The video game industry is flooded with racing games, but Need for Speed is one franchise that continues to dominate this genre of gaming. EA and Ghost developers have recently unveiled a new version simply titled Need for Speed, and this is what was revealed at Gamescom 2015 about the release date for Need for Speed on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One along with the Car and Soundtrack List.
A recent interview on IGN Live with Leanne Loombe, a producer for Need for Speed, revealed that they have looked into the past twenty years, and gave the players what they want. This is why Need for Speed is a reboot and simply given that generic title.
Need for Speed uses a mix of live-action and computer animation to really make the world of cars come to life. It takes place in Ventura Bay, a fictional Los Angeles that is only done in the dusk or night, and there will be no dawn in the game. It is always at night because the game is about "having the time of your life with your friends" and is all about the night life, where street racers come out.
Need for Speed will have a multiplayer component. You can play on your own, but if you want to play with other players, they will available.
According to VG 24/7, the game is built around five real-world automotive icons, and players will need to "earn the respect of each as they build their reputation to become the ultimate icon themselves through various game play elements and interconnected narrative".
The five tenants of the game include Speed, Style, Build, Crew, and Outlaw. Speed is all about just going fast, Style is about your "expression through driving", such as sliding the car into the corner with precision and tricks like that. Build is about personalization as you the player put it through visual and performance modification. Crew is all about putting together a crew that you can trust to help you out. Outlaw is when you start teasing the cops with chases and the like.
For those unfamiliar with the Need for Speed video game franchise, then you should start by knowing that it is over twenty years old. The first game in the series came out way back in 1994, and it has had over 22 versions since then (an average of more than one per year).
So far, the Need for Speed games have essentially used the same rules and mechanics as a player controls a race car in many races, with a vehicle of their choice/creation. Of course, multiplayer options are available and many of them include police pursuits.
Fans of Need for Speed have responded very positively to the announcement of the new version of the game on the official Facebook site, many of them wanting a game like Need for Speed: Underground 3. Need for Speed: Underground was first released in 2003, and it caused the whole game series to shift from racing sports cars on scenic tracks to the import/tuner subculture with street racing. No doubt it was influenced by the hit film The Fast and the Furious, and the Underground iterations of the game were the first to introduce drifting and dragging to players.
The recent trailer, which is designed to be a teaser, certainly does tease. There isn't much shown on it but a car moving fast and trying to evade the cops. The footage looks like something out of a cutscene in video games, but the end of the teaser assures the audience that what was seen is actual gameplay footage.
Need for Speed will be available on November 3rd, 2015 for the PC, Xbox One, and PS4. For those that want to see a full list of cars, head to the Need for Speed Wikia page for a complete list of vehicles. As for the soundtrack, what is currently on NFS Soundtrack might satisfy fans of Need for Speed music for now.
