Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered
- November 6, 2020
- Stellar Entertainment Limited
- 14h median play time
This isn't the most exciting remaster, but Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit is still one of the best modern arcade racers around – and now it looks better than ever.
"Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered" is a racing game that allows players to experience high-speed chases as both a cop and a racer. The game features enhanced visuals, cross-platform multiplayer, and the Autolog system, which connects players and provides social competition by delivering challenges based on friends' activities. This ultimate edition also includes all main DLC content.
Reviews
- graphics561 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in the remastered version of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while there are some improvements, they are minimal and not significantly different from the original 2010 release. Some users appreciate the updated visuals and smoother performance, particularly in 4K resolution, while others criticize the lack of substantial enhancements and the game's cap at 60fps. Overall, the remaster retains the charm of the original but may not meet the expectations of those seeking a more comprehensive graphical overhaul.
“Stunning graphics update: the remastered version breathes new life into the classic 2010 arcade racer.”
“The graphics felt better than when it was originally released.”
“The remastered graphics look amazing, cross play with PS and Xbox, tons of events and cars to unlock and the sound in this game is just incredible.”
“The graphics improvements are barely noticeable, but the performance is much worse.”
“For a remaster, the graphics are abysmal.”
“I do not see any difference at all in terms of graphical fidelity from this remaster compared to the original in 2010.”
- gameplay321 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered" is widely praised for its smooth mechanics, engaging racing dynamics, and nostalgic feel, reminiscent of the original 2010 release. Players appreciate the fun and fast-paced arcade-style racing, with solid drifting mechanics and a variety of cars, although some note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time. While the remaster retains the core gameplay experience, it has faced criticism for minor technical issues and a lack of significant updates compared to the original.
“It's got a very clean art style and the gameplay is buttery smooth.”
“Amazing handling and drifting mechanics make the gameplay incredibly enjoyable.”
“The gameplay is still as fast-paced and exciting as ever, with a good variety of cars and events to race in.”
“Gameplay seems more stuttered though, and some graphical parts are an obvious downgrade.”
“The gameplay gets very repetitive and tired about 1/3 of the way through.”
“The game doesn't know whether it wants to be an arcade or a simulator and the gameplay suffers terribly for it.”
- music233 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the nostalgic soundtrack and its energetic mix of pop, rock, and electronic tracks that enhance the racing experience. However, some users expressed disappointment over the limited selection compared to the original, wishing for a more diverse or updated playlist, while others opted to mute the in-game music in favor of their own playlists. Overall, while the soundtrack is celebrated by some as a highlight, it also faces criticism for not meeting the expectations set by earlier titles in the series.
“The soundtrack is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, featuring an eclectic mix of energetic tunes that perfectly complement the fast-paced action.”
“Everything from the roar of the engines to the squealing of the tires to the crunching of metal on metal sounds perfect and the soundtrack slaps as hard as it always has.”
“The graphics are still amazing, the gameplay remains extremely fun, the music still hits ("Edge of the Earth" is a banger), and the sound design is top tier!”
“I just muted the in-game music and fired up Spotify.”
“The soundtrack is trash and forgettable.”
“The music is really ruining this game for me.”
- story198 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its complete absence, with many reviewers noting that there is no coherent narrative or character development, making the campaign feel flat and repetitive. Players are primarily engaged in a series of racing missions without any meaningful progression or storyline, leading to a perception of the game as a simple arcade racer rather than a story-driven experience. While some appreciate the focus on racing mechanics and multiplayer, the lack of a compelling story is a significant drawback for those seeking a more immersive gaming experience.
“The game has zero story, other than the fact that you're an awesome driver with even more awesome cars and a healthy serving of clever little devices at your disposal to speed you up or slow others down.”
“The only bit of story you're given is the backstory of street racing on Seacrest County, which I think a region populated by the fastest police force is such an awesome concept, and all the car & equipment descriptions.”
