Need for Speed: ProStreet

Release Date:11/15/2007
ESRB Rating: Rating Pending
Genre: Racing
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Black Box

The limp charm of The Fast and the Furious has mercifully died, which is why the makers of Need for Speed are focusing their next game, ProStreet, on where they think racing will end up 10 years from now.

For starters, the game spotlights a car's ability to perform instead of its showiness (goodbye cheesy neon!), and that means you'll have to stack aftermarket parts onto your car to make it a winner. But you better take care of your ride -- instead of a magical autofix after each race, now your car will sop up damage until it can't go anymore. If you win a rough race, you'll earn money. But the question is: Will you spend it on improving the engine, or fixing the busted bumper that's barely attached?

In real street racing, zip-ties will hold a bumper steady, and that sort of money-saving shortcut is available in ProStreet. The realistic crashes add consequences to your actions -- the equivalent of Carbon's police, if you will. But with your car's health at stake, the game adds lots of tension and excitement: Are you going to risk a ruined fender -- and the cost to fix it -- for first place? Or is playing it safe, and finishing second, good enough?

The customizations aren't just eye-candy, either. Tweak your spoiler, and it'll affect the performance. Want more speed, more drag? Up to you. Think your car's perfect? Then upload the blueprint online, and some newbie sap can use your design -- but don't sweat him getting all the credit: Once you create a blueprint, your name stays with it.

So what's the point? You'll race on tracks, in iconic locations, in five different race types -- speed challenge (where you'll drive at hyper speed, and have to keep your car under control), drag, drift, and grip (circuit) racing. Once you beat the master at each of the disciplines, you'll be crowned Street King.

This is tip of the iceberg stuff, and if you want more, you're going to get it. Next week, we'll feature a full week of ProStreet content in an exclusive cover story, which will tell you just about everything you want to know about the game.