Need for Speed Undercover

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Lifting the cover on EA’s latest Hollywood-inspired open-world racer

We’ve got a confession to make that goes against most critical response: we quite liked Need for Speed: ProStreet (at least on consoles). It was a competent and relatively accurate recreation of organized competitive racing events. Unfortunately, what ProStreet did at the same time was completely remove the essence of what made a Need for Speed game, leaving a dry approach to simulation in its place. Thankfully, the guys at EA Vancouver were equally as aware of the criticisms of ProStreet and have taken on board what gamers want from a Need for Speed title. The result is Need for Speed: Undercover – a return-to-roots fan service of the highest order.

While our first impressions were that Undercover would be set in LA (which puts it in real risk of stepping on Midnight Club: Los Angeles’ toes), it’s actually set in Southern America on the Gulf Coast. While EA couldn't confirm at this stage whether it would use real maps or locations, we were told that there would be four very distinct environments; Harbor, Open, Industrial and Urban. Stepping away from the perpetual darkness of the Need for Speed: Underground games, all of the racing in Undercover takes part in what Hollywood likes to call ‘The Magic Hour’ – a special time occurring just after dawn and just before dusk. Presumably so you can experience the 80 miles worth of highways at the most visually photogenic moments of each day.