Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – drive as the crook or cop in this High Octane 3D Racer
by Paul Wilks
Apr 2, 2012 8:28 AM –
Install
The latest in the Need for Speed series of high octane racing games is Hot Pursuit, and it’s a racer with a difference. Choose between being a cop car or a road racer in this fast 3D racing extravaganza. With plenty of stages, bonuses and weapons at your disposal, it’s an original take on the racing genre and pretty cool to boot!
Price: $4.99
Tested on: HTC Desire HD
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Superb 3D graphics!
- Accurate accelerometer controls!
- 48 events and 20 different vehicles to drive!
- Nice assortment of weapons on both sides!
- Career and Quick Play modes!
Cons
- No car modifications.
- Only accelerometer steering options.
Features:
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit gives you the choice of being a racer determined to escape the long arm of the law, or a cop hot on the heels of a felon. The are two objectives then, depending on which side you choose; escape or capture. This makes for a nicely diverse experience as you can switch to the opposite side and play career mode all the way through, again.
Each side has its benefits. If you’re a racer you get a some pretty handy features and weapons: overdrive, oil slicks and jamming- should be enough to slow the police down for you to escape! As a police car you have perhaps even more up your sleeve. You can set up road block, fire an EMP and lay spike strips. When triggered right, these can seriously hamper the progress of the racer- good job!
Controls are made via onscreen activations of weapons, touch the main screen to brake, swipe up for nitro boost and accelerometer tilt to steer. I found the steering to be really good, which was fortunate as there’s no form of calibration or adjustment. Furthermore, there’s no option to steer via onscreen controls. This didn’t bother me too much but some people prefer the choice at least.
This niggle aside the game does incredibly well, gameplay is engaged and highly immersive. A big contributor to this is the sound, which is immaculate. The best example is when you’re driving the police vehicle receive regular radio updates about weapons deployed against you and the availability of your own weapons. It’s amazingly slick and well developed, as you should perhaps expect from EA.
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I think because you get to play two roles, it’s a bit like gameplay is double pleasure. Once you finish a career as a racer you can swap to being a police car or vice versa. Additionally, there’s double the weapons to use and events to race. There’s not much in the way of storyline (as I noticed one comment on Google Play Store was upset about) but seriously? Who honestly buys a racing game for the engaging plot-line and absorbing narrative? It’s all about pedal to the metal and burning rubber. And that is precisely what this game does. It’s not perfect, the steering options are limited and you can’t modify your car in any way, but this aside it’s a detailed and cool racer that is a nice twist on the genre…. a bit like if Reckless Getaway was in a closer third person perspective rather than overhead view.
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – Chopper involvement means it getting pretty serious
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – Nitro burst
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – Cool slo-mo collisions
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – Red flares indicate end
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – Red arrow indicated pursuer
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – Pause menu
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – Night driving
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – Gorgeously tracks
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – Driving the police vehicle
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – Detailed 3D graphics
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – Escaped!
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – Road race results
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – New cars
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – Racer events
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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – Career progression
Fun Factor:
I felt the game was lots of fun. It’s also a nice twist to be able to switch sides if you choose. There’s something quite satisfying in both escaping and being able to run down a racer. The weapons are also very cool and work very well. There’s variety in the game that seems more original than other racers.
Addictive:
It is quite addictive I think, and I’ve not always been a massive fan of racing games. This has made me consider trying out more- once I’ve completed it anyway!!
Graphics:
The graphics are as superb as you might expect from EA, very polished and detailed. The racing visuals are rich and even the menus and sub-menus look very slick and polished.
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
The accelerometer is very good and works well. It’s a shame this can’t be tweaked for sensitivity, however, and you can’t switch to on-screen controls in any way. The sound, however, is absolutely excellent; from the in-car police radios and skidding to the crunching collisions and sirens- every aspect is splendid.
Tags:
3D,
3D Games,
Android App,
Android Apps,
Android Game,
Android Tablet Apps,
AndroidTapp.com App Review,
Need for Speed,
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit,
Race Car Game,
Racing
Categorised in: Arcade & Action
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