Need for Speed The Run is a racing video game and the eighteenth title in the Need for Speed series. Published by Electronic Arts, it was released on November 15, 2011, with EA Black Box developed versions for PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360, while Firebrand Games developed versions for the 3DS, and Wii. An iOS version was planned to be developed by EA Mobile, but it was eventually cancelled. The game focuses on point-to-point races involving overtaking opponents, defeating rivals, time attacks, and evading the efforts of both police and criminal gang members to stop them.
Unlike previous entries in the series, The Run features an extensive collection of races set against real-life locations, including the cities of New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, and San Francisco, and features a wide variety of real-life cars to drive in. The game’s career mode sees players assume the role of street racer taking part in a large-scale race from San Francisco to New York and seeking to win it against various odds. While the game received extensive marketing and heavy promotion from its developers, it received mixed reviews from critics following its release.
Gameplay
A screenshot of a stage in the game. The Run features sprint race events where the player must overtake all opponents to win
Need for Speed: The Run is a racing video game and the eighteenth title in the Need for Speed series. Players take part in street racing across real world locations in the United States.[4] There are over 300 kilometres (190 mi) of road, three times more than Hot Pursuit, making it the biggest Need For Speed game on release.[5] Most event types require the player to overtake opponents to win the race. There are also time attack events and survival events where the players must prevent their vehicle from being destroyed while under attack. Cars are divided into tiers based on performance. During a race, the player can enter a gas station to change the vehicle they are using and make visual customisations. Unlike previous Need for Speed titles, The Run features sections where the player exits their car and is travelling on foot. Gameplay in these sections is restricted to quick time events.[5]
The driving model of the game is described as “sit somewhere between Shift and Hot Pursuit“, not as arcade-styled as Hot Pursuit, but neither as simulator-styled as Shift. The Run employs a large range of real-world vehicles, seemingly taking in the usual mix of muscle cars, street racers and refined exotics, described as “each car presents a different driving challenge for the player”.[5][6] Exclusively digitized for the game is the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S and the Pagani Huayra.[7][8] The damage system is similar to that seen in Hot Pursuit.[9] The cars can be altered with performance upgrades and visual upgrades, such as paint colors and body kits. There are cosmetic body kits known as Style Pack kits and Aero Pack kits, which affect aerodynamics as well as performance.
An experience points (XP) system is used for unlocking cars and events in multiplayer and Challenge Series races. The game also feature a Rewind option that allows the player to restart an event to their last checkpoint if they wreck their vehicle or to rewind their vehicle from a collision or missed opportunity. Rewinds are only available in limited quantities as their amount depends on the difficulty level that the player has selected; Easy has 10 Rewinds, Normal has 5 Rewinds, Hard has 3 Rewinds, and Extreme has 1 Rewind, as well as the most difficult AI opponents.[10]
Additionally, Need for Speed Autolog, the Need for Speed franchise’s social competition functionality, which was introduced in Hot Pursuit and was previously used in Shift 2: Unleashed, is also back as it continues to track career progression and compare game stats.
