Now that FIFA 18’s out of the way, it’s time to turn our attention to the next big game.
While Call of Duty and Star Wars Battlefront II are closing in, there’s one title that’s set to race ahead of the competition.
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Need For Speed: Payback.
Here’s why EA’s next racer could well end up being the best of the series.
The graphics
Payback uses the Frostbite engine, the same powerhouse behind FIFA 18. And, boy, does it look spectacular.
Cars boast impressive levels of detail and environments are rich and colourful.
There’s a clever motion blue that helps create a sensation of speed, as well as adding a Hollywood-style gloss to the racing.
But the graphics really come alive during the crashes – which sees the camera spin away ‘Matrix-style’ to capture the cars crumple and contort in super slow motion.
Incredible.
Handling
For those after realistic handling, you best look elsewhere.
However, those chasing fun, almost arcade-like handling, then Payback’s where it’s at.
Cars all boast their own look and feel. The monstrous Ford Mustang feels heavy round corners, but gobbles up the tarmac when on the straights.
The new BMW M5, meanwhile, has bags of grunt delivered in a more refined manner – making it perfect to weave in and out of traffic at high speeds.
The action set pieces
Payback isn’t just all about racing. The main plot sees a team of young drivers try and take down The House, a criminal organisation with an obsession for fast cars.
Some of the best missions we played saw you fend off sinister looking SUVs or chasing down huge trucks.
Fast and Furious movies may have got more ridiculous over the years, but Payback harks back to the movies a few years back.
There’s a focus on stunning, high-impact racing that resemble the best parts of a Michael bay flick – even down to the cued slow-motion during key events.
There’s nothing like it right now
Burnout fans will be happy – the game has been developed with the help of Criterion Software, the behind the classic racing games.
As a result, there’s simply nothing else like Payback on the market.
While Forza Motorsport 7, WRC 7 and Project Cars 2 are all tied to tracks and competitions, Payback features an open world that can be explored at any time.
There’s even a 24-hour day / night cycle and plenty of online multiplayer modes – more of which we’ll hear more about this month.
We can’t wait to take it for a spin.
NOW CHECK OUT THE TRAILER BELOW.