Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit

"Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit" (2010) turned out to be the game I didn't just want - I truly needed. Finally, I got to feel that nostalgic spark from the legendary series that I hadn't felt in years. I waited five long years (since the release of "Most Wanted") to get back behind the wheel of a virtual street racer and relive the adrenaline of those "good old days". Not just play - "feel". "Carbon" and "Undercover" couldn't deliver that thrill. But "Hot Pursuit"? Absolutely. It's got everything you want: breakneck speed, screeching tires, sirens on your tail - the full package.

There's not much of a storyline here, but what you get is a phenomenal campaign: you can play either as a street racer outrunning the law or as a cop dishing out justice at full throttle. And let me tell you - that is insanely fun. Smashing into a racer at 200 km/h with a cinematic takedown is just pure bliss. It feels like a blockbuster movie - just without the popcorn, because your hands are glued to the keyboard.

The gameplay impresses with its arsenal of tools: there's turbo boost, EMP blasts, spike strips for those chasing from behind, and even roadblocks and helicopters. It's like a full-blown action toolkit for speed freaks and tech lovers alike. Some tools are exclusive to cops, others to racers, but the beauty is - everyone has toys to play with. And your opponents? They've got the same gadgets, so expect dirty tricks, flashy maneuvers, and adrenaline-pumping showdowns on equal terms.

The car selection is massive. You start out with modest vehicles, but before long you're tearing through the highways in high-end dream machines - it's like building your own fantasy car dealership. With each race, the cops get meaner, the cars get faster, and the chases more dramatic. And that's how it should be. The same goes for playing as the police - every new racer is tougher, sneakier, and harder to take down.

Controls are classic, nothing overly experimental. Cars handle just the way you'd expect - they drift, accelerate, hug the corners, and push to their limits when it counts. It's familiar, responsive, and super satisfying. The graphics? A real treat - beautiful cars, bright and detailed tracks, and atmospheric environments. The scenery changes, time of day shifts, and whether it's day or night, the visuals are impressive and immersive.

And the music! The soundtrack pumps you up and pushes the pace of the race. Without those high-energy tracks, the game wouldn't hit nearly as hard - but with them, it's spot-on.

"Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit" (2010) isn't just another entry in the franchise - it's a glorious return to form, done smartly and with soul. Personally, I felt the same rush I got from the best of the classic titles. If you're craving speed, chases, adrenaline, and cinematic turns under blaring sirens - this is it. A really solid game that still looks great and plays even better.

8 out of 10.

I still remember the day going to GameStop with my friend after school and buying the physical disc for this around the time it came out back in 2010. Probably one of the best multiplayer experiences ever to be had around that time period. Looking back at this now, I never realized how much this game was ahead of its time, especially when it came to innovation and multiplayer involvement.

Developed by Criterion, the same team behind Burnout Paradise, you can definitely feel a lot of Burnout DNA in this Need for Speed entry. Sadly, since it's published by EA, do not expect to get the full game, you'll have to plonk down a further £45 on the PSN for that privilege. And since the game is now almost 8 years old you can expect online play to be dead. Trust me, this is one Platinum trophy that you won't be winning.

As either Cop or Criminal Racer you take to the roads in the fictional Seacrest County and all of its varied wilderness on various missions including simple time trials, races, duels, takedown missions, utterly infuriating rapid responses, interceptors and, obviously, hot pursuits in which you must obliterate all other rivals. The game can frequently be very exciting and is very addictive but it is bogged down by lengthy crash cut-scenes, long load times, an overload of visual information bombardment between missions, and cars that handle simply terribly. The aforementioned rapid response missions are a nightmare as for every strike on any object the counter will add 2 seconds to your already tight time limit. Once you slam into the guard rail you'll never get control of your car back and you'll just be slamming from side to side across the road. You'll never beat the mission.

Also, unlike Burnout Paradise, the XBM option is not available, meaning you cannot play your own tunes during the game and must stick to the licenced soundtrack. It's decent, but it's nowhere near as innovating and visionary as the soundtrack to Need for Speed: Shift 2 Unleashed. Though, overall, it's a much better game than Need for Speed: The Run.

I managed to unlock just 37% of the trophies. Any higher would require online play and purchase of the DLC. It gave me a few days of fun, but I'll never go back to this.

A Very good game for 2010 the port they made last year was not even different at all just crossplay 2010 need for speed is one of the best need for speed games of all time

After playing many unrealistic games where a supercar skids off the bend of a road at 40 mph (YES Forza!) this game is a breath of fresh air and plays fantastic!