Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 announced

Electronic Arts has announced Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 for the Sony PlayStation 2. The game is the spiritual successor to the critically acclaimed Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit for the original PlayStation console. In the game, players will once again get behind the wheel of a variety of exotic sports cars, including vehicles from manufacturers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche. Players can drive these high-end vehicles on the game's 12 courses, which will each provide unique driving challenges. A variety of environmental elements, including river crossings, waterfalls, beach surf, dusty paths, and brush fires, are in the driver's path. Also impeding the player's progress are overeager police officers and traffic. Electronic Arts promises advanced AI in the game--the cops will have their own individual driving preferences and arrest patterns.

In addition to the primary game mode, Hot Pursuit 2 will also feature racing events that carry various rewards such as cars, tracks, upgrades, paint jobs, additional game modes, and Easter eggs. A split-screen multiplayer mode will also be included.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 is being developed by Black Box, which developed Nascar 2001 for the Sony PlayStation and the upcoming NHL Hitz games for Midway. Hot Pursuit 2 will be released in Q2 2002 for the PlayStation 2.