| Main centres: | 1-3 business days |
| Regional areas: | 3-4 business days |
| Remote areas: | 3-5 business days |
Status:
Complete and Play Tested
----------------------------------
Review of Need for Speed: Rivals Essentials (PS3)
Need for Speed: Rivals brings together the high-speed thrills of street racing and police chases, blending elements from Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted into a single, adrenaline-charged experience. Developed by Ghost Games and Criterion, it was designed to deliver seamless competition between racers and cops in an open-world environment.
Players can choose to play as either a Racer or a Cop, with each side offering its own progression, vehicles, and playstyle. Racers focus on illegal street events, evading the law and earning Speed Points to unlock cars and upgrades. Cops, meanwhile, patrol the roads, hunt down offenders, and earn promotions by bringing racers to justice.
The core gameplay revolves around high-speed chases, intense pursuits, and strategic use of Pursuit Tech special gadgets such as EMPs, spike strips, and turbo boosts. Both sides can use these tools to gain an edge, creating dynamic, cinematic encounters that feel straight out of an action movie.
The AllDrive system is a key feature, merging single-player and online multiplayer seamlessly. Other players can enter your world without pausing the game, turning normal races or pursuits into unpredictable, shared experiences.
Driving physics strike a balance between arcade-style fun and realistic handling. Cars feel weighty yet responsive, with each model offering distinct acceleration, speed, and drift characteristics. Whether dodging traffic, taking shortcuts, or racing through rain-soaked highways, the sense of speed is exhilarating.
Both Racer and Cop careers offer unique challenges and missions. Each role is divided into Speedlists (for Racers) and Assignments (for Cops), which act as structured objectives such as completing races, earning a specific number of Speed Points, or performing takedowns.
This system provides clear goals and consistent progression, ensuring players always have something to strive for. However, since both careers use the same world map and event structure, repetition can set in over long sessions.
Unlocking new cars and gadgets feels rewarding, particularly for Racers who risk losing Speed Points if caught by the police before reaching a hideout a mechanic that adds genuine tension to each race.
The games open world, Redview County, is a beautifully designed landscape filled with winding roads, deserts, forests, and snowy mountain passes. Each area feels distinct, with dynamic weather and day-night cycles adding variety and atmosphere.
Rain, fog, and sunlight not only look stunning but also affect visibility and handling. The world feels alive with traffic, police patrols, and ongoing pursuits that players can join or evade.
Redview County isnt just a backdrop its the heart of the experience. With countless shortcuts, jumps, and hidden routes, exploration is both rewarding and strategic, particularly when trying to shake off a relentless pursuit.
The controls are tight and responsive, well-suited to the arcade-style gameplay. Cars handle smoothly at high speeds, and drifting feels natural once mastered.
Each class of vehicle from nimble sports cars to heavyweight police interceptors offers a distinct driving experience. The accessibility of the controls makes it easy for newcomers to jump in, while mastering cornering and pursuit tactics provides depth for veterans.
Boost management and Pursuit Tech timing are key elem
.jpg)
