Successful video game franchises are a publisher's bread and butter – the revenue from one mega-hit series can fund an entire stable of game projects. And as franchises go, no one has ever accused Electronic Arts of not making the most out of their Need for Speed property. In recent years, EA has seen fit to grace us with at least one Need for Speed title each year. It comes as no surprise we'll soon be graced with Need for Speed: Pro Street, the latest incarnation of the popular street racing game (available later this year on the PC, current consoles and handhelds, mobiles and possibly your toaster oven).
Since the release of Need for Speed: Underground in 2002, the series has been basked in a neon-and-chrome glow (with the exception of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit). No doubt piggybacking on the popularity of street racing films such as the Fast and the Furious, the series tried hard – too hard – to have edge. But cool is an elusive and ever-moving target, and by the time the Carbon games rolled out the games' styling was passé. And with illegal street racing garnering plenty of bad press, EA saw the writing on the wall: it's time to dump the too-cool-for-school attitude.
Enter Pro Street, EA's interpretation of street racing in the not-too-distant future. The outlaw vibe is gone, replaced with sanctioned and sponsored street races. In fact, an entire international street racing series has sprung up, and as a driver you'll be traveling the globe to pit your skills against the world's best. Illicit racing may be a thing of the past, but Pro Street is still steeped in the series' trademark over-the-top attitude. In other words, don't expect the game to compete with the likes of GTR, Forza or Gran Turismo for the title of "Most Authentic Simulation". While the racing has changed, there's still plenty of cool to be had.
