Need for Speed: The Run lets you get out of your car, take off running

by Ben Gilbert on Jun 6th 2011 3:56PM

As you can see above, Need for Speed: The Run is about more than just driving cars across the United States as fast as possible. Apparently, it's also about hopping out of your car and running like hell while all sorts of madness chases after you.

During EA's E3 2011 presser, a controller-laden developer took the reins and, well, ran as fast as possible, eventually leaping from a building as a helicopter fired on him. He then snagged a cop car and took off as the helicopter continued after him, all the while dropping bullets by the boatload. We'll have the trailer up for you as soon as possible, but for now, know this: you'll totally be able to run around on two feet in Need for Speed: The Run, as well as spin out on four tires.

Tags: black-box, e3-2011, ea, ea-black-box, electronic-arts, microsoft, need-for-speed-the-run, pc, playstation, ps3, xbox

Reader Comments (50)

Wait, what?

@bloodlinejake

It's EA's attempt to make the series "edgier." Like NFS needed to be edgy to begin with.

@Burnflare
Well at least they're trying to do something different. I'll give them that.

@bloodlinejake
Great! Call it something else and stop screwing up an established series!

These devs and publishers are so stupid sometimes. Then when the IP tanks they blame us for not playing it right and then the boogeyman pirates.

There's a point where you change a game so much it no longer needs to share the name. Create a new IP, and who knows something crazy might happen and it might be successful, and then you can, you know, milk that until it bleeds.

Better yet, when you do create a new IP, listen to the criticism and create a sequel. If that one fails THEN move on. Too many IPs filled with potential were abandoned because they weren't the next immediate thing. I'll bet more half of them were profitable, even.

@bloodlinejake
I just don't get this game's premise.

@bloodlinejake

Yeah... it looks like they went and seen Fast Five in theaters too...

doesn't really let you out of the car. more like it forces QTEs on you

@Cleric

Ugh. I didn't know it was a ton of QTEs. :(

@Cleric

Press x to not die!

@Cleric Indeed, there didn't appear to be any freedom, so what was the point? As a storytelling device it could be marginally less irritating than watching crappy actors talking at you though.

Just remake Technocop. Game was awesome.

A big risk for the NFS franchise... could be fun.

It's about time we get a racing game that interrupts races and makes our driver run and jump through a barely-interactive chain of Quick Time Events!

dumb idea

Hmmm game looked action packed( Gametrailers live stream)...def will check it out...

This trailer was intense! Could be the best NFS yet! I haven't seen a good NFS game since Carbon..

@(Unverified) you must have missed hot pursuit...

@8bitartist you mean Burnout: Hot Pursuit. NFS name, but cars drove like Burnout, not previous NFS games. don't get me wrong, I liked it a lot, got it on release, played it til I beat it, online is killer, but it really shouldn't be called an NFS game imo.

@8bitartist I'm a have to agree with Ravissimo.. it was basically Need For Speed Burnout... good game though.. but still.. even though this looks like Criterion is working on this one as well I think that all the games after Carbon were not that great... minus HP. I just feel like The Run is an actual story based NFS with new ideas/ features (not a re-hashed/ reboot) NFS game... ;)

DLC expansion pack: "NFS: Cranked Up"
Description: "While running around jumping off buildings and fleeing from the cops, you can inject adrenaline directly into your heart, defibrillate yourself while awake, and screw your girlfriend in public."

@ravissimo

Will only purchase if I get a special car called "The Chelios" that bursts into flames and starts killing people while on fire.

Bad Bad Bad Bad Bad....BAD idea.

I also believe this games was called "Drive" a few years back.

That guy must have murdered the president or something. Or the local sheriff got a hell of a deal on helicopters for his department with mounted mini guns.

So Iam force out of the car after a scripted event...???

Gonna avoid this game.

Running in a racing game. I wonder if there'll be monster trucks in the ea active 3?

@SuperWoody64

I wonder if there will be footraces...

New from EA "Need for Speed: GTA"

No thanks. I'll stick with just the driving bits thanks.

I don't know about you guys but NFS really needed to take a new direction and besides they have NFS shift for the hardcore car nuts out there. this is more of an arcade type of thing. sounds fun.

What the hell? Don't mess with NFS, it's fine the way it is!!!! Next they will introduce mounted bazookas and grappling hooks, oooh edgy!!

Footraces?

This could be phenomenal if it feels like an action movie with lots of scripted action sequences...

Sorry, can't let you race in a racing game.

in the words of Ace Ventura

Alrighty Then...

Haven't they ever seen an episode of COPS? Running never works.

So since Mirror's Edge failed, they're just going to cut-and-paste into something they are calling a NFS game? Yeah, um, that sounds like a GREAT idea...

@mietha

*sigh*

Heaven forbid we get a proper Mirror's Edge sequel.

Is it just me or do other people wish that all games allowed you to just walk around.

Like in a car game, why can't you walk around your garage, get into the car you want to use and drive to the starting line. Test Drive and PGR had the right idea.

And for sports games (more so non-team sports like tennis or team games where you can play as just one player on the team like FIFA games), why can't you walk to training events and walk through the locker room and out to the Arena while the crowd is cheering.

And while I'm at it, I really think all sports and racing games need storylines like that last Fight Night game.

Um. April Fools?

Assassin's Speed

The Run looked terrible. Drive 30s> Cut Scene> Quick Time Event> Cut Scene> 30s of Driving> repeat?
If I wanted to go in a semi straight line from cut scene to cut scene I would go back and play FF13

Umm... Driver anyone?

This is not the Mirror's Edge sequel you're looking for. Move along...

Ive been hoping for a gta/nfs fusion but this is not it

Let me sum this up with 3 words:

Worst. Idea. Ever.

@d3sc3nd3ncy
i kinda agree.

Anyone remember when Driver decided to let you get out of your vehicle and how awesomely awesome that made the game? LOL

Damn... and I really enjoyed Hot Pursuit...

Nope. No Thank you EA. I will stick with Hot Pursuit.

I remember when they did that in Driver 2 back on the PS1, just unnecessary

I'm definitely not sure on those on-foot sequences.

Were it more Mirror's Edge style parkour elements and control, I could see it being pretty awesome. As it is now, I have a feeling the QTE sequences are going to be the major focal point of what a lot of reviewers and critics are NOT going to like about the game. It's too simple, hardly interesting, and breaks up the racing.

The rest of the game looks great though. The actual racing, and that sequence with the helicopter chasing the player was pretty epic.

This didn't work when Tony Hawk did it; it won't work when Need for Speed does it.

I still like my idea for the next NFS game: you're a guy with chronic diarrhea, and you have to drive as fast as possible to find a public toilet. It's basically GTA meets Don't Shit Your Pants.

The best part is, you'd only need to change one letter in their title.

My first reaction was that this is one of the worst ideas ever, but then I thought that this could actually be a good use of the Mirror's Edge parkour system! Its still not a great idea imo, because when people buy an NFS game, they are expecting racing only. It will be odd to leave your car in an NFS either way, but incorporating Mirror's Edge stuff could make for a pretty decent game.

Need for Speed: The Run

Need for Speed: The Run lets you get out of your car, take off running

Reader Comments (50)

Posted: Jun 6th 2011 3:59PM bloodlinejake said

Posted: Jun 6th 2011 4:00PM Burnflare said

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