The Wii of Hot Pursuit proves that EA doesn't give a damn about this console.
- The drifting is good
- Good selection of vehicles and police vehicles
- Appealing cartoony visuals
Negative
- Poor damage, insane physics and collision
- Career mode is completely barebones
- The cops are completely and utterly useless and underused
- Doesn't even begin to compete with the other versions of the game
When a game is released on multi platform, there is almost one bound to take the short end of the stick. The Wii is not able to compete with the high technology of the PS3 and Xbox 360, and maybe even the PC, but the fact that EA didn't even bother to resemble this version as the other 3 highly acclaimed on the next-gen console is completely unfair. The Wii version of Hot Pursuit miserably fails to live up to the other versions of the game, and is quite possibly the worst game in the NFS history. So that you know, it's not the first of EA's game to get this treatment.
If you've seen screenshots or video footages of Hot Pursuit, rest assured that you've seen the PS3/Xbox 360/PC ones. The Wii version is 100% different. Criterion Games didn't have anything to do with this one, so somewhere the game would lack the Burnout power Criterion are known for. But EA's NFS was mainly known and recognized due to its fast speed events, and exciting police chases. The Wii version of Hot Pursuit captures none of that excitement. Instead it sticks to the classic arcade racing with little depth at all, a completely bland excuse for a career mode, insane and unrealistic physics and collision and plenty of other problems that surely will turn off even the most diehard of racing fans before long.
From my past NFS experiences there were some sorts of story, even if in the earlier games it was just a succession of races, and then even with some good cutscenes or comic strips of some kind but there was some sense of direction. Hot Pursuit (always on the Wii version) doesn't even have that. The 'career' mode is barebones, empty and lifeless. Just input your name and beat every race to take part in more races. That's the major mode and it is an awesome disaster. There are different racing events though. There is the hot pursuit where you have a normal race against seven opponents but beware of cops. Eliminator is a classic knockout event. Rush hour is probably the most exciting events which pits you against 99 opponents and every time a few opponents are eliminated. Interceptor on the other hand is the most disappointing of all. You get to drive a police car and give chase (sounds exciting) but this is completely misused. It is not fun chasing 3 particular opponents and hit them three times to knock them out. As the police you don't get any particular options, none which I have seen on the other versions which makes the law enforcers totally useless.
When it comes to graphics and performance, the Wii can't compete with the superb power of the PS3 and Xbox 360, but no means that excuses the gameplay. Even the core gameplay has been majorly overhauled from the other versions. Playing this, and I assure you that you won't guess you are playing a Need for Speed. First of all it is an unrealistic arcade racing game. There are even power-ups called supe-ups which don't make sense, but these help you to repair your incredibly disfigured vehicle, add boats or launch a supersonic sound blast to stop your opponent's movements. The physics is insane, and the collision sends opponents and normal street users flying away from a single hit. Sure the racing is fast and occasionally thrilling but it lacks the realism of the real world to make it something good. There is more, this is one insane drifter. The drifting is the star of the game and if you get used to it quickly, you sure be able to appreciate the game more and more. Therefore the handling and braking are really awful. It is not as bad as it sounds at first. That aside, what follows are almost all problems. First of all there are only two camera views. A behind-the-car view and a less zoomed behind-the-car camera. No more. No first-person, no cockpit view or something else. To add insult to injury there is not even a rear camera view. The physics may be crazy but the bad, almost invisible damage modeling and some wannabe Burnout crashes should be enough to rise more than a few eyebrows at the game's long list of mishaps.
Looking at the bright side, there are plenty of bright side, the racing has some fun sides. Drifting is pretty cool once you get used to it. There are a lot of vehicles to choose from which vary from previous years' selection. Plenty of police vehicles are at your disposal if you want. More and more cars can be unlocked from the career. It can't be said the same for your sports cars, the police cars are unnecessary since there is barely a mode to use them in. Cars are divided in classes as any racing game should, but unlike any previous Need for Speed game I've played in my life, most cars are almost unrecognizable. You won't go with "Oh, that's the Ford Mustang" or "that's the Mitsubishi I've always wanted" and such. Some of these are almost unrecognizable.
The worst part of the game is why, why the game shares the same name as the successful Hot Pursuit, not only the other versions but even its PS1 and PS2 predecessors. It is even a disgrace that this game is even carrying the Need for Speed name. The Hot Pursuit part is nonexistent. The cops are almost nonexistent, always useless and do nothing to obstruct you or attract your attention. The cops don't communicate in order to try to bust you, employ only one police car to give chase or usually more than seven drivers and sometimes put a roadblock as an excuse but you'll send the roadblock flying the instant you make contact. There is no police meter like the one I remember in Most Wanted or change in soundtrack or nothing. You'll be lucky to hear the wailing of the police siren. Adding another bad part is the only part where you play as the police. You literally start a race after the drivers you are going to bust and drive alongside them in order to hit them three times. You don't need me to tell you that this part is completely and utterly disastrous. It makes you feel as if the game was an afterthought.
No one expected the visuals to be on par with the other versions, but a complete overhaul graphically was done for Hot Pursuit. EA exchanged the real life environments with a cartoonier look. But no means it doesn't look bad at all. In fact it looks quite good, but I can't stomach the fact that it is a NFS title. The car models are not as good as they once were, or as they are on the other versions. To mix in, there are a lot, and seriously a lot of glitches in some areas which will impact your race. Some stages don't have, some have up to their necks. The sound doesn't fare better. The engines roars are not very convincing, the crashes and hits aren't anything spectacular and there is no exciting music when the cops arrive which sometimes makes it difficult to know that they are around. The soundtrack is also disappointing. There is one or two decent tunes but the rest are meh. The soundtrack's name isn't even displayed.
There you have it. In the end result is that Hot Pursuit is the worst Need for Speed I have ever played. This once great franchise has taken a giant leap forward on the other console but takes a giant leap backwards with this arcade racer. Without a doubt almost no effort was put behind this game, because I can confidently say that a decade year old NFS was much more enjoyable. It is not the first time EA watered down the Wii/PS2 games in order to focus only on the superior, more wanted consoles. Should we Wii owners suffer because of this? The Wii of Hot Pursuit proves that EA doesn't give a damn about the console, much more for the Wii owners.
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Graphics = 5.9
No longer realistic, but takes a cartoony look. It's not bad but in my opinion the Need for Speed franchise should stick to realism. It looks quite good, but there are some annoying glitches and the car models aren't anything mind blowing.
Sound = 4.8
Nothing worth talking about. The soundtrack is pretty, let's say unmemorable. Heard better sound effects and car engines.
Presentation = 2.5
The fact that it dares to call itself Hot Pursuit irritates me. There is no decent hot pursuit. The loadings at the very least are quick. Needs more cameras and a rear-view camera. No cinematics or cutscenes of any kind. The menus are extremely mediocre looking.
Gameplay = 4.5
The handling and braking are extremely annoying and the gamer relies exclusively on drifting. Classic arcade racer which you have seen elsewhere. Good selection of vehicles. Physics and collision are insane. The police chases have been dampened down severely.
Story = 1.5
The career mode doesn't even deserve a play through, but you have to unlock the vehicles. Other racing events get old after a while and are not much fun to begin with. Not even a single hint of what the game is all about.
OVERALL = 36 / 100
The Wii of Hot Pursuit proves that EA doesn't give a damn about the console.