speed?

To me, Rivals is shaping up to be a game developed in direct response to the criticisms aimed at Most Wanted. Bring back police chases where you get to command the cops? Check. More in-depth customisation? Check. Finally feature Ferrari for the first time in 11 years? Check and mate. Slap on some next-generation make up in the form of Frostbite 3, and you have a ready-made Need for Speed title to showcase the new consoles conveniently in time to fill EA's annually reserved parking space in November.

Indeed, Rivals has the makings of a NFS best of compilation, combining the open world thrills of Most Wanted, Hot Pursuit's tactical police chases and Underground's comprehensive suite of  car customisation options.

As for the pertinent question at hand: does it actually offer anything new? Well, EA are keen to market AllDrive as Rivals' apparent UPS, a system that will apparently blur the boundaries between single player and online progression, allowing offline players to seamlessly merge into open world online play sessions with other players.     

It's not sounding very revolutionary, however, and we're not yet convinced that it will ultimately be enough to differentiate itself from the competition – particularly when games such as Evolution's DriveClub and The Crew indicate that seamless community-connected worlds will seemingly be a running trend for the next generation of racing games. 

Similarly, the car handling still seems like it's based on a last generation model, which is no doubt a byproduct of Criterion's influence on EA Ghost. I wouldn't usually complain – in fact I generally like Criterion's car handling. But for a next generation game, it's hard not to expect more. Graphically, Rivals looks very pretty indeed thanks to Frostbite 3's visual eye candy showcasing some realistic weather effects that will no doubt make Forza Motorsport 5 feel envious after Turn10 confirmed that, contrary to fan expectations, weather and day/night cycles will not feature in FM5. But Rivals' sparkling paintwork and powerflul engine can't mask the old chassis it's being built on.  

Indeed, the same could be said about the NFS brand as a whole – it could really do with a facelift. EA Ghost have an opportunity to revolutionise the brand and take it to the next level for a new generation. Instead they seem to be opting to drive down the easy route by welding parts from previous NFS titles and expect the ubiquitous Need for Speed badge to sell it alone.

Nevertheless, we will keep a watchful eye over the development and hopefully get our own hands-on soon to keep you informed of its progress. 

And for those who keep pining for a reboot of Need for Speed: Underground, we suggest not to get your hopes up. You only have to look at the evolution of the Fast and Furious films as a sign of the times. It started as a film adaptation of the illegal street racing scene where bulbous body kits were deemed roadworthy, a fad from the early 00's which EA completely capitalised on with Need for Speed Underground that's since worn off. Now Fast and Furious is an all-out automotive action bonzana that's become an annual series cash cow – sound familiar?

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