Need for Speed: The Run Demo Now Live – First Impressions
The demo for the forthcoming Need for Speed: The Run is now available to download to give you a taste of what you can experience when the game is released on November 18th, 2011.
It confirms, for anyone with any doubt left, that the cross-country experience as you race from San Francisco to New York is a successor to Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit and Outrun, rather than heading into Test Drive territory, as you race along a set route with the occasional shortcut your only deviation.
As with every Need for Speed game, the intro sets the tone in cinematic style, similar to Hot Pursuit. You’re given the choice of two cars, either the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni , or by sending an invite to a friend to download the game, you can access to the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S as EA make the most of the Porsche licence which they contraversially denied to Turn 10 in the development of Forza Motorsport 4.
The first race you’ll be able to try is set in the Desert Hills of Nevada, with the task of passing a set number of rival cars before reaching the finish line – complete that and you’ll move to a one-on-one challenge with a rival racing down a snowy Summit mountain pass in Colorado, complete with avalanches to hinder your progress.
The game itself looks reasonably good – it’s not jaw-dropping, but the demo build is attractive enough to do the job. The car models look pleasing and the scenery is reasonably evocative of the location as you blitz through it at high speed. It’ll be interesting, as ever, to find out how the build submitted for certification as a demo compares to the real thing, but at this stage it’s certainly not disapointing in any way and everything runs smoothly enough even at high speed on the Frostbie 2 engine.
Gameplay is very much arcade style. When racing you’ll want to make a lot of use of the Nitrous Boost available which powers up when driving on the wrong side of the road etc, and the handling itself is similar to Hot Pursuit, although there’s slightly more focus on keeping your wheels inline and not drifting quite so much around corners.
Desert Hills is pleasant enough – go as fast as you can against the other racers who provide a reasonable challenge even on normal mode as you try to pass 10 of them before the finish line. Avoid crashing into the scenery, which will cost you one of 5 ‘rewinds’ if you wreck, keep hitting the nitrous and memorise the corners and shortcut to improve your time which gets uploaded to Need for Speed standard and effective Autolog feature to compare with your friends.
Summit is more interesting as the intro shows a fellow racer smash through the closed road sign warning of blasting on the mountainside. As you chase after the other car you’ll see rockets being fired over the road to cause explosions and avalanches which begin by just some vision-hindering snow and ice but later produce huge rocks to land on the road blocking part of it and causing you to react quickly. Slow down or spin to a halt and you’ll end up losing a rewind after being buried, so it’s a case of maintaining a reasonable speed as you learn the scripted resting places of each rockfall.
As with every game of this type, the early part of each stage is basically building to the final dash as you hammer the nitrous to make sure you stay ahead/overtake enough to complete it – in the early part of the stage you’ll struggle to build up a lead big enough to relax, suggesting that the rivals will always be adjusting to maintain a challenge.
So should you pre-order Need for Speed: The Run?
If you enjoy racers which offer arcade action, from venerable grandaddy Outrun to Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, and you’re hankering for a new challenge, then it is well worth pre-ordering. If you’re still happy enough with Hot Pursuit, and you prefer a more simulation-based challenge, then you’re likely to still be engrossed in Forza Motorsport 4, and there’s also WRC 2 to consider as an authentic rallying experience. It’s out for the PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and Nintendo DS.
If you are pre-ordering, then it’s available with the following bonuses:
- Pre-Order from EA’s Origin Store and you get the Need for Speed The Run Carbon Challenge Series, with two bonus cars and three events inspired by Need for Speed Carbon, the Corvette Z06 and Audi R8.
- Pre-Order from Amazon, and you get the Need for Speed The Run Most Wanted Challenge Series, with two bonus cars and three Most Wanted inspired events. Cars are the Mustang Boss 302 and BMW M3 GTS.
- Pre-Order from Play.com and you get the Need for Speed Underground Challenge Series, with the Nissan 370Z and Nissan Skyline GT-R 32 and three extra events.
- Zavvi also carries the Carbon bonus, and it’s also available via HMV and Game.
F1 2011 review 9/10
First of all, an apology. This review is late in comparison to a lot of other sites around and there are two main reasons for this: Firstly, we didn’t get a preview copy of the game, and second, it has taken a while to get used to.
I didn’t want to rush out a review until I had the chance to play the game properly – I wanted to be able to say what it’s really like and to do so I had to spend a couple of weeks playing it. I hope you’ll forgive me.
So first things first – it takes a while to get used to. And as I said, it takes a while to get used to. Got that? Good. For someone that played 2010 to death, the changes initially appeared terrifying and dislikeable. The handling model feels very different, and I felt like a really bad/incompetent/pitiful driver when starting a new career (now set to a default five seasons in length) and when the rain came down I was ready to throw my controller across the room in frustration.
The reason for this was F1 2010 had an amazing ‘bug’ where one could grab hold of the brake as soon as they started spinning and the car would automatically right itself. I don’t think I realised how much of a difference getting rid of that would be, or how much I had come to rely on it. F1 2011 truly punishes you for being too early on the throttle or turning in that bit too fast, and is all the better for it.
