Need For Speed : The Run

By Matt Roberts

Need for Speed: The Run provides an opportunity for gamers to quench their speed thirsts in a simplistic and aesthetically pleasing edition from this much acclaimed franchise. 

While not as intricate a game as many others are in today’s gaming landscape, Need for Speed: The Run brings forth old style racing that rewards smart decision making (like breaking on sharp corners and taking calculated shortcuts) whilst maintaining a modern look that has to be admired.

The main game mode marketed in this edition of Need for Speed is ‘The Run’, which revolves around a troublesome street car racer named Jack, who has got himself into a bind with some gangsters he owes money. 

In a bid to pay back the sum, Jack enters ‘The Run’, an illegal street race panning from San Francisco to New York. The premise behind ‘The Run’ is a great idea but entails a fairly vague storyline that is pretty much irrelevant.

‘The Run’ is broken up into stages testing your abilities against all types of terrain and varying challenges. Whether it be a downhill challenge trying to overtake rival opponents in the Colorado Rockies or speeding recklessly through suburban traffic trying to evade the police on the Las Vegas strip, you have to have your wits about you and be willing to take a risk. 

At times this game can be very exhilarating and delivers you with such a thrill that you have to remind yourself you’re on the living room couch and not out on the road pushing your exotic vehicle to its limits. 

Choosing which vehicle to use is a decision that should be thought out as the varying specs of each car can suit each stage differently. Luxury cars from BMW, Porsche, Aston Martin and Lamborghini, (to name a few) are featured in Need for Speed, all looking very crisp graphically speaking.

Their are a couple of creases that arise in ‘The Run’ that I believe need to be ironed out in order to make this a great game mode. When getting chased by the police it seems that they are solely focused on Jack (you) and not on the dozens of other illegal street racers inhabiting the area at the time making it unrealistic (and annoying!). 

I also believe that their is somewhat of an inaccuracy in the speeds of the opposing racers and police, as sometimes it just seems unrealistic to chase down a car from such a distance and vice versa. Other than that though it is quite an enjoyable race mode with some majestic backdrops and epic thrill seeking.

The scenery is so well done it’s a shame that you really don't get a chance to take it all in as your focus is primarily on not running into an oncoming truck or falling off a cliff. The Frostbite 2 engine (known for Battlefield 3) has engineered a revered presentation for Need for Speed: The Run that really add’s a life likeness to the game.

Now onto the multiplayer mode.

This mode allows you to test your racing skills online against the world in races that can have up to 16 participants. This sets up gamers with a very intense competitive environment that allows you to accrue XP points for pretty much anything such as drifting ability and top speed bonus. 

Upon entering the online lobby their are numerous race choices you can enter depending on preference. Race types such as Supercar Challenge, Exotic Sprints and Muscle Car Battles feature online. Upping your driver level and gaining respect online is what it’s all about, and this mode delivers you a great online experience just for that.

Another mode featured on Need for Speed: The Run is ‘The Challenge Series’ which allows you to race the stages unlocked in ‘The Run’ against the computer. Medals for best times/position are won as well as valuable XP accumulation to increase your driving level. This is a very basic mode but still enjoyable.

Overall, even though this game could do with some improvement (mainly the AI), it offers an old-style racing experience that is simple in nature and sometimes extremely invigorating that can be shared with friends. 

Game: Need For Speed : The Run
System: Playstation 3, XBox 360, Nintendo Wii
Developer/Co-Developer: EA Blackbox
Publisher: Electronic Games

Rating: 70%

(Ratings Key/Explanation)