Need For Speed: Rivals Next-Gen Extended Impressions

Feature Article

Submitted on: 11/19/2013 by Robert Kollars

When we released our early impressions of Need For Speed: Rivals for the PS4 on Saturday, we talked about having some fun with it, but needed to spend more time with the title to get a better overall feeling for it. We are happy to report that after doing just that, the fun factor has increased dramatically.

We have grown to love the visuals, especially the consistent frame rates no matter what action is taking place in fictional Review County. The action is fast paced, exciting, and most of all fun, and that is never a bad thing when it comes to the racing genre.

While we touched on the less-than-stellar storyline in our early impressions, we've noticed it really isn’t about a story in the first place. The game offers objectives whether you have chosen to enforce the law, or simply ignore it as a racer. As you accomplish these objectives, your in-game options open up to new cars, upgrades, and of course – new missions. It’s basically an open racing world that incorporates you along with AI, friends, and others with the implementation of the AllDrive technology. AllDrive is the method in which the game blends basically single player, co-op, and multiplayer all in one – and has done so seamlessly.

On the surface we initially felt like the game was a bit shallow, but as our time with the title has progressed, our mindset has slowly changed. While Need For Speed: Rivals may not offer up the standard ladder type progression or career path that is seen in your typical racing game, what it does offer up more than makes for that(if that’s what you like) Not only do you have a set of goals you need to obtain to progress, but Rivals also provides mini challenges and achievements on the side. While trying to accomplish your set goals, you will also have the ability to try and break speed records, perform spectacular jumps, and beat the records your friends have set – and you will know instantly when you do so.

There is still much to explore in Need For Speed: Rivals, as we prepare the full review for Wednesday, but so far the game is starting to turn into one of our favorite PS4 launch titles. Hopefully the game continues to impress us the way it has so far, and we promise to give you full report in the next couple of days.

Need For Speed Rivals Videos

Member Comments

# 1 JMD @ 11/21/13 07:13 PM

Nice write up. I'm thinking about grabbing this one.

# 2 AKUMA2000 @ 11/22/13 02:20 PM

The game is awesome, the cars are really cool and they get even better when you start unlocking the more faster elite cars....especially when you unlock all the pursuit tech for the cop cars and the race tech for the race cars.

# 3 utexas @ 11/27/13 01:47 PM

Very good fun game!

# 4 Zalf @ 11/30/13 08:37 PM

Finally made the time to get some serious play out of this one today. This game has been mismarketed horribly. This isn't a cops vs. street racer game. This game is the next gen sequel that Test Drive Unlimited should have had with cops vs. street racers as one of the MANY side events to take part in.

It's the next gen sequel to Forza Horizons in many ways. Some things missing but many things added. It is an open world driving game with cops vs street racers added, not the other way around. It is missing the detailed car physics and selection, and it is missing the livery creation/tuning of Forza 5. However it has so many things that only become obvious after spending a few hours with the game and getting deep enough in the cops vs. street racers "story" to actually see what all else is out there. And in my opinion there is a lot out there.

I drove coastal cliffs with the ocean breaking over the road. I drove mountain passes with ice and snow. I drove at night in the rain. I used their "NFSnetwork" on my laptop to set waypoints real time in game. All while free roaming and not tied down to predetermined events.

This game is an arcade(as far as most NFS games are arcade) racer but it is an arcade racer with a lot more depth than I had any idea to even look for.

# 5 Phobia @ 12/18/13 01:20 PM

Picked this up yesterday and WOW what a experience!! From the moment you start the game it is a thrill ride.

Super pumped to have this in my library now.

# 6 JMD @ 12/19/13 05:55 PM

I picked this up and I have to say I'm bored with it. I must be playing it wrong. What should I be doing?

# 7 bluengold34_OS @ 12/19/13 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMD


	I picked this up and I have to say I'm bored with it. I must be playing it wrong. What should I be doing?

See - this is the problem I had with it also JMD. I really enjoyed it for a bit, but then it became a bit stale for me. For an arcade racer it is somewhat deep, but for those who like to really dig into a racing sim, it can feel a bit shallow.

# 8 havoc00 @ 12/19/13 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMD


	I picked this up and I have to say I'm bored with it. I must be playing it wrong. What should I be doing?

same here I thought it was just me lol

# 9 videobastard @ 12/24/13 11:02 AM

The cops are annoying. Sometimes i just want to play the game without them messing me. I liked having traditional online racing with hot pursuit. Im not sure yet if races can be set up like that in rivals. So far its been head to head or cpu ai races.

# 10 utexas @ 12/24/13 08:46 PM

You gotta improve rapidly. It's vey vanilla at the beginning.

# 11 Pappy Knuckles @ 12/24/13 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by videobastard


	The cops are annoying. Sometimes i just want to play the game without them messing me. I liked having traditional online racing with hot pursuit. Im not sure yet if races can be set up like that in rivals. So far its been head to head or cpu ai races.

Agreed. In NFS Most Wanted cops didn't play as big of a role and I enjoyed that more. I also have no interest in the cop career. It's a pretty good game, but I haven't really found myself wanting to play it much.

# 12 JMD @ 12/25/13 08:10 AM

So I'm an idiot. I've been driving around , doing head to head races and out running cops for a while now. All the time wondering why I was not leveling up and unlocking new cars. So I finally figured out I need to complete the tasks on the right of my screen to level up. Now I've got a few more cars and the game is starting to get a little better , still seems very repetitive though.

Anyone know what needs to be done to Gold an Interceptor?

# 13 videobastard @ 12/25/13 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMD


	Anyone know what needs to be done to Gold an Interceptor?

Once you start a interceptor event. i believe you just have to escape the cops chasing you within the gold target time.

# 14 Ky3217 @ 12/30/13 01:07 AM

It's an ok game. And they actually added car customization, but unfortunately, it still falls far short of the customization of earlier games in the series.

Im not trying to bash the game, but it's kinda sad that a game like GTA V, which inolves a lot of different things, has more car customization than a game devoted solely to cars.

Dont get me wrong, it's a fun game. It just falls short of what the Need for Speed series should be

# 15 JMD @ 01/02/14 08:28 AM

I've unlocked several more cars now and I'm really enjoying the game. It's just plain fun. It looks amazing as well especially the snow. I wish there was an in car view.

# 16 RunN1st @ 01/02/14 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMD


	I've unlocked several more cars now and I'm really enjoying the game. It's just plain fun. It looks amazing as well especially the snow. I wish there was an in car view.

It doesn't become repetitive to you? My son and I had it but after two days it was wash, rinse, repeat...

Thus, we returned it.

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