“It's like I'm back in 2012 in the good old days of Need for Speed where it's all about the racing gameplay with none of the story BS.”
“The story setup must have been thought up by a committee of 10 year olds.”
“There is no story or campaign; you are an unknown, faceless racer or cop just trying to achieve each one's respective goals.”
“If you're looking for a storyline, then this game will be very flat, as there is no story whatsoever in the single player ('career') mode.”
- optimization89 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 37 % negative mentions
The optimization of the remastered game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting persistent stuttering, frame rate drops, and performance issues, particularly on lower-end PCs. While some users experienced smooth gameplay, others noted that the game struggles with CPU multi-threading and has significant problems launching or maintaining stable performance. Overall, the remaster appears to have not improved upon the original's technical performance, leading to frustration among players seeking a polished experience.
“EA doesn't force you to buy stuff; it is just overall optimized and the original story and progress isn't altered, which is very important for a remaster, in my opinion.”
“It's basically like I'm back in 2010, but just with better graphics and optimization.”
“Awesome graphics, and great performance!”
“Poor optimization and remaster overall.”
“The game had been stuttering hard, with low framerate, in the main menus while throttling my GPU to maximum for no reason, but in-game racing activity is normal with stuttering still going on.”
“I really wanted to like this remaster, but when you can't even optimize your game properly, it's beyond me. My PC can run NFS Heat on ultra stably at 60 fps, and I can't have that on a 10-year-old game. 60 fps lock, frame drops, and stuttering, even if I turn VSync off, it's a joke.”
- stability52 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the experience. Many users noted that the remastered version is even buggier than the original, with issues such as audio problems, hit detection errors, and random freezes on various hardware setups. While some players experienced fewer issues, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by instability, making it frustrating to play.
“Looks great, plays great, and runs great.”
“Never got to play online for the original, but it is fun here and is mostly bug-free.”
“Looks great and runs great.”
“The original is much more stable and you don't encounter as many bugs as you do in the remastered version (clipping through objects, re-spawning after a crash and then your car floats for a couple of seconds, random freezes on modern hardware due to the mess that is the EA launcher, etc.)”
“It's always broken and you spend more time troubleshooting than playing.”
“The game would crash anytime I entered the 'garage' to select my car before an event, and after three days of troubleshooting, I finally realized that the game was crashing because my profile image in Origin was somehow 'broken'.”
- grinding28 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience; while some players find it enjoyable and rewarding, others describe it as tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the single-player campaign and for achieving online milestones. Many users express frustration with the lack of effective matchmaking and the repetitive nature of races, leading to a sense of burnout. However, some appreciate the absence of paywalls and the satisfaction derived from improving their skills through grinding.
“One of my favorite racing games, no stupid DLCs, no grinding required (yes, maybe in multiplayer when you're higher level there are some better cars, but you can beat that with your driving skill).”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The leveling can be a bit grindy.”
“I believe they thought 'well, we add one more level which needs 5 times the XP from the original max level (and therefore days of stupid singleplayer grinding or weeks of multiplayer grinding)' is enough to get paid a second time for a game I already own.”
- monetization23 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" due to its high price and perceived lack of substantial improvements over the original. While some players appreciate the nostalgia and fun of the game, they express concern that future updates may introduce microtransactions, reflecting EA's history of predatory monetization practices. Overall, the sentiment is that the game feels more like a quick profit scheme than a genuine remaster.
“But the fact is: this is a game with good online, no microtransactions, and was remastered with no glaring issues.”
“So if you want a taste of how 2010 Need for Speed felt and how back then we didn't need microtransactions to make a good game, I highly suggest this on the multiplayer alone.”
“It feels more like a quick cash grab than anything, considering its normal price (30 euros at the moment of writing this review).”
“Everything about this game is a cash grab.”
“I really don't get what EA's plan was here, this is possibly one of the worst cash grabs I've ever seen, for multiple reasons.”