The car now feels ‘alive’ and is so much more satisfying to drive. Take it for a few laps around Monaco and you’ll see what I mean. The ‘groove’ and rhythm you can develop is astonishing, and whilst there is a steep learning curve to F1 2011, it’s well worth the climb.
The rules of F1 are again implemented excellently, including the new safety car. When an incident occurs and a car is left stranded on the racing line (see Carlo, Monte) the Safety Car gets deployed. In practice, this means being part of a ‘snake’ behind it where you can weave to keep up your tyre pressures but don’t have full control over acceleration. The game will ‘auto brake’ if you get too close to the car in front, and ‘ghost’ you if you fall too far behind. I think it works pretty well and is a nice addition to the game, especially your engineer coming over the radio reminding you to “save fuel” and turn your engine mix down to the lowest of the three available pre-set options.
Having previously featured only in the Wii version of F1 2009, split-screen racing makes a debut on PS3, Xbox and PC. It works very well too, and is a long overdue addition to the series. There’s no official ‘championship mode’ in split-screen however, although you can create your own custom season where points will be added up. It seems a little strange when you consider the inclusion of the spangly new ‘online co-op championship’ mode where you and a friend can play through a season as team-mates. I don’t see why this wasn’t made available offline, but then I’m not a games developer so I probably wouldn’t understand.
It’s another good addition to the series, but the largest disappointment of F1 2011 and the thing that stops it scoring a full 10 is the lack of the promised online revolution. You can now race a full grid online, with 24 cars (16 human, 8 computer-controlled), the safety car is available and it generally feels good, but it still suffers from the same problems it did last year – let me explain:
I race without driving aids (ok, sometimes I use automatic gears, shut your face) and the online experience was ruined for me last year by constantly racing against people using traction control. It makes the game much easier (and less fun) but people that want to ‘win’ all the time rather than ‘race’ all the time will always do everything they can to take the chequered flag first. Codemasters promised a penalty system for F1 2011 where players using driving aids would be penalised by carrying extra ballast, but from my first few forays online, nothing appears to have changed.
This could also be sorted very easily, perhaps with a server search filter to get rid of specific driving aids, instead of the standard ‘allowed’, ‘banned’ or ‘custom’ – there’s not enough choice. A ‘no driving aids but automatic gears’ filter would probably earn the game another point in this review, but as things are I spend more time refreshing the ‘available servers’ page than actually playing the game. I know this is a personal thing, but I truly believe it would make a big difference to players who don’t wish to be four seconds a lap slower than those playing with ABS and TRC turned on.
So it’s not quite perfect, but only a couple of gripes stop F1 2011 getting top marks, and it is still a positive step forward from F1 2010. The general feel of driving, speed and danger (I’m presuming no-one plays with damage off? If you do you are an idiot) is second-to-none in the racing genre and it’s a worthy addition to anyone’s games collection.
To be good you have to learn the tracks and spend time getting used to controlling the car on each corner and in different weather conditions, but the more you play the more rewarding it is – and that’s the mark of a great game.
It’s available to order at:
Forget 3-screen hydraulic set-ups – we want an Inflatakart
OK, so if you’ve spent the last 6 months building a 3-monitor set-up with a racing seat and hydraulics, or spent out on something like a Playseat, the Inflatakart probably isn’t for you. But seeing as a fair number of us are parents, and we might want to encourage them to appreciate motorsport, the Inflatakart is probably worth a look.
Plus it’s an ingeniously simple idea. Take an inflatable go-kart, add a plastic steering wheel to hold a Wiimote for the Nintendo Wii, and away you go. No batteries or wires required, and there’s a handy pump and puncture repair kit included for any kart-damaging race incidents. Sadly it’s only recommended for those weighing less than 100Kg, but we can always look on enviously as your kids enjoy it.
It’s available from September 2nd, and costs £24.99. It should work with all Nintendo Wii racing games, but you probably won’t want to try modifying it for iRacing or Forza Motorsport 4, and if you do, we want pictures!
Vote for Best Racing Game in the 2011 Golden Joysticks
Best Racing Game is just one of the categories in the 2011 Gamesmaster Golden Joystick Awards, which are the longest-running awards in the industry, having started in 1982. And in 2010 it had a recorded 1.54 million votes from gamers, after being named as the world’s most popular videogame awards by Guinness World Records in 2009. So winning the racing category is quite an honour, and the shortlist for your votes is:
- DiRT 3
- F1 2010
- Gran Turismo 5
- MotoGP 10/11
- Motorstorm Apocalypse
- nail’d
- Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
- Ridge Racer 3D
- Shift 2 Unleashed
- Test Drive Unlimited 2
It’s a bit of a shame SBK 2011 didn’t make it into the shortlist, as we’d debate whether it’s a better motorcycle simulator than MotoGP, but on the other hand, there’s some good recognition for Codemasters, with two games shortlisted, and the reboot of the Need for Speed series has seen the awesome Hot Pursuit and pretty good Shift 2 both appear.
In terms of widespread support, Gran Turismo 5 has to be the favourite.
