One of the more popular headliner games on display at E3’s stage 1 is Need for Speed Rivals. Developed by Ghost Games, a subsidiary of publisher Electronic Arts, Rivals is sure to make motor-heads salivate. From powerful, graphic-heavy maps to personalized exotic automobiles, Rivals is described aptly by the game’s creative director as “designed for chaos.” Here’s what you can expect from Need for Speed Rivals, with Frostbite 3 engine, due to be released on current-gen consoles Nov. 19 and next-gen consoles (Xbox One, PlayStation 4) “later in the year.”

All-Drive

The big new feature with Rivals etches a scorching tire-mark through the boundary of single-player and multi-player gaming. With Rivals, a user can essentially start speeding away in his Lamborghini, Porsche, Ferrari (for the first time in 7-years), or other car that goes at least 250 mph down the highway like it’s nobody’s business, and pull up in a race being played by another user, where ever they may be. Subsequently, the two can square off in a ’50s-style greaser drag race or simply weave in and out of each others races.

The idea here is that a solo user can enjoy the benefits of single-player mode while racing alongside another car who appears to be CPU controlled, when really its someone enjoying the benefits of head-to-head multi-player action. With Rivals, there is no line between single- and multi-player action and can be presented in the point of view that the user prefers the most.

Terrain

The Frostbite 3 engine allows for Rivals to boast some of the most realistic driving graphics on the market today. Like with normal cop-evading high-speed driving, expect insects to meet their demise on your windshield, rain to create visual obstructions, and beautiful scenery to make you never want to leave the spot 6-inches in front of your TV screen.

With a huge road network and plenty of weather cycles, outside conditions can range from the complete dark of night to the brightest afternoon along the great plains, windy mountain highways, or traffic-heavy cityscapes.

Car Customization

As already mentioned, Rivals affords the user the unrealistic (it is a video game, after all) opportunity to cruise around in high-end cars that would take a lifetime to save up for. But just as importantly, and especially when playing multi-player, users can now outfit their whips with Pursuit Capabilities, or really, James Bond-like weaponry.

Soup-up your ride with the likes of spike strips, EMPs, or turbo boosters for easy getaways or, if you happen to be on the side of the po-po, send out the call for choppers, military, and roadblocks.

Bottom Line

Ghost Games made it clear at E3 that they want almost all in-game choices to be made by the user which is why and how they were able to vamp up their latest Need for Speed game with so many perks. November 19 is the supposed release date on current-generation consoles (360, PS3, PC) and will be released on next-generation consoles “later in the year.”