You have racked over 200,000 speed points and you’re driving for your life to reach the closest hideout when you see the words “BUSTED”. You have lost it all…but it’s alright, you can do it all over again. Need For Speed Rivals lets you either be a cop or a racer and both modes are a blast to play while taking place in the most diverse map I have ever seen in a video game.

Racer

In racer mode you progress through the story while completing a speed list, this could include being first in a race, reaching the finish line before the timer runs out or simply just drifting. While doing these things, you accumulate speed points which are basically your money. There are many ways you can earn speed points: avoiding a car in oncoming traffic, using your nitro, ramming into a police car; the possibilities are endless. What comes next, though, is the real fun. Your speed points can multiply depending on how long you’re out there. If you reach heat level 4, that means your score will multiply by 4 — heat level 10, your score will multiply by 10, etc. But if you get busted you lose all your speed points for that session. Use your speed points to buy new cars and upgrades. There are a wide range of cars from Porsche’s, Aston Martins to Ferraris.

Cop

In cop mode, you’re trying to stop and bust the racers. Your speed list here consists of busting a certain amount of racers, using a weapon on a racer, etc. I like this mode better because the rush of driving fast and ramming into a racer. Finally busting them really feels like an accomplishment. You can use your speed points to buy new police vehicles such as Dodges, Lamborghinis, etc.

Redview County

Redview County is beautiful. This world has so many different landscapes. It has beaches, forests, snowy mountains, deserts, farms, and canyons. The amount of detail in each location is amazing. You get to see waves splashing out from the water in the beach area, tons of trees in the forest, barns and vineyards in the countryside and snow melting on the road when you drive up to the mountains. The world also has a day and night cycle with various weather effects.

Need For Speed Rivals is an awesome arcade racer. Once you pick it up it’s hard to stop whether you’re racing or trying to stop the racers.

-Four2Nine