Home Gaming Gamescom Hands-on – Burnt by Need for Speed Heat

Gamescom Hands-on – Burnt by Need for Speed Heat

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It has been 25 years since the first Need for Speed was bestowed upon us gaming petrolheads. EA’s signature racing franchise has been around since 1994 and in that time, has been on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to overall quality. It hit its zenith in the mid-2000s with a collection of titles that I am still, very patiently, waiting for EA to remaster (the studio representative just laughed when I asked him that question). But in recent years, we seemed to have hit a period of stagnation. Need for Speed Rivals has left little to no impression upon arrival. The 2015 title made gains in offering a more customizable experience a la Underground, but it was then overtaken and overshadowed by the clunky execution of Payback. Points for not including Spike, minus points for compromising your overall gameplay in the form of limited play options and a story that went nowhere at a tire-melting speed.

There were many similarities shared between NFS 2015 and Payback. A few too many. Sure, Ghost Games has every right to rework a formula that it thinks yields positive results, but the consequence of that has been a franchise that is slowing losing its identity and the prospect of new and unique installments. Hopefully, with the 25th anniversary, the studio would be compelled to deliver something special. Something that could stand out from all the rest.

AAARGH.

Need for Speed Heat has hit the tarmac suddenly and at full throttle. EA is gearing up for a November release and the announcement trailer was only dropped a week ago. Check it out:

The trailer didn’t impress me. It showed off a colour scheme, narrative, and gameplay that was too reminiscent of the 2015 game. The bad accents didn’t help either. It’s like… we’ve been here before.

That feeling got even worse when I sat down and had a good look at it. Immediately I was facing a user interface lifted straight from three years ago. The customisation is all there and players still have a multitude of extensive options for when it comes to modifying a Mercedes-Benz AMG GT. Different colour headlamps and window tints, rims, skirts and spoilers. The visual elements such as decals and sponsorship logos are all here and are in line with other arcade racing titles. But it remains the exact same layout and navigation as 2015, and it just feels so…safe.

From Ventura Bay and Fortune Valley, we are now ruling the roads of Palm City. A Miami-inspired metropolis where racers can engage in both legal and illegal automotive activity. By day you take part in the Speedhunter Showdown series. By night, you are engaging the 5-0 in road combat that leaves no lamppost or golf cart upright. Beyond this, not much else has been revealed. Progression is marked by the unlocking of new vehicles and custom icons, with also earning the good ‘ol in-game currency to purchase further unlockables and raise your reputation from the impound lot it probably sprouted.

Despite feeling like a rehash, Heat does sport some terrific visuals. The colours are crisp and the world details are of a new level when compared to the previous games. Vehicular damage and collisions have also been improved. Every knock is satisfying, and T-boning a cop’s cruiser hasn’t felt this good since the days of Most Wanted. the cars look great and thanks to a new mobile app launched in conjunction with Heat, you can spend your commutes from work putting a new set of wheels together that you can show off when you get home. It’s a neat little addition.

Driving wise, it’s like riding the same bicycle, or, car. I have had problems with the Frostbite engine from the start as it compromises the handling and weighting of your car and can make it too rigid and heavy. Case in point, dodging pedestrians and objects in the road used to be much easier in the road, and the way in which players experience speed has a slightly delayed effect. Given that Frostbite has been the norm since the Golden Turkey that was Need for Speed: The Run, it’s something that we have to live with.

But I could forgive how Need for Speed: Heat drives if it was simply a different game. All I can say is that, it feels like we’ve been here before. In both the map, its design, and the atmosphere. Not to mention dialogue that is just becoming insulting.

Watch this space. I’m not done with this game.

Last Updated: August 23, 2019

80 Comments

  1. Yahtzee

    August 23, 2019 at 10:51

    So a reskin of the 2015 NFS… this is going to go down like a Trevor braai’d chop.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Umbra

      August 23, 2019 at 10:51

      Asblik toe? Back INTO the fire because you need extra coals?

      Reply

      • Yahtzee

        August 23, 2019 at 10:59

        Just YEET it into the street.

        Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      August 23, 2019 at 11:00

      If you want your pork chops rare, I’ll make your pork chops rare… chop.

      Reply

      • Yahtzee

        August 23, 2019 at 11:08

        No need to get your wors in a twist.

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          August 23, 2019 at 11:08

          There’s a lot at steak when it comes to braai rep.

          Reply

          • Yahtzee

            August 23, 2019 at 11:08

            Just chuck it all in the ring.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 23, 2019 at 11:08

            Need to burn the ring clean first.

      • Admiral Chief Umbra

        August 23, 2019 at 11:08

        One does not eat pork chops rare, but beef, beef you have medium rare. Lamb, medium. Chicken, GAAR but not dry, and liver, you chuck in the bin

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          August 23, 2019 at 11:15

          What do you use as a timer for your meat? I like to time it as I sip on a nice glass of whiskey, like SoCo or something.

          Reply

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 11:15

            SOCO IS NOT WHISKEY!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 23, 2019 at 11:15

            Shouting doesn’t make you right.

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 11:15

            Having bad taste doesn’t make you right either

          • Yahtzee

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            It’s whiskey flavoured… just like whiskey is whiskey flavour

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            I have the sweet taste of victory, aka SoCo.

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            Vomit. You have the sweet taste of vomit

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 23, 2019 at 13:36

            Vomit can taste sweet if you had Oros before opgooi

          • Yahtzee

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            It’s whiskey flavoured… just like whiskey is whiskey flavour

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            That’s like saying banana flavoured milkshake is real banana. That’s not how this works.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            Of course it does, taste is all about perception and perception is reality.

