Let's put ourselves in context: we are in 2010 and, since the transition to the new generation, the Need For Speed series has struggled to convince. With titans like Underground 1, Underground 2, Most Wanted or even Carbon behind it, the franchise nevertheless gives birth to the criticized ProStreet and the failed Undercover, not to mention a Shift whose identity clearly belonged to the world of simulation. No doubt: it was necessary for Electronic Arts to restore the image of this juicy brand, still adored but whose community was then beginning to doubt its future experiences. To do this, the American giant went to find one of its most loyal partners, the British from Criterion Games, authors of the fantastic Burnout saga and emerging from the incredible Paradise. Suffice to say that having such developers to take up the torch on Need For Speed was very exciting: moreover, when it was released in November 2010, the result was more than convincing and the press welcomed it very favorably - we are talking about a hefty 87 on Metacritic - as did the public, with over four million sales having passed a month later. For this remastering, Criterion Games has once again partnered with Stellar Entertainment, the company that worked on restoring Burnout Paradise to current consoles. You don't change a winning team, that's what they say, right?
HOT SUITS IN YOUR AREA
So, has he aged, this bugger Need for Speed? After long, very long hours of play on PlayStation 4 Pro, we can confirm it: not so much. In truth, it even got a little makeover – after all, that's the purpose of a Remastered version – thanks to the good care of the designers. In this case, the sets have been added a host of destructible elements, the climate system has improved its effects or transitions while the game has a performance mode at sixty frames per second… but in 1080p. To benefit from 4K, you will have to limit yourself to 30FPS and this is an inevitably unfortunate point for a title released a decade ago. Really. For a game of this genre, we will then tend to move towards fluidity rather than image definition: however, the result is an experience with a graphical aspect that is honest for its age, whose environments and effects show a little weight years but, on the whole, still convincing. Admittedly, Need For Speed Heat puts it completely at the fine, but the feelings are always preserved and it is there the essence. 
FAST AND FURIOUS
Although the tuning and B-movie spirit had driven the series for years, Criterion Games had another vision for it at the time: speed, pure and simple. In Hot Pursuit, there is no story, just a context: a quiet region and its roads are prey to the buffs of big cars, themselves constantly chased by an elite police squad. Basta. No cinematics will punctuate your stay except for these little cutscenes when unlocking new items or vehicles. Moreover, this is also the whole point of the title: after years of playing as outlaws, you are also asked to go to the side of the cops, who will have their own types of missions. We then constantly alternate between the camp of the cat and that of the mouse, each evolving at its own pace thanks to a system of levels of popularity. The more the player will level up, the more he will unlock high-performance cars. Because yes, no currency system is present, as there are no customization mechanics (apart from the simple change of paint) or performance improvements. On paper, the game design of Hot Pursuit is therefore quite meager, relying on nervous and efficient gameplay. So take it for granted: repetitiveness is quickly felt and, what's more, over a particularly long lifespan. Benefiting in addition to the DLC packs already released, adding around thirty events, Need For Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered ends 100% in around thirty hours... but it will nevertheless be necessary to hang on, or in any case outdistance its parts, so as not to suffer from a certain weariness. That goes for both the objectives and the art direction - repeating forest, mountain and desert tirelessly, and there's no open world - or that complete lack of storytelling. 
CONTROLLED SLIPS
Fortunately, and this is its main asset, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit wants to be delicious thanks to first-rate gameplay which, for once, has not aged an inch. To tell the truth, it does not even need any optimization: based essentially on speed, nitro and drift, driving requires a certain time of assimilation due to the inertia of the vehicle, which is really present, but which quickly lets itself be tamed with astonishing precision. The routes are also full of shortcuts that you will have to learn to know and master to save time, while the night events will require constant attention. If the whole thing may lack a bit of visibility, the gameplay leads to substantial satisfaction and, there is no denying it, Criterion Games is a studio that knows how to do it to provide thrills. Moreover, all the speed and particle effects generate, still today, a rather brilliant adrenaline which really does not take any wrinkle. It's really good, especially since the enemies never give up and most of the time come back to your level to maintain the rhythm... which is not so logical when you are driving at 370 km/h in a Bugatti Veyron. Whatever, this hair-raising energy discharge is the main artery of this thundering NFS, supported by a few other well-thought-out mechanics.
All these defensive and offensive mechanics frankly work well and then come to densify events which however did not lack spice.
Aside from traditional races and time trials, the game will focus on chases between drivers and police. Whether on one side or the other, all will have tools to sow opponents: an EMP that will trigger on a locked target, a portcullis to puncture the tires of the racers while the cops will have a helicopter. or a dam while the outlaws can activate a jammer and an ultimate boost (the effect of which is as mind-blowing as it is tasty). These defensive and offensive mechanics frankly work well and then come to densify events which however did not lack spice. The pursuits then turn out to be relentless and, above all, promise very beautiful multiplayer games, still relevant in this remaster: moreover, note that the game is now cross-play and that the autolog, this online community system, is still as well done with a generalized scoring aspect on all solo missions. In the end, Need For Speed Hot Pursuit makes up for its flatness of game design and its insolent repetitiveness with an inexorable nervous feeling, which is pretty much what it was acclaimed for at the time (and that's also what it was reproached).
