The Run is going to feature different types of races, and we’ll be revealing those in the coming weeks. That being said, there is a lot we can already tell you from the videos we’ve released. Throughout The Run you’ll be faced with an array of gameplay experiences, and some were revealed in our E3 demo.
DEATH FROM ABOVE
When we titled our trailer “Death From Above,” we meant it. Whether you’re dodging bullets on foot, or in the car, staying in the spotlight of the helicopter too long means certain death for you. Your job is to avoid the spotlight as much as possible while simultaneously trying to get out of Chicago alive. It’s worth noting that when you watch our demo video, not only is it pre-alpha, but we’ve dialed the damage down quite a bit to allow the people that played the game at E3 to complete the level on their first try.
In the demo, we wanted to show you three different experiences that you’ll have within The Run. While the game is unquestionably a racing game at heart, the Chicago level gives a great idea of other challenges you will endure in your race to New York.
The demo starts you in an 800hp Mustang Super Snake, then switches you to an out-of-car sequence, and in the end you find yourself evading a chopper while trying to navigate the streets of Chicago in a cop car that you had to steal when the mob t-boned your Shelby. In doing so, you’ll find in this segment you’re not so much focused on crossing the finish line first as you are trying to escape with your life and get back into the race. This rewards the player who is more technical and strategic with his driving, as opposed to one focused on straight-line speed who would otherwise be taken out by the helicopter.
OUT-OF-CAR SEQUENCES
In the past, story-based Need for Speed games would have edge-of-your-seat races, with plot cut-scenes in-between where you would just put down the controller and watch. With The Run, we want to change that and keep you at the edge of your seat for the ENTIRE experience, whether you’re driving at 200mph, or discovering the next plot twist. To put it simply, we want you to play the story rather than watch the story.
Furthermore, you’ll notice that the out-of-car moments are also an excellent new mechanic for something quite traditional in racing games—changing your car. If you’re in an illicit cross-country race and your car gets taken out by the mob, or you lose a tire, one option is to quickly steal another and get right back into The Run.
THE CORE OF THE RUN
This is a true Need for Speed game. There is no doubt about it. You’ll be driving the world’s hottest cars as fast as you can while we tie it in to an action-movie, white-knuckle, edge-of-your-seat-at-all-times experience.
We are changing the way we look at racing games. It’s not always about a 3-2-1 start and seeing who can reach the finish line first.