Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010) by Criterion Games. Fan preview + screenshots, cover, release date, and introductory trailer.

So, Criterion has officially confirmed work on the Need for Speed series. Although everyone was confident about it after the leaked screenshots from the booth, let me remind you. Together with EA, they're reviving one of the best parts of the series at a new technical level — Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit. The meeting of the creators of the Burnout series with the Need for Speed series was inevitable since they both fell under the wing of EA, and perhaps, Criterion will raise the series to new heights of popularity again, just like Black Box did in its time. Let’s just hope that EA won’t squeeze the guys dry and allow them some rest when needed. They can’t only do racing and love to do it.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. The essence of the game is the same as it was twelve years ago. The confrontation between cops and racers. No underground or street racing — just natural beauty, daylight, and gorgeous cars: Lamborghini Murcielago here is not a luxury, but a means of transportation and mutual destruction.

Both law enforcers and violators are equal participants in all aspects of the game. How specifically the single-player will be structured — that's something we can only speculate about for now. Players will definitely experience both sides of the barricade, but whether there will be any storyline in the career mode or if we can expect a return to classic gameplay — that remains unknown. In any case, the absence of a storyline will not ruin this game.

Earlier, I mentioned destruction. That might be too strong a word, especially when recalling Burnout. No, the contests here will be under the status of Mild Fantasy Violence — fantastical (in appearance and price) cars will suffer purely cosmetic damage, which technically won't affect anything. Yes, just like our beloved Most Wanted.

The visual style of the game is extremely realistic and bright. That is, without any acid or soft palettes, stylizations, or anything like that. Just a very beautiful picture. Close to Burnout Paradise, but without its inherent light-heartedness. Because from now on, one must think not only of their personal well-being but also of their friends. The social aspect of Hot Pursuit is given enormous attention. Just look at the main menu:

The career mode is almost imperceptible among the many online options. Photos, friends' activity feed, news feed, store, and an innovative Autolog system. By analyzing friends' actions, it creates the most interesting competitions for you and does a lot of other socially intriguing things. We await more details.

And of course, the online mode. Here the game will show its full power. Both cops and racers possess numerous tricks that tilt the scales in their favor — for racers, it's things like disabling the mini-map of pursuers or calling a decoy, confusing them at intersections. And the cops will have a gun that inverts the steering: left arrow — turn right. Of course, you can’t avoid traditional nitro boosts, police barricades, and spikes on the road. Naturally, all of this can't be used in the first few seconds — power will accumulate and be spent. How exactly — has not been stated. Although most likely, it will be standard for NFS — through drifting, clean driving, and other racing joys from the latest installments of the series.

New details will now be pouring in every week. A big game, a lot can be said. And there isn’t much time left until the release — it will traditionally take place in November. Mark it down: 16.11.2010. What does "I don't follow NFS anymore" mean? Mark it down, mark it down, you’ll thank me later. Trust the enthusiasm of an old fan.

And that enthusiasm is indescribable. Just consider the opening video, which feels like it came from the late nineties:

And as a fan in the form of myself wipes away a tear, I realize that Criterion can indeed deliver. That the absence of the number "3" in the title is not a tribute to the trend of rebooting franchises but a way to make players forget about Hot Pursuit 2. No, it was not bad at all; it's just that the new Hot Pursuit meticulously recreates the spirit of the game that is a generation older. The one that solidified and elevated the NFS series to the peaks of public love and that took two years of my life. Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit.

The game's cover from the official website Electronic Arts Russia. Of course, the game will be released fully in Russian on all platforms simultaneously with the global release.

What an interesting thing: in each generation of consoles, there was its own Hot Pursuit — 1998, 2002, 2010. So as long as the industry and Electronic Arts remain alive, Hot Pursuit will keep returning and restoring faith in the arcade racing genre. Because the potential of this game is inexhaustible. It just needs talented craftsmen like Black Box and Criterion to keep emerging.

For now, all we can do is wait. And believe. I — believe.