DiRT 3, Gran Turismo 5 and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit are also in the running for the Ultimate Game of the Year, facing the likes of Call of Duty: Black Ops, Halo Reach, LA Noire and Killzone 3.
In the Mobile Gaming category, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit makes another appearance, alongside Real Racing 2, and Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing. Meanwhile, Best Downlodable includes Sega Rally Online Arcade
Need for Speed: The Run – 5 minutes of gameplay
Need for Speed: The Run details revealed at E3
Alongside a 5- minute gameplay demo, various details on the forthcoming Need for Speed: The Run were revealed at the E3 games show, including some references to the plot, and particularly some of the cars which will feature.
So the third Need for Speed game in the space of 12 months will follow a character called Jack on an illicit coast-to-coast race from San Francisco to New York, to apparently save Jack’s life. It’ll arrive on November 15th, 2011, and features the now standard Autolog social feature, Frostbite 2 game engine, and online multiplayer which includes the chance to join races already in progress. Apparently the online multiplayer will feature ranked matchmaking, levelling up to access vehicles, upgrades and abilities, and a number of different playlists.
The game itself is being developed by Black Box (As opposed to Criterion developing Hot Pursuit, and Slightly Mad creating Shift 2: Unleashed). And to help you evade the cops and beat other racers, five cars have so far been named as appearing in the game:
Need for Speed: The Run Car List:
- Audi R8 Coupe 5.2 FSI Quattro
- BMW E92 M3 GTS
- Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake
- McLaren MP4-12C
- Porsche 911 GT2
Need for Speed: The Run is being released on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC, Wii and Nintendo DS on November 15, 2011.
Need for Speed: The Run announced
Well, that was quick – no sooner had we posted the trailer, than a press release arrived officially announcing Need for Speed: The Run which is due for release on November 18, 2011, for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC, Wii and 3DS.
It’s being developed by Black Box, and will put you into a cross-country race from San Francisco to New York with underground racing involving you avoiding the police, beating your rivals and taking on urban traffic, icy mountain passes and narrow canyons. It’ll be powered by DICE’s Frostbite 2 engine.
“This is the year that Need for Speed goes to the next level,” said Jason DeLong, Executive Producer at EA. “We think that Need for Speed The Run is going to surprise people with its intense, thrilling story and big action feel. But the game would be nothing without hot cars and crazy-fast chases. So that is what we’re delivering — explosive racing that will have players flirting with disaster at 200-miles an hour.”
It’ll continue to use the Need for Speed Autlog system to track how you and your friends are performing in the game and pump out that information to all your social networks as you race from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Empire State Building.
Are there enough Cannonball Run fans to justify Need for Speed: The Run? Will you want it sat alongside Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit and Shift 2: Unleashed on your shelf? And will this be a successful return to the roots of the Need for Speed series? We’ll be watching this one closely!
Need for Speed: The Run
F1 2011 confirmed for release on September 23, 2011
Codemasters have confirmed that F1 2011 will be released on September 23, 2011, as the second of the officially-licensed Formula One series. It’ll be available for the Xbox, PS3 and PC, and follows the news that F1 2010 was not only the fastest-selling F1 game ever released, but also claimed a BAFTA in the Sports category. Plus two special editions are being produced to take advantage of the features offered by the new Nintendo 3DS and Sony NGP – release dates are yet to be confirmed for the two new platforms.
Advances in the technical and gameplay side are promised along with extending the online competitive and co-op elements. You’ll get all the official drivers, teams and also the new Grand Prix of India at the Jaypee International Race Circuit, and the returning Nurburgring.
Codemasters are also running a competition to get questions about the new game answered face-to-face in May, along with getting a hands-on with the game. And if you can make it in person, you could be featured in forthcoming F1 2011 trailers.
We’re big fans of the first game, and following some updates to remove some initial bugs, it’s evolved into one of the best racing experiences currently available. With the additional time to iron out the issues and add some new features, F1 2011 could well be the best F1 racing game around when it arrives. We’re already worried about Tom’s ability to focus on anything else before September, judging by what happened when the last game was announced.
2011 Video Games BAFTAs for F1 2010 and NfS: Hot Pursuit
The 2011 GAME British Academy Video Games awards took place this week, with two of the three nominated racing games claiming the top prizes.
In the ‘Sport’ category, F1 201 was victorious, beating stiff competition from FIFA 11, Football Manager 2011, Pro Evo Soccer 2011, International Cricket 2010 and Gran Turismo 5. An added twist is that the holders of the official F1 licence before Codemasters was, in fact, Sony! It’s a well-deserved win following the patches which fixed initial bugs in the game.
And although Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit lost out to Call of Duty: Black Ops in the GAME Award of 2010, it did claim the Bafta for ‘Multiplayer’. Strangely, in achieving this, it beat Black Ops, which has multiplayer as the main attraction of the game, but the discrepancy is explained by the GAME Award being the one chosen by the public (Who we think were wrong, given that Limbo, Mass Effect 2 and Red Dead Redemption were also up for voting).
Either way, 2 top racing games of the past year were both rewarded, and well-deserved congratulations to Codemasters and Criterion.