- replayability20 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally praised, with many players enjoying the variety of car selections, competitive online modes, and the addition of cross-platform multiplayer, which enhances the experience. While some find the single-player mode fun initially, others feel it lacks long-term replay value once completed. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable gameplay and competitive elements that can keep players engaged, especially in multiplayer settings.
“The addition of cross-platform multiplayer enhances the replay value, ensuring endless hours of high-speed excitement.”
“By far my favorite NFS game, lots of replayability, and the gameplay is just so much fun.”
“Not only do the vehicles add replay value, they also add a handful of brand new events which improves the quality of life overall.”
“Conclusion: the game is just dated and too scripted to enjoy more than a couple of hours and doesn't offer much replayability.”
“Offline gameplay is fun until you beat the game, then it has no real replay value which leaves the worthless, lagging online gameplay that sucks and is filled with nothing but cheaters!”
“Replayability: nah, it's too hard.”
- humor18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit Remastered" is widely praised for its over-the-top police encounters and absurd moments, such as NPC cars flying off cliffs during cutscenes. Players find the chaotic gameplay and ridiculous situations—like rubberbanding AI and hilarious cutscenes—add to the fun, making it a lighthearted experience that encourages laughter and enjoyment rather than serious competition. Overall, the game is described as a thrilling mix of adrenaline and comedy, perfect for those looking to have a good time.
“10/10 experience left me on the floor struggling to breathe from laughing.”
“There's something funny about watching NPC cars fly off of a cliff at 200mph in the bust cutscene as they spiral through the air.”
“Hilarious cutscenes in some events (ex: the Pagani Zonda preview event, in which the Pagani crashed into a traffic car during the intro and flew out of shot, which never occurred in the original).”
- emotional11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with players feeling a lack of connection due to the absence of engaging characters and a compelling story. Many express frustration over technical issues and gameplay mechanics that detract from enjoyment, leading to feelings of disappointment and even despair when attempting to achieve in-game goals. However, some players find moments of beauty and nostalgia, particularly in the design of certain cars, which evoke strong emotional responses despite the overall negative experience.
“You have nothing to emotionally connect to or fall in love with since they removed the intro girl like Amy, Rachel, Mia, Nikki, or Chase.”
“As I will explain later, Apollo S is such an amazing car (first featured by the event Rocket Science) it made me cry.”
“Technically it feels outdated but emotionally it feels more beautiful.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its fantastic and immersive qualities, enhanced by atmospheric fog and effective depth of field. Players appreciate the nostalgic music and engaging environments, which contribute to a unique and enjoyable experience, despite the game's simpler features compared to others in the franchise. Overall, the combination of visual and audio effects creates a captivating atmosphere that remains enjoyable even after extensive play.
“Fantastic atmosphere.”
“The graphical improvements aren't amazing, but the game is still pretty and atmospheric as all hell with great environmental and audio effects and an awesome soundtrack.”
“The atmosphere of this game is just superior and somehow never gets boring, even when played too much.”
Critic Reviews
Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered Review
This game is an active exercise in the "don't fix what isn't broken" mentality, banking on nostalgia, and succeeding greatly at that. It doesn't really bring much that's new to the table but it's a recommended buy for anyone who wants a simple racer or is a fan of Hot Pursuit at the price it's going for.
70%Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered (Xbox One) Review – Revved and Remastered
Related
90%Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered Review
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered is a mixed bag. On one hand, its simplicity in its pick up and play race-to-race gameplay style can suit those who enjoy "back to basics" game modes. Anyone seeking an experience that can be fun to play with limited options will find Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered a joy to play, especially given its relatively budget price. Petrol heads and those looking for a bit of nostalgia will be satisfied with the car selection and arcade gameplay. However, Hot Pursuit Remastered's game modes both inside and outside of career mode are fairly scant, and fall short of standards set by other racing games in the modern landscape - even those upheld historically within the Need for Speed franchise itself.
60%