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            There’s so much wrong with that statement I’m not sure where to start unpacking it.

            Just because you think you are a pony doesn’t make you a pony

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            But it does, that’s literally how perception works.

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            I perceive three billion randelas in my bank account!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            The banks have professional perceivers to prevent just that, which also explains why my account is always negative. Damn banks.

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 23, 2019 at 13:42

            YOU MUST PERCEIVE HARDER

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 13:42

            THIS! PERCEIVE HARDER

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 13:36

            Perception doesn’t make reality though.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 23, 2019 at 13:42

            How do you know for sure? Is one, one? What if it was two and the only reason people think it’s one is because of tradition?

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 13:42

            Ok so I am going to say that you already play NMS and just spoil everything for you

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 23, 2019 at 17:05

            Wow that’s just mean. Why are you ruining my joy of discovery?

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 17:05

            you can just perceive that I never spoiled it. Problem solved

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 23, 2019 at 18:14

            But there are so many endless possibilities how can I control which one I perceive?

          • Raptor Rants

            August 24, 2019 at 00:29

            The one you want to be real

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 24, 2019 at 00:29

            But the paradox of perception is that it’s also not reality, so simply wishing something to be true doesn’t make it true.

          • Raptor Rants

            August 24, 2019 at 07:40

            AHA! So you admit perception isn’t reality. Thank you. I win

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 24, 2019 at 07:49

            You win FROM YOUR PERCEPTION

            Perceive harder

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 24, 2019 at 07:49

            No, I said there was a paradox. Which means that there isn’t just one answer, so if you believe that you’ve won by saying perception isn’t reality then you’re also conceding that it is reality which would make me the winner.

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 24, 2019 at 12:04

            Hahaha, you’ve been hit by, you’ve been struck by, a smooth logic operator

          • Raptor Rants

            August 24, 2019 at 12:04

            uh… what?

          • Yahtzee

            August 23, 2019 at 13:36

            Wrong guy bro

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 16:46

            You’re a brony. Not a pony

          • Yahtzee

            August 23, 2019 at 16:56

            HOW.
            DARE.
            YOU.

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 17:05

            You… You aren’t a brony?

          • Yahtzee

            August 23, 2019 at 18:14

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 18:23

            I’m confused now. Are you a brony or aren’t you? What would you prefer me say?

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 23, 2019 at 16:46

            Sometimes you have to take one for the team to win an argument.

          • Yahtzee

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            Like i am going to take anything seriously form someone who orders and drinks a banana milkshake… git gud! Pink flavour for life!

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            I hate banana milkshake. Bubblegum for the win!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            I don’t understand how you can drink that, it’s way too chewy.

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            Double thick bro

          • Yahtzee

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            Out of the frying pan and straight into the fire

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            Bubblegum is life

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            You just lost your xmas present!

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 11:30

            Wait wait! I will say bubblegum is gross!

          • Yahtzee

            August 23, 2019 at 11:15

            10 sips of SoCo whiskey per side for a 2 inch cut

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 23, 2019 at 11:15

            Have you guys had Jagermeister Manifest yet? Sipping glory

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 11:30

            I want to try it

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 23, 2019 at 11:38

            We should sample some dark bronze liquid to ascertain the viability of consumption in larger masses

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 13:51

            The idea sounds like a poor life choice that could be laughed about at a later point in life

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 23, 2019 at 13:51

            But we need to schedule this activity before the closest rock changes observable appearance

          • Yahtzee

            August 23, 2019 at 13:51

            uh huh…

            I don’t laugh when I see Tequila. I get anxiety

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 17:05

            HOEKOM!? DID SOMETHING HAPPEN?!?

          • Yahtzee

            August 23, 2019 at 17:13

            Even if I remembered I would not tell

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 23, 2019 at 17:13

            This one time, at Pony camp…

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 23, 2019 at 13:51

            Raps we should invite Otto to Texican, they have craft tequila

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 13:51

            Wat die donner is craft tequila?

          • Yahtzee

            August 23, 2019 at 13:51

            It’s slegter but more expensive

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 23, 2019 at 14:00

            Actually, R20 and pineapple tequila goodness glory!

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 23, 2019 at 14:00

            My nuwe favourite ding. Gaan nounou daar chow saam my wife

            Half price tacos and R20 craft tequila!

          • Raptor Rants

            August 23, 2019 at 14:00

            Weird

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 23, 2019 at 13:51

            Raps we should invite Otto to Texican, they have craft tequila

          • Yahtzee

            August 23, 2019 at 11:22

            Nope, my 20’s are gonzo

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 23, 2019 at 11:23

            I use ‘minutes until @LlewellynCrossley:disqus explodes’ per side (based on below, 2 minutes)

  2. McGafter

    August 23, 2019 at 10:59

    I want an option to turn off the cops,
    Just pure street racing like NFSU 1 and 2.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Umbra

      August 23, 2019 at 11:08

      NFSU2, good times man, good times

      Reply

  3. Stoompot

    August 23, 2019 at 11:00

  4. BradeLunner

    August 23, 2019 at 12:19

    So if I want Forza Horizon vibes, but only have a PS4, I’m stick with the crew?

    Reply

    • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

      August 26, 2019 at 10:28

      The Crew 2 is excellent man. Don’t get swayed by the review scores. It’s actually Test Drive Unlimited 3.

      For me, better than Horizon. Personal opinion though.

      Reply

  5. G8crasha

    August 23, 2019 at 11:23

    Watch this space. I’m not done with this game.

    I’m done with this game!

    Reply

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