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An all-time classic racing game is getting a second life. Electronic Arts (EA) will release Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered to most gaming platforms in November 2020.

2020 has been quite the year for fans of the long-running racing franchise. Playstation Plus treated its subscribers to a free digital copy of 2017’s Need for Speed: Payback in October.

Gamers who want to relive the glory days of Need for Speed, and car enthusiasts who haven’t played the title before, won’t have to wait long to pick up the controller. PS4, Xbox One, and PC players can access the game on Nov. 6, while Nintendo Switch users must wait until Nov. 13. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered will retail for $39.99 for consoles and $29.99 for PC via Steam and Origin.

EA dropped the announcement of the remaster via a press release and a reveal trailer, detailing some of the additions to the beloved game.

“Brand-new achievements, car colors, reduced hard stops, an updated photo mode and multiple quality of life updates make this the best time to reignite the pursuit on either side of the law. After launch, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered will also see the addition of car wraps, which will give players even more customization options,” EA said via the press release.

Remaster enhancements and gameplay

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered logo written diagonally next to two sports cars
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered | Photo via Electronic Arts

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, initially released in 2010, isn’t a traditional racing game. It is set in a fictional city along North America’s pacific coast, and it provides around 100 miles of drivable road.

Gamers take control of some of their favorite real-life supercars as they outrun the law. You can also flip the script by controlling high-performance police cars, which are stronger but not as fast as the supercars, to chase down other racers. Additionally, players will unlock vehicles, equipment, and weapons as they progress through the game.

The remastered version adds some familiar elements to the game, as well as some welcomed new features. Its visuals were enhanced to accommodate the capabilities of current-gen consoles better. Additionally, it comes with all of the original game’s at-launch DLC, which consists of six extra hours of gameplay.

However, the main attraction will be the inclusion of cross-platform multiplayer functionality. This capability allows players to compete with their friends online, regardless of which system they use to play the game.

‘Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered’ is a car enthusiast’s dream

Have you ever dreamed of getting behind the wheel of a Dodge Viper or an Aston Martin V12 Vantage? Now you can.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered features an incredible list of vehicles. In all, players can drive 77 different cars. Highlights include the Koenigsegg Agera, McLaren F1, and Lamborghini Reventón. The game also includes models that are more realistically attainable, such as the Chevrolet Camaro SS, Nissan 370Z, and Porsche Cayman S.

Many of the cars in the game have police variants. These enhanced police vehicles utilize tactical weaponry that helps the user or the CPU bust runaway drivers.

Is ‘Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered’ worth the money?

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit may be a 10-year-old game, but it’s a classic for a reason. New and old players alike owe it to themselves to experience one of the Need for Speed franchise’s best entries on a modern system. 

Upon initial release, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit won E3’s Best Racing Game award and many of the reasons why still hold up in 2020.

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