Developed by Ghost Games, Rivals feels like the natural successor to the
work of previous NFS developer Criterion. (Unsurprising really consider
the majority of the staff went over to the new studio.) It combines Hot
Pursuit’s cops-versus-racer dynamic with the freeform gameplay of Most
Wanted’s open world. In many ways it’s the best of both, although if
you’ve played either of those a great deal, you may get a feeling of
déja vu from Rivals.Rivals takes place in the fictional Redview County, which has probably
the most diverse geography imaginable. Within the confines of its map
you can take in parched deserts and lush vineyards, upmarket seaside
promenades and snowy mountain passes. It provides a welcome change of
pace after the urban sprawl of Most Wanted, though I came to really miss
those concrete labyrinths when I was outrunning the cops.
Rivals is fantastically pretty, making great use of your next-gen
console or PC. Cars look brilliant, near photorealistic. But Need for
Speed has always had a slightly heightened approach to its presentation,
and that’s still the case. Its cars are noisy creatures, always ready
to race – look closely and you’ll see beads of moisture dripping down
the bodywork, as if the car’s physically exerted itself. Weather effects
are equally impressive. Rain, sun, and snow – as well as the time of
day – have a big impact on the look of the game. Torrential downpours
clog up the screen, while sometimes at night you’ll flashes of lightning
illuminated the highly-textured road surface. And while it may not be
the most densely populated of landscapes, there’s always something to
catch the eye.