Need For Speed Payback has a stunning car library

In a year where a new Forza Motorsport was hobbled by microtransactions, Gran Turismo Sport failed to live up to its own standards and Project CARS 2 was uneven at best, Need For Speed might have the perfect chance to overtake the competition and emerge as one of the best racing games of recent memory. 2015’s Need For Speed revival from developer Ghost Games may not have been perfect on launch, but a few patches down the line resulted in this reboot having plenty of horses under its hood.

Especially when your crew of Fast ‘n Furious crew rejects stopped calling you all the f***ing time. Especially then.

Having wisely chosen to give the Need For Speed franchise a biannual berth instead of forcing a new title down player throats every year, EA’s series races back into contention with a new look and attitude on November 10. Need For Speed Payback is the name of the game, and it has a selection of cars which hum with the kind of V8 growling that you’d expect when you’re digitally throwing fingers at cops. Take a gander here, via Autoblog, at the selection of cars on show:

1. 2017 Acura NSX
2. Acura RSX-S
3. Aston Martin DB11
4. Aston Martin Vulcan
5. Audi R8 V10 Plus
6. Audi S5 Sportback
7. BMW M2
8. BMW M3 E46
9. BMW M3 E92
10. BMW M4 GTS
11. BMW M5
12. BMW X6 M
13. Buick GNX
14. Chevrolet Bel Air
15. Chevrolet C10
16. Chevrolet Camaro SS
17. Chevrolet Camaro Z28
18. Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
19. Chevrolet Corvette Z06
20. Dodge Challenger SRT8
21. 1969 Dodge Charger
22. Dodge (SRT) Viper
23. Ford F-150 Raptor
24. Ford Focus RS
25. Ford Mustang
26. Ford Mustang Boss 302
27. Ford Mustang GT
28. ‘32 Ford
29. Beck Customs ‘32 Ford
30. Honda Civic Type R EK
31. Honda Civic Type R FK2
32. Honda NSX Type R
33. Honda S2000
34. Jaguar F-Type R
35. Koenigsegg Regera
36. Lamborghini Aventador
37. Lamborghini Diablo SV
38. Lamborghini Huracan
39. Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4
40. Land Rover Defender 110
41. Lotus Exige S
42. Mazda MX-5 Miata NA
43. Mazda MX-5 Miata ND
44. Mazda RX-7 Spirit R
45. McLaren 570S
46. McLaren P1
47. Mercedes-AMG A45
48. Mercedes-AMG G63
49. Mercedes-AMG GT
50. Mercury Cougar
51. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX
52. Nissan 180SX Type X
53. Nissan 350Z
54. Nissan Fairlady 240ZG
55. Nissan GT-R Premium
56. Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-R Aero
57. Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-R
58. Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 V-Spec
59. Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 V-Spec
60. Pagani Huayra BC
61. Plymouth Barracuda
62. Porsche 911 Carrera S 991
63. Porsche 911 Carrera S 993
64. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 991
65. Porsche 911 RSR 2.8
66. Porsche 918 Spyder
67. Porsche Panamera Turbo
68. Subaru BRZ
69. Subaru Impreza WRX STI
70. Volkswagen Beetle
71. Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport
72. Volkswagen Golf GTI
73. Volvo 242DL
74. Volvo Amazon P130

Wait, 74 cars? What is this? A CAR LIBRARY FOR ANTS? Jokes aside, that’s a  damn nice selection of vehicles. Less is more in a game like Need For Speed Payback, especially when the emphasis is on escaping quickly and in style. While I’m happy to see brands like Lamborghini, McLaren and Mitsubishi on that list, I have a feeling that I’m going to be spending some time with the hottest of hatchbacks: The always-reliable Volkswagen Golf GTI.

What do you think? A solid list, or is it missing a few contenders for when you play Smokey and the Bandit 2K17?

Last Updated: October 30, 2017