Digital Trends

The next NFS title will put players in the role of an undercover detective, who must both chase criminals and run from the law.

The Need for Speed series has seen its share of changes over the last 16 iterations: from a semi-realistic racing title that had players running from the cops in illegal highway races to an arcade-style drag racing game on the track. The latest version announced on Wednesday, Need for Speed Undercover, will put a slightly different twist on the series by putting players in the role of an undercover detective who must both chase criminals and evade the law at the same time.

While the story line will be new, EA promises a return to the series’ original premise with more highway chases, and aggressive cops driven by more intelligent artificial intelligence. One marked change will be the brand new “Heroic Driving Engine,” which gives players a chance to pull high-performance moves at 180 mph – the specifics of which haven’t yet been sketched out fully.

“Need for Speed Undercover puts you at the center of a big-budget Hollywood movie with all of the drama, action and dazzling chase scenes, right on your gaming console,” said Executive Producer Bill Harrison, in a press release. “The unique Heroic Driving Engine will give you ultimate control over the hottest cars and push you to use every ounce of skill to outrun the law and take down criminal adversaries.”

As for that all-important list of cars, EA has only spilled a few so far. Featured vehicles will include the Audi R8, BMW M6 and Lexus IS-F.